Trip to Yosemite

We went to Yosemite National Park last week. (Pictures courtesy of Edna)

The favorite activities (most preferred first) were
1. Throwing rocks in the river
2. Climbing on rocks
3. Seeing waterfalls
4. Drinking hot chocolate
5. Riding on the park bus
6. Looking at wildlife
7. Riding in the car
...
99. Sleeping
100. Hiking

We received many smiles and few scowls from other hikers at the park as our girls were collapsed, crying on the trail, begging us to carry them for part of the 1000ft paved "hike" up to Bridal Veil Falls. Wills were exerted, and character was built.

We eventually made it up the path as some sort of disjointed family slinky - with parents periodically hiking in place and children eventually running to catch up. I don't know that I could say I "enjoyed" the hikes, but I did not necessarily dislike them either. But it did end in the only picture with all four of us in it.

Although I can't claim to understand the pattern of not wanting to hike because there were other times when they were skipping and running down the trails. If it was cold (and it was chilly in the morning), Camy definitely wanted to be carried.

For other hikes we traveled like this:

Here are the girls in a "cave" we found while climbing rocks:

We also stopped by the Ahwahnee Hotel to warm up. The girls spent most of their time on the warming bench in the fireplace trying to blow out the fire.

We did see deer, squirels, stellar jays, crows, and ducks. No bears. I would be hibernating by then if I were a bear.

The girls were very excited to see the rainbows in the water falls. They also enjoyed throwing rocks whenever the occasion arose.

Women in Business Conference

This last weekend I went to Utah for BYU's first annual Women in Business Conference. I've been working with a few other women (and an extremely supportive crew at BYU) to organize this event for about a year and a half. It was fantastic and exceeded our expectations. I absolutely enjoyed it!

The event was filled to capacity- 250 women, including many great friends that I haven't seen in years. Getting the chance to reconnect with these women was the highlight of the conference for me. I found it inspiring to see a large and varied group women who are smart, hardworking, focused on the gospel, and happy. Though many of us are often criticized for pursuing careers and many have not had the ideal major life events (thus leading our pursuit of career), this didn't really come out. The focus was on the good we can do and how we can support each other.

I meet Whitney Johnson (author of my favorite blog)- she is just as wonderful in person as she is in her blog.

I also spent time with my family. I'm realizing both that I am more like my family than anyone else, and that I also like my family more than anyone else. They/we are hilariously fun.

And with the weekend theme of strong, smart, good women, I spent Sunday with my Grandma. She is 93, but still active and sharp. She was just as lucky as I am in finding a great husband who supported all of her crazy schemes. He supported her decision to go to graduate school in Boston when they had 3 young kids (in the 50's); he never pushed her to join the church that he loved (though she eventually did); and he cared for her through all of her health problems. With her, too, I saw more of myself in her than I have before.

Then I came home to my little girls and my husband. Despite the tantrums, dirty laundry, dirty dishes, and other household work, I am so glad to be home with my family....but excited for next year's conference!