MAINE

After Alabama, Elly and I flew to Maine to meet up with Daddy and visit Acadia National Park.  We had such a good family vacation and enjoyed every second of it.  When Elly was being a good napper, Jesse and I switched modes from family vacation to 7 year anniversary trip...seven wonderful years with wonderful adventures!

Maine is BEAUTIFUL.  The coast is amazing and Elly got to stick her feet in the Atlantic Ocean.  We went on a Carriage Ride through the park, ate some Lobster, took lots of walks along the coastal paths, waded in the water and walked out to an island during low tide.  

 The weather was great despite being a little chilly in the evenings and getting stuck in a huge rain storm on one of the carriage trails.  Elly is a trooper and did a great job putting up with everything.  God gave us a little babe that seems to love adventures as much as we do and is pretty adaptable to new environments.  This mama is proud of her little one that loves to be on the go and stay busy, busy...even if she wears me out.  Elly is a great traveler...minus a few very rough moments during air travel. 

My two loves on top of Cadillac Mountain during sunset

Maine, we miss you.  Maybe some day we can be back for a longer trip!

Trip to Alabama!!

Elly took her first plane ride to visit my sister and nieces in Alabama :) :)  We loved spending time with Emma and Lila.  It took Elly a few days to get use to Emma and all her energy, but absolutely adored her by the end of the trip.  She was so excited every time Emma came in her room to help get her up from naps and had lots of fun splashing in the water together and "yelling" at each other.  It will be fun to see all 3 of them grow together!

We scolded Emma for splashing too much in the pool because of Ellyse...only to find out it was Elly kicking and splashing!  She is our little water bug.  Not much phases her...even freezing cold water Lila screamed over after her feet touched  and Emma refused to sit in...Oh Elly, you never cease to surprise us.  

Melts my heart

Elly's Summer Visitors

Our first summer with Elly has been a BUSY one.  LOTS of visitors and LOTS of time spent with family.  It has been a blessing, but sure does make time go fast...

 

The Gunns came for a visit!

Laura and the kids along with Grandma Penny came for a visit!

Grandma came for a week and then stayed for her and Pappy's annual camping trip!

  

We were also very saddened to loose my Grandpa on August 23rd and made a couple trips back to Nebraska to say our final goodbyes and for the funeral.  It is so hard to say goodbye and was not the best situation to be going home to Nebraska for, but we did get to spend time with family and for that I am thankful. 

I am so happy Elly got to meet her great Grandpa.  Gramps will be missed soo much

First Camping Trip

Dinosaur National Monument

We deem our first camping trip with Elly a success!  Especially considering mom and dad weren't thinking through things completely and forgot about how hot the Utah dessert could be in the middle of July (maybe it has been the lack of sleep).  Regardless, we have a little trooper and the nights were a perfect temperature for our little Elly to surprise us by sleeping until early morning both nights and then being a lazy baby and sleeping in late.   

Fresh Air = Good Sleep

Besides, if we hadn't braved the Utah dessert, Elly wouldn't have gotten to see Dinosaurs and even "touch" her first Dino bone!!  ...

 

...Or get her first Junior Ranger Badge

...Or seen Dad get bitten by a giant Beetle

What a baby! Mom and Dad are excited for our next adventure with you!

Trip to Nebraska

We had a lot of fun taking our first trip back to Nebraska since having Elly.  It was special getting to introduce her to the family she still hadn't met, especially the great grandmas and grandpas.

Great Grandma Barry and cousin Lila!

Great Grandpa Olson and her cousin twin :)

Great Grandma Donna

Elly's Birthday Buddy, Great Grandpa Don

 

Great Grandma Deloris

Elly loved getting to meet all her little cousins too and it was pretty special for her mama to get to meet her little cousin Lila that was born 2 weeks after her...they are going to be buddies.  We just wish everyone could live closer!

Emma loved having two babies to play with!

Johni Jo and Brockett couldn't get enough of her

Why can't they all live closer?

Elly got to meet her Grandmas and Grandpas soon after she was born!  No one could keep the Grandma's away...

 

 

 

 

Grandpa Randy and Grandma Penny

Her Grand-pappy

Grandma

Our Greatest Adventure Yet...

Having Elly has certainly been a much different kind of adventure than we have been use to, but it has been quite the ADVENTURE! 

The last 3 months have been full of new discoveries and lots of adjusting.  We are a family of 3 now (4 if you want to include the furry beast we call Bella) and God gave us a sweet, independent, nature-loving, so cute it hurts little baby, Ellyse Joy Williams. 

Lake Estes