Home School and RGB

Well, life has been pretty rough lately with endless COVID, fires, and scary politics. RBG dying was another blow. We keep on going.

Dexter at school and at Daddy's work, aka the studio behind our house.

Love the smiles.

At a vigil for RBG shortly after her death. 

RBG is a personal hero and will be missed.

Covid School

Well, it's time to go "back to school." This year the kids didn't go very far. 

The kids got dragged out onto the stairs for their usual first day of school photo. This year no shoes required because they weren't going anywhere.

Time for "screen school" as Dexter calls it.

Maya's classroom.

Dexter's classroom. Here we go...

Mini Golf and Pine Cones

To finish out our time in Tahoe, we found a couple of interesting things to do.

Feeling like doing something meditative? How about piling all the giant pine cones in backyard into one big pile to freak out the squirrels. That's what Mom and Dexter did.

Mini golf!

Life is good out on the back nine.

We'll see you later Tahoe.

 

Kayaking

We decided to check out the lake on Kayaks!

We rented some kayaks from Sand Harbor Beach and headed south along the east shore of the lake. 

The kids were unreliably helpful.

Kids on a rock.

View from the other kayak.

First we stopped at Chimney Beach. 

Dexter finds some boulders.

Finally, after a lot of rowing we decided not to go to go to Secret Cove Beach which seemed to be the location of a Covid nude beach party. Instead, we continued to the more mellow Secret Harbor Beach. It was nice here except for some very aggressive yellow jackets.

The kids didn't dare come out of the water with the yellow jackets buzzing.

It was pretty though!

The long trek back.

 

A Tahoe Finale

The end of summer had arrived and we decided to spend the last few days before the new school year in Tahoe. Fires are raging in California, so we were nervous that the trip wouldn't work out, but it was pretty clear and not super smokey. 

King's Beach.

Discovering the remnants of the wildlife.

Hole with moat.

Buried in the sand.

Tube time.

One Night in LA

After Sedona, we started the long drive home. We decided to stop for one evening in LA to break up the very long drive and see people we like. We stayed at a little boutique hotel in Burbank and then we trekked over for an outdoor gathering with Annabelle and Allen.

At Annabelle and Allen's house we spent time in the yard and realized we've never spent time back there. Quite nice. They brought out their dining room table for the affair.

Todd hangs in driveway.

This cute couple.

Couple with kids making bizarre potions in the background.

Potion making was big hit by these fountains.

Hilarious rest stop signage on the final trek home.

Fun Hike

After learning our lesson the day before, we reworked our strategy for today's hike. We arrived at the West Fork trailhead when the parking lot opened at 6:45am. We aren't early birds, but this was a much better way to hike.

Heading into the trail.

We brought our water shoes for all the river crossings.

In the canyon.

Tree hugging time.

Near the end of the hike, we adventured on up the river.

Beautiful.

Canyon kid.

Chilling with some snacks.

Adventuring even further.

Happy hiking is better than unhappy hiking.

This is great!

Having fun all alone in the canyon.

Crazy shot.

Maya and Dexter start making sand castles while Dad sits on a rock.

Lovely.

Dad stayed on the rock while everyone else when a little further up the river.

Dad contemplating.

We stopped up here and Maya and Dexter made another castle. 

Heading back out.

So cool!

Tunnel.

A much better day!

Making our way back to the car as the temperature is getting hotter. Thankfully, the stream is always there.

This was a great hike.

After hiking excitement we got to say hello to Laurie Dawe and her husband, Dick. She is Lulu's cousin and she suggested the West Fork hike. Today was the day that they got a new puppy.

Kids loved meeting Charlie!