After three blissful days in Disneyland, we drove the 10 hours back to Reno. The drive was tolerable, really. There were some really picturesque places in that desert we drove through. There was the most beautiful rainstorm at one point in the middle of the desert. And Jim is just a sucker for those small towns. Independance, California really captured his attention with its quaintness.
We got out to stretch next to this lake- Mono Lake, I think. We caught a gorgeous sunset.
We stopped in Bishop, CA at a small roadside bakery. My parents always stop there when they drive down to So Cal, as it's been there for generations- run by a Dutch family.They have the best European goodies I have been able to find in the states! Delish! The even had Italian Gelato. Mmmmmm!
The next day was Elena's 5th birthday and we were lucky to find a grocery store who would make a cake "same-day". She had requested tinkerbell fairies and we all thought they did a great job with it! She loved it and it sure was delicious!
After cake- PRESENTS!
We also took an overnight trip that weekend to San Jose to visit the graves of Jim's grandparents and to visit some of his family there.
We enjoyed a nice dinner with Uncle Fred & Aunt Lenore...
And cousin Mark with his two kids.
Back in Reno, the cousins all had a blast together!
We played in the fountain out at Legends...
We had a picnic at a park in the shadow of the Reno Temple...
and had a picnic on the beach at Lake Tahoe!
The water was chilly, but the sand was warm!
All of us in front of the Reno temple. (Although a bro & sis are missing)
We had such a great trip and it was so hard to come home. Post-vacation depression lasted several weeks afterward. And to this day the kids still re-live Disneyland by often requesting to watch the YouTube clips of the rides. Favorites are Splash Mountain and the Little Mermaid ride.
