Haircut!

After some deliberation I decided Ellie needed a haircut last Semptember.

{wispy crazy}

{we did pigtails before the big chop}

So, I cut it. Yup, me! Came out pretty cute, too, if I do say so myself.

{we miss Grandma}

I've since trimmed it up a couple of times, and taken her to a real hairstylist to fix my mistakes a couple of times. Sometimes I wonder if she'll want to grow it out or if I made the right choice, but I like her little bob and it sure is easy to keep combed out!

It's kind of funny doing this almost a year later because her hair is so much fuller now. You'll see. I'll get there eventually.

Maui is Heaven

Pete's parents, who are always very very generous (as are all of our families, we are very fortunate), flew the three of us and Aunt Su Su to Maui to stay at a resort for a week. A WEEK! Holy smokes, that was a fabulous time.

First of all, the resort was gorgeous. Fabulous pool with awesome slides right out our back door. Beach just a few feet away. It even had an adults only pool that served cocktails. IN THE POOL. You looked out over the pool edge to see the coast and ocean and beauty. And typical Maui weather, 80's and dry all. day. long. For a WEEK.

{resort entrance}


{view from our room}


{beach even a 1.75 year old could walk to from our room}

Then, we went on this awesome bike trip down the side of Haleakala after freezing our behinds off to watch the most amazing sunrise I've ever seen. I'm not even sure how to describe it except to say we were above the clouds. And it was really really really cold, and I hate being cold, and it was absolutely worth it.

I did not want to go on this ride by the way. Getting up ridiculously early (I don't care what time it was back home) to freeze for 30 minutes in the dark and then fly down the side of a very tall mountain on a tiny bike did not sound like fun to me. I was wrong. I can admit that.

Then, they have this really amazing aquarium. Really amazing! Ellie was fascinated. The best part was they had basically a tunnel through a tank with a small portion of the floor that was see-through. The reaction from Ellie running down the tunnel then realizing she was about to cross an "open" pit was hilarious. Wish we'd caught that on video.

{the wind is always blowing on this part of the island}

Then, the grandparents took Ellie for the day and Pete and I just explored the island. We hit the little winery, and then we ventured a bit further south and saw the sights.

The story of the black rocks is these are not tiny pebbles and they make the most amazing rumbling sound in the surf. It was impossible to get a recording of it because the wind is always blowing, but it was definitely worth a trip to hear it.

Otherwise, we just had an amazing time hanging out with the grandparents and relaxing and enjoying everything about this entire trip.

Even the plane ride home wasn't too horrific.

Sometimes I Wake Up Crabby

Sometimes I let her sleep. That's Pete's favorite joke. He's sooooooooooooooooooooo funny. Crab fest at Scruncle and Aunt Julie's marina gave Ellie her first boat ride! An important rite of passage in this family. And resulted in one of my favorite videos of her.

The "wee" is so convincing, don't you think? Anyway, we all had a good time, and overdosed on crabs and old bay.

Yum.

A Wedding

Next on our cross-country trip, a visit to Portland for my brother's wedding. We had a fabulous time and it was a gorgeous ceremony and reception. Her family was so welcoming, and I haven't seen my brother so happy in a long time.

We had too much fun at the rehearsal dinner to get many pictures but Ellie looked awfully cute in her little dress.

First were pre-wedding pictures, then ceremony, then the obligatory bubble blowing, etc.

{so sweet}

{my favorite picture ever}

{Grandpa Mac did, in fact, wear a tux}

I love these pictures because you can just see how much fun we're all having, everyone's so happy. And now let the wild rumpus start (can you tell what we've been reading lately?).

The reception was truly a blast. It was on the family farm, an amazing piece of property. They had a dance floor set up with tables surrounding, amazing food, everyone just let loose and had fun. Great toasts, yummy cake, good beer, perfect weather. Ellie tore up the dance floor all evening long.

I had a gazillion more pictures I wanted to post, but instead I'll just point you to the flickr group if you want more. Welcome to the family, Aunt Mary!!

You're How Old?

We took a little side jaunt over to Omaha for Pete's 20th (!) high school reunion. We stayed with some friends and they hired a babysitter to watch their two kids and Ellie so we could go out and enjoy the evening.

We also had to hit the fabulous Omaha zoo where Ellie got another chance to ride a carousel and got up close and personal with some goats and other pet-able "wildlife."

It was an excellent little side trip. I think I had more fun at his reunion than I had at mine.

I-O-W-A

Back to Iowa in July as part of another cross-country adventure. We took to the air this time.

It was a little chilly but Ellie still had fun playing in the little pool my mom set up.

{Grandpa Mac is so cute with Ellie}

When I was a kid the best place in the world was City Park, they had tons of playgrounds, the Iowa River ran through, an outdoor pool with a super-tall diving board, and a little amusement park. We did it all, rode the train and the marry-go-round, played on the slides, chased the ducks, had a blast.

Ellie wasn't sure about the merry-go-round at first, but in the end she didn't want to get off.