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

OH the places we've been...Machu Picchu

 

If visiting friends and their families and experiencing authentic Peru wasn't already one of our favorite vacations...a weekend at Machu Picchu really topped it all off!

OH MY GOODNESS...Machu Picchu is impressive.  What a great way to end our trip with some one-on-one time with my honey and get an once in a lifetime experience.  We flew into Cuzco and rode via taxi to Ollantaytambo...a picturesque town full of cobble stone streets along a river.  From Ollantaytambo we traveled to Aguas Callientes via the only route possible:  train. 

Mystic Machu Picchu

The train ride took us deep into the jungle with crazy mountains jutting up on each side of the canyon until we reached the town at the base of Machu Picchu where we spent the night before embarking on our visit to Machu Picchu early the next day. 

It was difficult to see the old ruins at first because of all the mist and fog in the air.  We hiked straight up Waynu Picchu (a steep mountain overlooking the old city).  It was a great hike, but the fog only got worse.  For one brief second we got a glimpse of the city.  The rain started when we reached the top and it was quite the adventure making our way back down the steep trail which had now turned into a miniature waterfall. 



This guy almost ran me over as I was taking
a break. I smelled him before I saw him

temple of the 3 windows

By the time we reached the bottom and started walking through the city, we were soaked, cold, and I was a little miserable and starting to get sick.  Despite all that, it did not take away from the beautiful city.  We spent the entire day roaming the terraces, streets, and every nook and cranny.  We hung out with the alpacas and llamas while the sky cleared and eventually dried out and warmed up.

Peru and Machu Picchu left us with wonderful memories and a yearning to visit more of South America.  If anyone is even slightly tempted to visit this wonderful place...then GO!  It was totally worth it and more beautiful than any picture could capture...even though Jesse did a pretty good job :) 

Yep, we climbed that mountain in the background

 

Beautiful Trujillo...Peru Part Two



When visiting Peru, why should you add Trujillo to your list?



Besides being right next to the ocean, and packed full of history and culture;  Trujillo is the home to Laura y Diego and their beautiful families!

We got the privilege of staying with Diego's family during our weekend in Trujillo and spending a Sunday afternoon at Laura's families' fruit farm.  Trujillo is a beautiful place to visit, but the best part for Jesse and I was simply getting to hangout with our Peruvian friends and experience life in Peru.




Evening at the beach



Afternoon with both families at the farm




Top Ten Things we love about Trujillo:

10. The bright colored buildings

9.  We got to visit the dessert and the beach

8.  Peruvian Desserts

7. Chicken sandwiches

6. Giant corn and cheese...muy rico! 

5.  Burnt up old taxidermy animals

4. Eating at a family owned restaurant

3.  Wandering the fields and picking fruit at the farm

2. Discovering Asian fusion food

AND #1 ...Getting to spend more time with Laura y Diego because we missed them and still do!!  Thanks for letting us visit you.  You made our trip more special, more memorable, and much more fun :) 

 

South America added to the List...Part ONE

Gary, Elizabeth, and us at the zoo

If it is possible, we will always find a way to travel.  It is in our blood now and no matter how young or old or rich or poor, we want to continue adding new and unique places to our bucket lists and once in a life-time experiences.  The World is an amazing place and we have been blessed to continue to explore it.



why so fluffy?

Our Spring 2015 trip to Peru was AMAZING and because of the wonderful hospitality of our Peruvian friends, they made our experience more enjoyable than we could have ever planned on our own. 

We flew into Lima and Roger and Cene kindly greeted us with a driving "tour" of Lima.  We eventually ended up at Gary's place and could not have had a better host for our time in the city.  We enjoyed home-cooked meals, went to the zoo,  played with pet iguanas, encountered 40 + pet rabbits, and felt at home and covered with kindness. 


  Roger, your driving skills in the city are beyond impressive and we would not have wanted anyone else driving us through your crazy city :)  Elizabeth, we are so glad you took the time to see us at the zoo - we miss you!  Gary, you have an amazing family.  Thank you so much for everything and give your Aunt a hug!












All of you, remember to come back to Estes for a visit...you will always have a place to stay with us :)