More pics!

I still don't quite have the hang of making these blogs look nice, especially with all the pics. So...without further ado...

On the Move

Things are getting a bit hectic around here...

We had another appointment with Rita, our nurse practitioner, on Monday. Molly is about 21 and a half weeks and everything is going very well. We are extremely sad to have to leave Rita and find someone new, but we couldn't talk her into moving to Flagstaff with us. She has been so wonderful to us both and has promised to help us find someone in our new town.

We also got to see ultrasound pictures of our little one. That was the best part of the visit. It finally is starting to look like a little baby. He or she was very active during the ultrasound, but never revealed its gender to us, for which we are happy. We want to be surprised, much to the dismay of those wanting to buy gender specific clothes.

We have also been feeling the baby kick this week. I was so excited to come out of the backcountry and start to feel some movement. (Anyone who has seen my karate routine knows where the baby gets its kicks from.)

Molly also had a wonderful baby shower over the weekend thrown by Lora, Deb, and Angela. The baby is already spoiled and still months away from joining us. We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and coworkers, and that is going to be one the hardest things about leaving here.

I have only one more stretch in the backcountry before we head over to Arizona. Molly will make the trip with me, but then return to Sequoia for a couple more weeks (they just can't bear to let her go). We will be leaving somewhere around the September 4th or 5th. We are thrilled that we will not have to do the move ourselves.

More big news!

I came out of the woods a few weeks ago for my normal days off and found out that someone had been checking my references for a job in Flagstaff, Arizona that I had applied for a few months ago. I had a phone interview and was offered the job the next day. I accepted the job on the condition that they find a job for Molly also. As I headed back to the backcountry I was sure of how things were going to pan out. Last Tuesday, Molly had park dispatch notify me by radio that they had found her a job as well!

We will be moving the first week in September. I will stay at Little Five until Labor Weekend which will allow me to finish almost my whole season. We will then pack up the U-Haul and head east. We will be working at what are known as the Flagstaff Monuments -- Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Wuptaki. I will be a Fee Supervisor (a promotion no less) and Molly will continue for Administration, albeit in a slightly different position.

We are both extremely excited. Flagstaff is a bigger town than Three Rivers and will offer more opportunities and what we think is a better place to raise our little one. We hope that you all will find your way to visit us as soon as possible.

Everything is going well. Molly is feeling great and looking spectacular in some of her newly purchased maternity outfits. We went to San Francisco this past weekend for a wedding of a couple of friends from the Park. We stayed with our friend Kim (thanks Kim!) and as usual had a fun-filled exciting weekend. We also stopped at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on the way home -- something we have always wanted to do since we moved to California. We had a lot of fun, and I think I can still taste a little garlic on my breath. We enjoyed a ton of food, including some garlic ice cream.

Now we begin the tedious chore of packing up the house. This is never easy, especially because I will be in the woods most of the next month. We moved to Sequoia in the back of our Ford Explorer -- we will be moving to Arizona in a 24 foot U-Haul truck.

Sorry it's been so long since I have posted a blog. Thing have been hectic around here...

Molly and I flew to Chicago for her cousin Noah's wedding a few weekends ago. We had a great time and it's always fun to be around family. It makes us realize how much we miss everyone and how we wish we lived to closer to one of our families.



We spent some time in Downtown Chicago and also got a chance to visit the Botanical Gardens. We also ate like a couple of pigs at the rehearsal dinner and the wedding as well. Steve got a small break from his normal teasing from the girls as my giant ear cyst provided entertainment for all. It also required a trip to a 24 emergency clinic. I'm always good for a few laughs.

Despite having our luggage redirected (as usual) on the way home it was a great trip. Betsy brought a big bag full of stuff for the little one. She picked out some really cute things and did well at finding stuff that is neither blue nor pink. I know she had fun shopping and we loved getting to see everything she bought. Thanks Bets! Molly also got a little shopping with Mom and sis and they were able to buy her some cute maternity clothes. She even got to try on a pregnant belly. I even
benefited with an expected father book in which we read my cyst could have been part of my sympathetic pregnancy symptoms. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one. Thanks to everyone for a wonderful weekend in the Windy City.

I started my backcountry season the day after we got back. I drove over to the east side of the park with my supervisor (Erika) and then hiked in. I helped some of the east side rangers get their stations set up and then hiked back to the west side of the park. In my 8 days in the woods, I climbed a 14,000 foot peak, dug a new hole for a toilet, cleaned half a dozen fire pits, and hiked over 70 miles. I also learned a new shortcut that gave me the multiple scrapes on my legs that I'm sporting. Tomorrow I will hike into my patrol area my Erika and her husband, Dave, to set up my yurt and my food will come out in the helicopter on the 8th. I will hike back home on Thursday, be home for 4 days, then start my 10 on, 4 off schedule. It's going to be extra hard to leave my wonderful wife this summer. I love her so much and think of her all day when I hike through the wilderness.



Molly is doing so well. I'm so proud of her. It's hotter than Hades around these parts (about 110 or so the last few days) and she manages to work hard, take the dogs for walks, and keep things going while I'm gone. I'm a lucky man.

We go back to the doctor on the 16th. We are still trying to think of names to call the little one before it comes out. Something like Peanut, or Snowball...something that is sexless, but cute. Any suggestions?

Memorial Day

We have been without our computer for over a week so I got a bit behind on our Blog. I wanted to share our pictures from our backpacking trip over Memorial Day weekend. It was so nice to get away from the chaos of the park and town on the busy Holiday weekend.

Molly and I made the long, curvy drive up the Mineral King Road (a drive I will make countless times this summer) and started our hike at Atwell Mill on Saturday morning. The hike is 11 miles one way, but only about 1000 feet elevation gain. It was a fairly warm day, especially considering we were hiking at over 7000 feet in elevation. We took lots of breaks, though, and weren't in any rush to get to the Ranger Station. We even had some leftover homemade pizza from the night before that made for a great trail lunch.

One of the perks of being a backcountry ranger is having access to all the cabins before the season starts. Because of a very light snow year it was easy to get out to the Hockett Ranger Station, also known as the 'Hockett Hilton' because of all its perks. The station has 2 bedrooms, a large kitchen and dining area, a woodstove, and a oven/stove and fridge powered by propane. We didn't fire up the fridge, but the 2 stoves came in handy.


Sunday I had some work to do around the station to get it ready for the ranger who is stationed there for the summer. Since we didn't have any hiking to do we had a relaxing day around the station. There is a large, beautiful meadow in front that is great for wildlife watching. We watched a coyote enjoy a snack of a fawn and later on a bear came by and carried off the carcass. It may sound gross, but it was fascinating to watch.

That night we had a good dinner, played cards, and warmed up with cocoa and a fire in the woodstove. We both slept well knowing we had to hike out the next morning.

The walk out was fairly uneventful although we did see a rattle snake near the trail. I think we both walked a little faster knowing a shower and a good meal was ahead of us. It took us almost 2 hours less to hike out than it had to hike in.

We both had a quiet week of work. Molly has been such a trooper. She hasn't missed any work and has powered through the bouts of nausea she has had. Its getting really hot around here which doesn't make anyone feel good. Even the dogs didn't mind their baths today because the water was cold.

Mol and I went to Fresno yesterday to check out baby and maternity stores. We saw a lot of things we liked, but we were a bit overwhelmed by Babies "R" Us. It was a fun day though.

I'll try to keep everyone updated, busy week ahead, I have BC ranger training.

The news is out!

Yesterday was such an exciting day. I left work early and Molly and I headed into Visalia to see the Doctor. We were so curious to find out how far along Molly is and get a tentative date of our baby. We met with our Family Nurse Practitioner (Rita Barron, who came highly recommended) for the first time and really liked her. She pushed and prodded at Molly and deemed her very healthy and told her to keep doing what she has been doing.

When she found out it was my birthday she said we would definitely need to see a picture of the baby. She brought Molly in for a sonogram and we got to hear the heartbeat (fast!) and a picture of the baby. It was so exciting. She estimated that Mol is about 8 weeks pregnant and gave a very tentative date of arrival for January 1st. We go back in a month for an ultrasound, and she said she would be able to give a more firm date, but it looks like a Christmas/New Year's Baby.

After our appointment we called our families and lifted the gag order we had imposed on them. Our moms were chomping at the bit to share our good news and it's nice to know they don't have to keep anymore secrets.

Besides all the great baby news, Molly and I are are also looking at buying a home. We have a family friend here in town who is a Realtor helping us out. We are excited at the prospect of having a place of our own. Between the house and Molly being pregnant, we except everyone to come visit soon.

My backcountry season is rapidly approaching, and the back bedroom is quickly filling up with lots and lots of yummy food. Molly and I have had a blast filling up carts at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Target. Rita gave Molly the go ahead to hike this summer to see me, just warning her that it would wear her out much quicker than last year. I also can't make her work when she comes out. It will be a relaxing trip, not a working trip. My schedule this summer will be different than last year. I won't be gone the whole summer, I'll work 10 days in the BC and have 4 days off in which I will hike out to be with Molly. This will be better for everyone, but even tougher to be be away from Mol this summer.

Hopefully I can keep you all up to date on this site with pictures and news as the time goes by.

Almost summer...

We enjoyed a couple of overcast days this week, probably our last before the heat of the summer descends upon us. We even had a little rain, which Molly and I always love. Especially when we know we won't see it again for about 6 months.

Molly and I attended our third wedding yesterday in the last month. All three were beautiful in their own way, but each very unique. About the only constant (besides two people getting married) was how gorgeous Molly looked. The highlights of yesterdays nuptials was the setting and a great little Bluegrass band. Molly and I, of course, entertained the guests with our typical dance moves. We may not know what we are doing, but we sure have fun trying.

I am trying to get ready for summer. The food boxes are starting to pile up in the back room and I have begun to sort through my gear that has been boxed up since last October. I will begin this summer lighter than last summer, but probably in worse shape. I am still having knee problems that are limiting my activity. Molly and I took the dogs for a walk today, though, and I was encouraged by how things felt. Maybe the homeopathic stuff is working.

Molly is doing well even though she managed to get a bit of poison oak. (We think Bucky was the culprit.) It seems that one of us gets it every spring. So today she is sporting a little pink in the form of Calamine lotion. She has little bouts of nausea and gets tired a bit more than normal, but otherwise is holding up well. She is a tough cookie.

We are looking forward to our appointment on the 18th. We have lots of questions and we hope to use this as our green light to share our good news with everyone. It was so fun to get to tell our parents and we both are looking forward to the reaction from some of our close friends.

I included a few pictures from the wedding we attended yesterday.

We couldn't wait!

Molly and I were going to try and wait for Mother's Day to tell our folks the big news, but we were too anxious. We made all our calls tonight. It feels so good to be able to share news with our families. Our sisters got to hear right away, so now they don't have to keep any secrets. Our first appointment with the Nurse/Midwife isn't until the 18th, and if everything is going well, we will start telling our friends. And then, of course, the chaos will ensue.

We have gotten a break from the heat the days which has been nice. Molly has been holding up really well, taking her vitamins, and eating well. Tonight she made one of her famous homemade veggie pizzas. (Don't worry, I'm not making her do all the cooking.)

We have another wedding this weekend ('tis the season) and other than that things are quiet in the Park. We are trying to get me ready for another season at Little Five which is rapidly approaching, and someone has a birthday coming up. And sweet boy dog, Hamilton, celebrated his second birthday (14th to him) last week.


















Party dawgs!

First News

Molly and I spent a week in Virginia in mid April. We were there to attend my good friend, Dirty Bird's wedding. While there we stayed at Jellystone Park, home to Yogi and Boo-boo. We had a really nice week that included a cave tour of Luray Caverns, a hike on the Appalachian Trail, and some good times with our friends. We will always remember that trip, however, for something that we couldn't even tell people when we were there...

It was in Cabin 63 at Jellystone Park that we found out Molly was pregnant. We were excited but bummed that we couldn't tell everyone. We did call Molly's sister Betsy (who is a nurse) for advice, and decided to tell my sister to keep things even. It was no coincidence that we called the two people we knew would be most excited for us.

So after running to the store to buy prenatal vitamins we managed to keep things under wraps for the rest of the trip. The biggest challenge was probably coming up for different excuses for why Molly wasn't drinking (we were there for a wedding after all).

We are now back home, but things are far from normal. True to Molly and Will form, we have bought a book (do they make an idiot's guide to parenting?) to help us get ready for the next few months. We settled on "What to expect When You're Expecting" and so far so good. We will be so happy when we can start to tell people of our happy news.

The hot weather has hit Three Rivers already (over 90 today) which makes me worry about the summer. Hopefully there will be no 117 degree days like last summer.

Hopefully I will have a few entries by the time we tell you all what is happening. And I hope you can all follow our journey over the next few months. I will try to get as many pictures of Molly as I can.

The first picture is Molly hanging out with Nick (Dirty Bird) and Shona on the porch of our 'Yogi' cabin.

The second is Molly enjoying a non-alcoholic beverage at Shona and Nick's place.

This last pic is Molly in her "Bombshell" dress that she wore to another wedding in early April.