The California Desert

My cousin, Maiya, who lives near Palm Springs, California got married on May 19th and my parents, my sister's family and us all went and decided to make a trip out of it.  Along with some aunts, uncles and cousins we rented a house for the week leading up to the wedding.  The house where Maiya got married was directly across the street from where we stayed.  It was such a lovely week of celebrating Maiya and Rusty, lounging by the pool, visiting with family, and doing some site seeing in the area.

We went to a local zoo and saw wolves, a bobcat, this cute badger among others.  We saw two roadrunners by the pool in our backyard! They are just like the cartoon!

We went on a crazy tram ride that takes you up the side of this mountain in a glass walled, rotating tram.  My mom (who has a difficult time on merry-go-rounds) was not a huge fan! It was a cool 70 degrees at the top where we saw the eclipse through a welder's mask and the beautiful views down below.

Adah and Eva loved the pool!  It was so great having Kyle and Brad around all week and just getting to be with everyone each day.  Adah loved seeing her Nana and Pap all week and I know they felt the same about her and Eva.  

The desert is a crazy place! I guess it is just what you would think the desert would be like but being there and experiencing it is so different than just reading about it.  It doesn't rain there.  Seriously, it rains once a year.  I saw two clouds the whole time! Think blue sky and blazing sun constantly.  The towns are situated in a valley and there are mountains all around.  They have misters everywhere that you would think would get you all wet but really have a nice cooling effect.  When you are driving instead of the medians in the road being grassy they are sandy with cacti and some beautiful desert plants and flowers.  I don't know why this was so alarming to me.  The desert has a beauty of its own and unlike anything I have ever experienced.  

This is the only picture we got at the wedding! Proof that it is a bit crazy having a baby at a wedding :)  It was a lovely ceremony and reception and we are so glad we were able to be a part of it! Congratulations Maiya and Rusty, we are so happy for yall!

Thank you self-timer for this photo of us, the Gerstmyers, McCahans and Aunt Carol and Uncle George!