our {family} vacation~part I

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

We recently returned home from our summer family vacation. An all American road trip you might say. We packed up 'ol Bertha (the name Nathan has given to our minivan), filled a laundry basket (yes, a laundry basket...learned that trick from my mom) to overflowing with snacks and various treats, borrowed a very tall stack of books-on-tape from the library, and set off! Our first destination was the incredibly beautiful California Big Trees State Park. We spent a couple of days hiking and just marveling at the largest tress we have ever seen. Some of the trails were even quite stroller friendly. When they weren't, Nathan and daddy were happy to let Sophie ride atop their shoulders. I love this picture of Nathan giving Sophie a lift up the trail.

You can see from some of the pictures that the kids were more focused on swimming in the creek than hiking up the trail. Hence, the swim suits and flip flops :)

Nothin' better that hikin' up those shorts and doing a high-step nerd run down the trail. Oh, they thought they were so-oooo funny. Maybe a bit too much sun that day :)

If you look closely, you can even see Michael just ahead of Jessie.

Sophie, where are your muscles?

Looks like we still need some practice on that one.

Definitely one of the most beautiful places we have ever been...