Gebby's funeral, Utah visit, Sequoia NP . . .

Sloane and Taylor got together again after Taylor's visit to LA, this time in Phoenix for Gebby's funeral. It was a good service and it was nice to see the family again. Sloane is always happy when she gets to see Tay-tay.

Phoenix was super hot, especially outside in the sun.

We spent a lot of the weekend hanging out in Gebby's house with the entire family.

We also got to see Eli and, unfortunately, Loren.

Sloane and Taylor got dressed up for the service at the chapel.

Back in LA.

At the pond in the Japanese garden at the Torrance City Center.

Sloane was trying to feed the fish, but I don't think they liked bread.

After Summer Quarter was over we took a quick road-trip to Utah to hang out with family again.

The girls had a good time even if they were only wearing waterproof diapers.

Back in the car on the drive up to Sequoia National Park. We spent a day up here in early September--it is only about a 3 and 1/2 hours drive from our house. Sloane is chomping away on some apple slices.

We stopped at a restaurant just outside the park. This is Sloane's patented camera "smile." You can tell because both sets of teeth are perfectly visible.

We do our best to catch some candid shots of her while she is unaware of the camera, but they usually don't come out too well.

Sleeping while standing.

She settled down as soon as she got her hands on some pink lemonade--easily her favorite drink. This one was fully disgusting, though.

After about 50 switchbacks we finally got to the park entrance. It was worth the drive if only to get out of the summer heat of the San Joaquin valley. From the base of the Sierra Nevada on the western side, the park road ascends about 7000 feet. The temperature in the park is probably 20-25 degrees cooler than down on the valley floor. The trip is part of our long-term plans to visit every national park in the park system. Ambitious, we know, but probably well worth the time and money it will take to accomplish this goal.

Giant Sequoias are stunning.

Standing on a fallen giant.

Next to its uprooted base.

Driving through Tunnel Log. Grace jumped out and took this shot. There were too many cars to get multiple shots.

General Sherman is the largest tree in the world. Its diameter at chest-height is 40 feet. Its bark is 3 feet thick in some places. Coastal Redwoods grow taller, but those are up in Northern CA. We'll save those for another trip.

Sloane after the hike to General Sherman. She clung to that little baby doll the whole way.

Sloane spelling

Sloane likes to spell with fridge magnets.

Lance's family's visit

Last week Lance's family came to visit from Utah. Mom, Dad, Lane, Lyman, Kelli, Taylor and new baby Grafton all made the drive down I-15.

We all went to Disneyland. This is the family on the hottest-ride-of-the-century--It's A Small World. It's good for the girls.

Sloane was stoked on all the little figurines.

We waited in line at Mickey's house to get a picture with the famous mouse. They were playing clips of old Mickey Mouse cartoons so Taylor and Sloane were hooked.

We finally got there and the whole experience was a little underwhelming. Sloane didn't act very excited and Taylor was a little hesitant to approach the mouse.

Then again, Sloane always has a bit of a suspicious look on her face--especially when looking at dubious mice.
We took a reprieve from the punishing heat outside.

Sloane got a little tired.

But she perked up when we got to the Buzz Lightyear ride. This is one of her favorite characters recently.

She was more than willing to pose for the camera, but we still couldn't get her to smile.

The whole family sans Grace--she's taking the picture.

Our little family.

Buzz Lightyear is a killer ride. They give you these little lazer blasters and you go through the ride shooting all the bad guys and accumulating points. It's fun because you get to compete with your family. This is a picture of Lyman losing the competition.

Sloane liked to shoot the aliens too.

This pic is on the way out. Disneyland's Main Street is a pretty classic scene at night. We couldn't get a very good pic, though.

We hung out with Verna-Grayce, Ester, Honore, and Hester at Hermosa Beach. This beach is really fun. There are no crowds and the water is nice and clean. Sloane and Taylor love the beach and playing the sand.

Sun bathing, working on her tan.

They are cute in their sun hats.

The girls like the water too. Sloane is a little apprehensive, but she'll go in if she is with someone.

San Diego

It's coming up on the end of Spring Quarter so we decided to go visit our friends in San Diego. This is Ryan, Kristen, Maggie, and Jane Lindsay. After the USA v. England World Cup match draw (1-1) we headed to the beach to cruz for a little while.

They took us to this beach called The Cove. It was a pretty happening place. There were caves, sea lions, whales, long-distance swimmers, and tons of people everywhere. When Sloane plays on the shore she is still a little scared of the waves and won't let go of her daddy.

Both Sloane and Maggie got a kick out of the water.

She got soaked from head to toe, which is okay because the water in San Diego is a little warmer than in Santa Monica. It is also a lot cleaner.

Sloane and Maggie got along pretty well.

And this is Sloane making a her patented fake smile for the camera, while Maggie rotates her wrists in excitement.

Lance took her pretty close to the water where she would get fully splashed with the water.

Sloane loves the beach.

The Cove is a pretty scenic little beach park. This is in La Jolla just north of San Diego and just west of UCSD.

Kristen playing with baby Jane.

A lonely seal.

Seals soaking up the sun on the other side of The Cove.

Sloane was stoked by the seals. She's never seen them before and was little confused at first because they mostly just lay there lazily sun-bathing. Some of them got a little feisty, though, especially when one of the younger ones would restlessly climb on top of the others.

Sloane got really focused.