This July 4th we spent the weekend camping at Henry Coe State Park, located southeast of San Jose, CA. The photos here are a mixture of ones we took and those taken by friends.
Keeping cool at the campground.
A king snake that Becca, Mark, and Lee Hsiang saw on their hike.
The park was beautiful but is also quite hot and thirsty this time of year.
Paul and Lena taking a break in the shade to read books.
Picnic lunch with friends.
Lena was entranced by Morgan's dromedary bag which was great because she drank tons of water!
Hiking into the hills above the campground.
Looking back towards our campsite.
Exploring the barn at the visitor's center.
Lena back at the water hose (drinking on the wing).
The three of us (nice to have a few photos of us all together).
Morgan and Lena.
A very cool wasp dragging a dead spider back to its hole for a meal (video below).
Lena playing in Becca & Mark's tent.
Lena enthusiastically pointing out poop (coyote?) on the trail.
The gang from L to R: Mark, Paul, Becca, Morgan, Lena, Lee Hsiang.
Mark & Becca.
Lena making mud soup for the raccoons that visited our campsite.
Little dirt ball having a blast.
Paul and Lena looking for birds at dawn with their binoculars.
Mudball making mud soup.
After a couple days & nights at Henry Coe we beat a retreat to the coast to get out of the heat. Indeed the coast over near Santa Cruz wasn't hot at all! Here Lena wears her fleece hat at a park a bit north of Santa Cruz on July 4.
Lena and Lee Hsiang.
Playing with Lena's stomp rocket.
Riley and Treat hanging out at home.
Here is the fantastic video of the wasp and its spider meal.
Preparing for a trip this weekend so will be brief but wanted to post a few photos and videos from last weekend before we go. Last weekend Candace (Morgan's mom), Gillian & Alan (Paul's mom & dad) Jennifer (Paul's aunt), and Sol (Paul's uncle) were in town for a visit. The first batch of photos are of Lena on Sunday morning when she discovered green cats that had "sprouted" up all over the house (courtesy of Candace & Morgan and inspired by a book Candace had brought with her to read with Lena). Here Lena points excitedly at one of the cats in the window. 
Cat in the kitchen.
More cats!
Even more (and a rather large orange one as well).
Lena taking a break from photographing cats to snap one of her 'rents.
MomG (Gillian) and Lena cruising through the backyard looking at secret worlds under rocks and logs.
Sol and Lena laughing during dinner. It was a real treat to have everyone together for a meal.
As part of the festivities we celebrated Morgan's birthday. Morgan's birthday is actually on Saturday (when we'll be flying to NC) and so we celebrated all together last Sunday and then again on Wednesday night. Here Lena shows Morgan how to open her presents.
Delicious chocolate cake courtesy of Lena's great grandmother, MomHelen.
