Us, multiplied...

we celebrated our six-year-anniversary over the weekend with a little trip into the mountains. we like to take a trip every year although last year's was just for the day since i was about as big as a mountain myself :)

we stopped on our way over carson pass for a nice little morning hike. somebody was in a very good mood and ready to go after her nap!

early july, the mountains are so alive and vibrant, opening up to show us earth's treasure box.

and speaking of treasure boxes, i've just got to shout it from the mountaintops: I'M HAVING ANOTHER BABY! after trying so long for our first, it was almost more surprising this time around ;) everyone says once you have one, it just opens the floodgates but i had a hard time believing that for us and even though we always wanted a bigger family i thought, i will be content with this child no matter what happens. and then bam, here we go again! needless to say we are very excited to expand our family, and have little siblings just 18 months apart. lucy is going to be the most amazing sister.

onward with the journey. we found frog lake with nice cool water and shade to eat our lunch.

lucy wants to hold her own sandwich these days, which doesn't last long before all the contents slip into the dirt.

....so mommy helps.

our little adventuress.

she loves to goof around with daddy.

 mother nature's goddess garden, wildflowers all in a row.

it was heaven to be up here with my family, feeling great and lively again after several weeks of consuming nausea and exhaustion. i felt like i had stepped out of a fog. i love the beginning of the second trimester!

hit the road in the early afternoon and crossed those mountains to the east side.

a sparklingly HOT day in the mountains, a sizzle of sunshine on everything, all of it glad and welcoming.

after about an hour of sleep i peeked back to find this. lucy quietly reading.

we stayed at El Mono Motel in Lee Vining, which is right at Mono Lake and Tioga Pass. a tiny town and a quaint little place with the prettiest garden you ever did see.  

the perfect setting for a beer or a cup of coffee.

we had dinner at the world-famous Mobil gas station at Tioga Pass...i'm not even kidding.

it is supposedly a five-star gourmet eatery inside a gas station. did it live up to the hype? kind of, but there were very few vegetarian choices. the pizza was good though, really good. it was fun to people watch as folks from all around the world stopped by and stood in line on their way out of yosemite.

then back to enjoy a perfect sunset in our paradise garden.

delicious coffee at our motel in the morning, such a treat.

plus lucy made an international friend :) this little german gal was one month older than toot.

of course i had to follow tradition and wear my anniversary dress. in case you haven't seen it before, my mom made it for me to change into for dancing and partying at my wedding and i wear it every year on my anniversary. it is made of white cotton eyelet and it wraps around, so it fit a big pregnant belly last year :)

and it fit a little pregnant belly this year. (well not really all that little, i am shocked how fast my belly is growing this time around!)

after a stop by strange and haunting mono lake....

we were on our way across Tioga Pass. one of the most breathtaking drives i've ever taken, it was truly a spectacular way to come into Yosemite. we stopped at the tuolomne meadows visitor center. we only had a day to visit the busiest national park in california, so we didn't really plan anything, just wanted to take in a few sights. next time we will go back with more time, better plans, and hopefully some secrets from seasoned park-goers ;) knowing now how crazy it was down on the valley floor, i'd go back and spend the whole day in tuolomne meadows, where it was cool and refreshingly sparse on visitors.

first glimpse at the valley, it is indeed pretty spectacular.

it was 106 degrees in the valley and we can't run the air conditioner in our car. so it got a bit hairy. we were sweaty and grumpty after a hellish traffic jam in the vast network of parking lot loops so we skipped the visitor center and headed on, admittedly, the park's easiest and busiest hike, yosemite falls. how could we miss a glimpse at the tallest falls in north america?

it was a nice little hike, and i tried to detach myself at least once in while from the crowd and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me. i admit, it was kinda hard, it was just too crowded for me, as much as i'd expected that. maybe if i lived in the city and was used to crowds it would feel more bearable, but next time i am definitely steering clear of the big crowds and heading for the lesser used parts of the park!

yosemite falls. i was so desperate to get in the water down by the bridge (a thousand other people were too) that i could barely take in the height and majesty of the waterfall!

in the afternoon on our way out we found a quiet spot along the merced river and had a quick picnic in the shade with all our leftover food. lucy is a huge fan of mangoes.

and i got to take another quick dip before a fairly grueling drive home in 100+ heat with a fussy sweaty baby and no shade for miles and miles :) and in the interest of honesty, when i run out of ice water, and i'm pregnant, i am not a pleasant person.

i loved our weekend getaway and wouldn't change a thing, not even the crowds! i love having a stash of crazy memories of all sorts and road trips gotta include it all...besides it gets me feeling adventurous and spirited which i'm gonna have to be with two babies under two! i'm ready!

i wish you all peace, love and freedom for the fourth of july :)