New Year's Eve

This year Dan and Kim invited us to their house again for a delightful New Year's Eve. This year we got to preview Dan's new bar, Northlight.

Our own private bar.

Kid dinner while we were at the bar.

We made shrimp cocktail. It was yummy.

Maya gets a fancy drink.

Older kid drinks.

Now with the youngers.

Discovering new career paths.

Num num.

A coursed dinner with cool people.

Ladies.

Gents. An "interesting" bunch.

The Valley

We decided to hike around Yosemite Valley. We didn't realize the how long we would be walking.

Dad is ready.

Our first stop.

Across the valley to El Capitan.

After seeing the movie Free Solo, we were extra curious about this giant rock.

It's big.

We found some small trails that led us right up to the face.

 
It's hard to capture the scale.

Up and up and up.

They climbed a little of El Capitan.

 Are you impressed?

Enjoying the sun.

So is Dad.

We continued our long walk. Not sure what's happening here.

Dexter was getting grumpy. Not even climbing on rocks was not cheering him up.

Tree with a butt.

Land of frost.

 

Very cool. Literally.

On we go.

Looking back at where we've been. A long way to go.

Maya's tired too.

Dexter cheered up with these weird mushroom shaped wooden blobs that he kept finding. He shared a detailed story about them before he left them here on the trail for the next person to find.

The last night in our little house.

The next morning we got to see El Capitan one las time before we left.

Skiing in Yosemite

We decided to try skiing in at the small ski resort inside the park. 

 Getting ready.

On the road.

After a very long ski rental line, we are on finally on the slopes.

Up we go.

Dexter approves.

Lunch break.

Both kids can ski!

Beautiful day.

The family.

Sunset while driving through charred landscape from fires.

Sad but still beautiful.

Maya testing out her new GoPro.

Another puzzle victory.

Spiderman and fire.

Columbia Rock

For the next part of the day, we hiked up to Columbia Rock on the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.

Winter hike time!

Rest along the way.

Surprise.

A nice little rock.

On the trail.

At Columbia Rock.

 Nice view.

Hello!

 Climbing rocks.

 The Valley.

Daddio.

With the fam.

 More fun in the rocks.

Too many cute shots.

 Not really sure what is happening here.

El Capitan at sunset.

Maya was showing Dexter how to draw.

Dexter self-portrait.