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!

NC Zoo

Kyle, Adah and I went to the NC Zoo in Asheboro two weekends ago and met up with our friend Morgan who had brought two kids she babysits.   Kyle nor I had ever been to the zoo (I may have gone when I was a babe but that doesn't count!) and we were excited to see what it was all about.  If you have never been and hope to go sometime here are a few tips:

-go on a weekday if at all possible and miss the Saturday crowd (that being said, we went on a Saturday and it wasn't insane, just be ready for people)
-be aware that there are about 5 miles of walking trails, so wear comfy shoes and mentally prepare!
-if you go after 2pm (closes at 5pm) you can get in free the next day and make it into a two day event
-the park is split into two major areas, North America and Africa

We went for a few hours and enjoyed Africa which included gorillas, zebras, a lion, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, an aviary dome with tropical birds all around (so cool), lemurs, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  We want to go back one day (probably when Adah is old enough to enjoy it) to see North America with its wolves, bears, seals and polar bears (which were off exhibit).  Adah did so great with a little time in the stroller and most of the time in the Ergo baby carrier with daddy.  She was entertained by all the new people and animals and sounds to take in.  She was fast asleep once we were in the car and slept the whole way home!

The flamingos were sleeping!

Isn't this so sweet?!

This tree had crazy thorns on it and made me think of the crown of thorns they made for Jesus.  I have never seen anything like it!

Me and Morgan, we have been friends since we were three!