Day 8 - We braved the streets of the big city one more time. The boys really wanted to ride the trolley but I just couldn't see how I would manage that. We would have to wait in line, which is not a strong suit for the boys, then we get on and ride it clear across town. Then what? We'd get back in line and ride it back? I am all for adventures but somehow I am just too uncomfortable riding the trolley. I don't want to get stuck somewhere in this big town with the...

Day 7 - when we first drove downtown last night, I was very hesitant about being in this big city by myself with two little boys. Upon awaking this morning however, I felt much more confident that the kids and I could handle this busy place. We had a long discussion about the importance of staying right at my side while downtown. We talked about how to handle strange people, not staring, not having to be the first to push the crosswalk button and holding my hand ...

Day 6 - Carson and I woke up at the same time and crawled out of the tent. Once the coffee and cocoa were made Bodie crawled out I the tent and immediately the stick swords returned and the boys were off to fight whatever evil lurked behind the trees. Given that it is Sunday in the middle of summer, I decided that going into Yosemite Valley would be more headache than it was worth. There is always a ton of traffic and people besides the fact that the boys would s...

Day 5 - We left Patty and Fred this morning for our next adventure. It's a short hour and a half drive from their house to the east entrance of Yosemite via Tioga Pass. Being that's it's high tourist season and Saturday, I felt the only chance of getting a campsite would be an early start. Reservations at Yosemite campsites have to made a year in advance but there are several first come first served campgrounds in the upper meadows away from the highly popular va...

We are staying with Patty and Fred just outside of Mammoth Lakes, CA. In 2001, I started working as an educational assistant in Patty's preschool special needs classroom at Mammoth Elementary. By 2003, I had gotten my teaching credential and started teaching K, 1, 2 special education at Mammoth Elementary. We took a little trip down memory lane as we drove through Mammoth today. I took the kids to the elementary school where I taught and showed Bodie my former cl...