Native American Ranger

We went to a ranger talk about the life of the Ahwaneechee at Yosemite. I learned that they ate acorns and hunted deer, rabbits and traded with the natives in Mono Lakes. They would mash acorns on the big rock in the picture. And they ate fruit from the forest.

Yohemite

This is Yosemite Falls. The white people got the name Yosemite from Yohemite which means "some of them are killers." The Ahwanechee were pointing to the mountain and they thought they were telling the name of the mountain and that is how Yosemite got it's name.

Ahwahneechee

The Ahwahneechee lived in the Yosemite Valley when the White people came. There use to be as much as 200 people in the valley. Our guide for the day was a connected to the tribe that use to live in the valley a long time ago. They were forced out of the park by ranchers. I went to a talk and listened to how they lived long time ago. One of those cedar huts sleeps a family of 6 with their things inside too.

Meadows so green

I love the meadows with the grass that the Ahwahneechee used and are still using to make baskets. We saw birds and deers in the meadows. My mom and dad loves the flowers growing all over the place.

Yosemite National Park

We spent a whole day at Yosemite National Park. This was our first hike - to Bridalveil Fall. We were getting wet close to the waterfall but it was beautiful. We saw a lot of waterfalls in the Park and a lot of rock mountains.

Yosemite National Park

This is Half Dome. My dad climbed this before I was born. It looks like a big version of the cliff by the sea in Titahi Bay. But this one was carved by a glacier while the one in Titahi Bay was carved by the sea and the wind.

Old Picture of General Grant Tree

Here is an old picture of General Grant, another big one but now as big as Sherman, which shows how many people can stand in front of the tree. They are all fenced around it now and you cannot go close to these live ancient ones. This can help you imagine how big they are. They don't even it the camera unless you walk very far from them.

Baby Sequoias

These ones are baby ones like me. I can pat the top of the tree before they grow into these big ones in a thousand years. If you touch the tops to close, your hands get sap on them. It is nice to see a lot of the young ones around the forest.

Food Lockers that are Bear Proof

These are bear proof food lockers so the bears don't destroy your car and eat your food. They have these at the parking lots that are in bear territory. We went walking and didn't see one. I was afraid of them and stayed close to my mom and dad.

A Young Sequoia Like Me

I tried to hug a young Sequoia at the Redwood trail. It was big but I saw a lot of young ones all over the place and I patted the top. Someday they will get so big I won't be able to touch their tops anymore. They got something sappy on to leaves of the young trees. The ponderosa pine, different from the sequoia, smelled like vanilla. It was yummy.

This is the root part of the fallen ancient. I won't know how old this one is.

A Fallen Ancient Sequoia

This is the "Fallen Ancient" and the middle is hallow we were able to walk through the tree from the root to the top. Noone knows when it fell and when it got burned (before or after it fell).

General Sherman Tree

General Sherman is one of the oldest and biggest living thing alive on earth. It is bigger than an elephant and a whale. They can heal themselves when they are hurt from fire and rot really slow. Their seed are soo small but they live for thousands of years. This one was alive then Jesus was alive. They only grow up in the mountains.

Deer spotting

I spotted two deers and mom spotted two more. They were just lazing about in the shade. Some were eating some were just looking at us. Do you see them. They are camouflaged. We spotted a total of seven deers.

Roasting Marshmellows

After the Ranger talk about the caves

around the area and the animals in the park, she gave us marshmellows and they were so good. She gave me a booklet to answer so I can get a junior badge. I answered finished the booklet today and became a Junior Ranger and promised to protect the national park and enjoy and share my experience of the park.

These are the "little apples" of the manzanita. But I don't think people can eat them.

Manzanita

This is a manzanita tree. It has little apple like fruits. We don't know if you can eat them but the bark of the tree is very smooth and the fruit are tiny.

Give Plants a Chance, Keep on the Path

At the Parks, I learned something about protecting and sharing the park with other people and not taking things from the park. We read signs and follow them like not stepping off the path so you can give the plants a chance. Here is one of the signs we see around.

Native Americas lived Sequoia and Kings Canyon

The Native Americans lived in Sequoia and Kings Canyon a long time ago. They have sacred caves and special areas around the park.

Here is a hide from a bear at the Sequoia National Park Museum. On it, is a deer skull and its rack. Bears are still found in the area. One of the lodge employees said that sometimes one of the bears would just stroll as a campfire talk is going. We went to a campfire ranger talk and didn't see a bear. But we got to cook marshmellows.

Bear paws

These bear paws are leathery and the claws are pokey. They are padded and tough. A hobbit probably has feet like these. These must be just baby ones because the black bears can be around 400 pounds for the females and 600 pounds for the males.

Animals at the park

These are the some of the animals you can find in the park. My dad saw a bear during his previous visit a long time ago. I spotted four deers, a rabbit, squirrels, woodpeckers, blue jays and other birds, huge black ant colony, millipede, a scorpion, and wood beetles. This ones in the pictures we saw at the museum in the park. There is even a bird that dives in the water called a dipper.

Sequoia National Park

We, my dad, mom and I, went to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. We spent two days at the parks and driving in you can see Moro Rock. My dad said he has climbed this rock before I was born.

Monrovia Friday Street Market

My Dad, my mom and I went to the Monrovia Market in the evening. They close the streets every Friday. There were also all sorts of stuff but my favorite was the big toy store, the balloon stand, and the original kettle corn stand where they cook the popcorn right in front of me. It was like the Petone Street Festivals but they do it every week. Fun!!!

Speed Car

Last week, we went to an amusement place with our friends and we did a game with cars. They are like race cars but children can drive them, but I didn't drive it. We had a ton of fun over there and I want to do it again.

An Evening at East West Players

We saw "Merry Me A Little" and "The Last Five Years" at East West Players where my Uncle Jeffrey works. Both were musicals about men and women doing creative stuff - singing, dancing, acting. I met two of the performers, Jennifer Paz and Michael K. Lee. My mom, dad and Auntie Janet were with us to see the show. They enjoy the show.

END OF YEAR MUSIC CONCERT

My family watched my cousins, Cody and Kylie, play in the Jazz and String orchestra at the La Crescental High School. You can see Cody playing in his Jazz band. It was hard to see them in the big orchestra because the group was so big. I loved it that they played a lot of Disney songs that I know. My cousins play the keyboard, the violin and the viola!

"UP" 3d movie

I watched "UP" with Makaio and Nolan. I love the endangered bird and the dog, Doug, talking. The little boy was funny. The characters were great. The balloons were so colourful. My mom and dad said it was the best animation yet. We can't wait to see Uncle Ricky in San Francisco. He worked on this movie. Loved it Uncle Ricky. We are your greatest fan.

Vivaldi Spring Concert

This was taken at the Pasadena Church. It was fun watching all the kids perform classical music on different instruments. This one was done on bells. Wish I can joing this group someday. The concert was called, "Vivaldi's Spring". They even gave out Vivaldi four seasons tea with cookies and crackers.

Pilipino church in Walnut

We went to mass at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Walnut, California. It is a Pilipino church and I am standing in front of the statue of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.

At the beach in San Diego

Cl aire and I are playing on the beach. It was a wonderful sunny day. The sun was not very strong. The water was cold so we just played on the sand. I wish I can come here everyday.

Meeting the rellies

We went to San Diego to meet my relatives. My Grandma and my Grandma's sister were celebrating their birthdays together. I played all memorial weekend long. We even went to the beach at the Naval Base where one of my uncles work.

Doing correspondence lessons at the Public Library

I like the public Library at West Covina. We get to stay in a quiet place and work on a big table and lots of books. The librarian is very helpful even when I just have to ask spelling questions.

At the Americana, Glendale

This is my friend Makaio with her mom Janet. I spent time playing with Makaio when he is not in school. This place has a playground in the sand and dancing fountains.

For my cooking lesson - Krispy Kreme

I went to Krispy Kreme to see them make donuts and I love to eat them. The dough dropped into the hot oil and then they moved to sugar. Someone checks to see if the donuts are broken or if they come out funny. When they are perfect, they put them out on the window at the counter. And they are deliciously sweet.

Ant'hillvania

We also watched "Ant'hillvania" at the Lake Church in Pasadena where my friend goes to school. And I meet two Ants. She was very friendly. It was a good show and there was a lesson that went with it. It was like the prodigal son.

Jazz band

My cousin Cody's High School Jazz Band played at Glendale. It was nice to listen to the band.

Getting Autographs

This is Nolan and me getting autographs from the performers. I told them I was from New Zealand and they told me to enjoy my visit here in California. It was the most spectacular thing in the world. Fun fun fun.

Cast of Jesus Christ Superstar

We met some of the cast from the show. This is Jasmine and she is the niece of my Godmother Jennifer. It was fun seeing the cast and getting their autograph.