Yosemite

*Sorry in advance for the picture overload and many notes, but I have the need to document everything and so it cannot be helped.* our trip started with a stop in Las Vegas. Not only was this a desirable stop to break up the 14 hour drive to Yosemite, but it is also home to our wonderful Skouson friends. There’s always something going on at the Skouson home. This time we were entertained by their new parrot, Pickles, who was quite the character. We still aren’t sure how Henry felt about him.

We stayed with them for a couple of nights before heading on to Yosemite.

Its hard to describe Yosemite in words. simply put it is unbelievably beautiful. we both agreed it was one of the most amazing places we had ever been and we hope to go back.

Day 1- We got our first look at Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. So pretty it was unreal.

After taking some pictures we drove around the valley, we did this a lot, everywhere you look there’s something amazing to see. We stopped for some lunch by the river before making our way over to the visitors center. We browsed around the Ansel Adams Gallery (exciting for me especially since I did a project on him for a Humanities class), then took a short walk to the base of Yosemite Falls.

(big tree. notice Henry’s “rock on” fist pump. awesome. this tree is dated back to 325 AD.)

 

(Yosemite Falls)

Day 2- We spent the morning in Mariposa Groves, where the BIG trees live. since we forgot our camera that morning all our pictures are courtesy of Chris.

(The Fallen Monarch)

(this day was cold. and wet.) Note for futures trips, the stroller wasn’t the smartest idea. Our little Maclaren was pretty tough through this hike and so was Henry. With the cold, the rain, and the off-roading we were surprised that both the stroller and Henry did so well. but a front carrier or a backpack would have made a lot more sense. we got quite a lot of stares carrying the stroller up some of the rougher parts of the trail.

(The Grizzly Giant)

(Wawona Tunnel Tree)

(Faithful Couple. Two trees that grew together, cute.)

Mariposa Groves left us cold, wet and with a tired baby. After a little break at the cabin we drove up to Glacier Point, where you can get one of the best views of the Yosemite Valley. there was a lot of filming and picture taking.

Day 3- we started our day by stopping at El Capitan to watch the climbers.

El Capitan is amazing. It’s the largest piece of solid granite in the world, and I am so impressed by those who are skilled enough to climb it. The climb to the top takes more than one day so the climbers will pitch their tents against the wall for the night. I can safely say I wont be doing that anytime soon. or ever.

After El Capitan we went on a hike to Vernal Falls. We started out the hike like this:

the hike was beautiful:

our goal was to make it to the top of Vernal Falls, but our out of shape bodies and sleepy/hungry baby made it so we only made it to the base. just another reason to go back I guess. and so we ended our hike like this:

while henry slept in the car we went to see more of the sights.

whew. quite a post. Yosemite was heavenly. We were sad to leave, and felt like there was so much left still to see. We are already dreaming about going back.

We left Yosemite for Lake Tahoe where we decided to take a surprise side trip to San Francisco! but that is for another post.

 

 

 

 

we are back.

we are back from our vacation and we’re not too happy about it.  playing all day and sleeping in every morning is really too much fun for our own good. and although henry was a dream, travelling with a baby is quite a task and we are still trying to recover. we are also trying to get back into normal everyday life.

we don’t need to mention how many pictures we took, but it was a lot, so hopefully I can get to posting some pictures in the next day or two.  but for now just a picture of baby boy, he turned 4 months this weekend.

rainy days

I have to admit, I have love love loved the weather in utah lately. I know most wouldn’t agree, and don’t get me wrong I love the sun too, but rainy days are probably my favorite.  they’re cozy. and the rain makes everything so fresh and green and I just happen to think our little utah county looks  so beauteeful right now.

our rainy days have been filled with lots of relaxing in our sweats. we have been staying current with the playoffs,

 

and reading some dr. seuss,

as much as we like the rain though, its time for a little sun. I have a little one who absolutely loves being outside and it has been wonderful getting out and enjoying the nice weather the last few days.

I have to share a photo mckay took of the birds nest near our front porch.

it’s basically like a planet earth episode right in front of us : ). we’re pretty excited to see those pretty blue eggs hatch.

exciting news of the week: chris got his mission call today. orsono, chile. it looks like an amazing area and we are all so excited for him.

in other news. saturday we are leaving for what has been called the last big family vacation since chris will be leaving (oct. 12), mairin will be moving to new york in august, and who knows where we will be. we are spending some time in Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, both places neither of us have been before. we are pretty pumped. mckay and no work for two weeks = heaven, and I am delighted I’ll get to spend so much time with both of my boys.

love them.

3 months

our baby turned three months old today. I really can’t believe it. we celebrated of course by enjoying a bubble bath and a nice long nap (henry, not me), playing with monkeys, watching a little how to train your dragon ( he loves watching the bright colors and lights):

a little stroll outside between rainstorms,

and dancing in the kitchen with grandma. we sure do love our sweet boy.

 

 

mothers day and our other blog

Mothers Day might just be my new favorite holiday. Henry’s present to me was starting to sleep 7-8 hours a night this week. I’m starting to feel human again.

it was so fun to spend the day with family, and to talk to brother adam in Israel and brother marty in Australia, at the same time, on speakerphone. 

also. we started another blog. I decided to start a food blog to keep our favorite recipes all in one place. mckay contributed by coming up with a title. check it out if you wish : )

henry goes to the beach

the trip. like I said, it was wonderful. we left saturday morning, the day after graduation. at this point husband and I had a total of 8 hours sleep in the last 48 hours, and we were tired. skeptical of how the 10 hour drive would turn out we left early in the morning hoping for the best. we just so happened to be blessed with a child that does great in the car. he slept practically the whole way. we did have to stop to feed him a few times, which added quite a bit of time to the already long drive. and we are also entering into the world of massive blowouts. im pretty sure we went through 4 outfits by the time we got to carlsbad.

sunday came. easter. I was disappointed I hadn’t had enough time to put together baskets for henry or mckay. I realize henry isn’t even 3 months old yet, so I’m sure he didn’t mind. but it was his first easter. and I didn’t even take pictures of him in his cute easter outfit. fail.

the majority of the trip was spent eating amazing food,  shopping, and relaxing.

we are lucky enough to have family to stay with in Carlsbad. Henry loved being around the Greenwood ladies. he also met Cooper, the Greenwood’s king charles spaniel who desperately wanted to be henry’s friend.

we took a few trips to the beach, the weather was perfect. we learned that henry ray truly loves being outside. whenever he would get fussy we would take him outside and he would quickly calm down and look all around with big wide eyes.  this was especially the case at the beach.

we also made a trip down to the San Diego temple to walk around the grounds. henry seemed to enjoy that as well.

 

mckay and brother chris accidentally matched that day. cutesy.

it was a good day : )

and a good trip.

baby blue eyes

we are back from vacation. it was so so wonderful. although I must say travelling with a baby is completely new territory for us and we are quite exhausted. I’m hoping to write more tomorrow….or maybe the next day.

college grad

April 22 was a special day for us. mckay graduated from byu with a BS in chemical engineering. HOORAY! we are so excited and proud of him.

(it was a big day for the Rytting family, sister Mairin also graduated with a masters in Accounting)

honestly sometimes I felt like this day would never come. so many many late nights for mckay and lots of hard work. its exciting that this day marked the end of his undergraduate career and we can now move on to the next phase of our life. we only wish we knew exactly what we will be doing or where we will be. yep, still waiting to hear from a few schools before we can make a decision on grad school. we’re in a weird state of limbo you could say. 

but at least for now we are  experiencing that state of limbo in beautiful southern california! the day after graduation we packed up the car and headed out on our first vacation as a family of 3….pictures to come : )

 

snapshots

photos of the ryttings lazy days the past week or so.

lots of relaxing and lounging around.

got it. proof that the babe is officially full of smiles.

 

hello sun!

this week mckay attended his very last class at byu. I dare say forever. it’s the end of our byu era and it feels wonderful and a little strange at the same time. mckay has only one final and then graduation next week. we are so excited. and I am so proud of all his hard work.

we have certainly enjoyed having mckay home a little more the last few days.  today took us down to provo for henry’s 2 month check up. our chubs is growing wonderfully. 12 lbs .5 oz.. not really looking forward to immunizations next week. breaks my heart just thinking about it.

speaking of being 2 months old, we still really cant believe how fast time goes. henry changes every day and it is so much fun to see him grow. he’s starting to smile, haven’t been able to capture it on film yet.  nowadays we are loving the bumbo (thanks sandersons! ) he just sits and stares at the lights, so funny.

he truly enjoys bath time.

and we’re pretty sure he is already a jazz fan. watching the jazz beat denver on wednesday was bittersweet.  happy gordon hayward played so well,  and for the win. sad the season is over.

while in provo today we enjoyed the most perfect weather and took a few pictures.

the top one was sent out with mckay’s graduation announcement : ) so exciting!