So Nice

It is just so nice to be home. We've been spending the past day or two doing tragically normal things. Yesterday we took our trip to the grocery store. Ella is now infamous there for her rides in the shopping CARt... but new this week she started beeping. Anytime someone would be in our way, she would point to the horn and "beep beep" at them. Luckily she did it with a very cute smile and no one seemed to mind her pushiness.



Other than that, life has been spent mowing the lawn, talking with the neighbors, and playing a lot. We took one small trip to a local zoo yesterday. We had never been there before and from the smell I suspect we won't be back. She did get a chance to meet other little girls and play a little.



Ella didn't seem to impressed with the animals either - although they did have a ton of wonderful animals.



Mostly she just liked picking up rocks.

Road Trip: Home at Last!!

We woke up early and got ready to head out on our final leg of our trip. Dad looked out the hotel window and saw the "hot" sign on at the Krispy Kreme. After a quick pit stop we took a short ride to the coal mines, sadly we had just missed the tour leaving, so instead we hit the gift shop hard. We then took a trip to Ella's Great Grandmother's favorite candy store - opened in 1904. It hasn't changed a bit.





We drove the 3 hours to Connecticut to visit Great Grandma and to deliver the chocolate we bought at the candy kitchen. We had a nice lunch and chatted.



We stopped for a donut and coffee or two and off to Massachusetts we went. We made it home safe and sound. It is so nice to be home.

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Here are our trip's stats:

Miles traveled: 2,470

States visited: 11 (and one district of Columbia)

Gas stops: 5

Deer Roadkill: 12 (Live Deer: 2)

Types of food consumed with Bourbon in the name: 7

(We did visit Kentucky!)

Diapers used: 70

Souvenier Pennies squished: 5

Speeding tickets: 0

Flat tires: 0

Broken Bones: 0

Small Miracles: 3

Hotel pools used: 4

Sippy cups lost: 1 (Sippy cups gained: 3)

Photos taken: 924

Puppies missed: 2

Road Trip: Pennsylvania!

From Gettysburg to Scranton we went. The last night of our trip. We didn't get to see much outside of our hotel in Gettysburg unfortunately, there was just not enough time! We did spend a little time shopping in the town center...



Then a little wine tasting and for Ella a little running around. But we had to pack up the car and head out. (The best part about this picture is that Ella put herself there with no help or prompting from us.)



We grabbed a quick breakfast and left town on our way to Scranton. Ella had another first at the family restaurant we stopped at - jelly. She decide though that now toast is over rated as she licked and licked all of the jelly clear off and left the bread behind. Funny kid.



The three hour drive to Scranton was simply nerve wracking as this was our view...



Every time a truck passed it would take about 5 seconds before it had disappeared, and sadly this was the entire trip. Luckily we made it safely and even had time to drop by a Chuck E. Cheese we happened to pass on the way back from lunch.

Once we hit Scranton we checked into our hotel, dropped off our worldly belongings and headed out to visit Great Aunt Helen and Uncle Mike. We took a half a mile walk to a yummy Italian restaurant and chatted away. Afterwards we went back to their house and Ella played with Uncle Mike, giving him a run for his money as they looped around and around the house. Plus she ate a giant piece of chocolate cake and chatted too.



It was another great evening. Tomorrow we're heading home.

Road Trip: OH to PA

Ohio was great - well, that is compared to West Virginia. We started our day off in Columbus with a new first for Ella. Her very first trip to the Waffle House - a favorite of both Mom and Dad - from their trips down south.



Then we spent some quality time in the car... a full three hours or so on our way to Pittsburgh. We sang songs, read books, and watched a little Ella nap. The girls were in the backseat while Dad drove.



We arrived in Pittsburgh around 12 o'clock and were so happy to be out of the car, but hadn't even realized what an amazing place we were going to visit - the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. It was easily - easily, the best museum we have ever been to. We had so much fun. They had tons of places to explore, a very yummy (and probably our healthiest) lunch so far, water play, painting, and Mr. Rogers!



Ella has really started to like sitting in big girls chairs and now pretty much eats entirely by herself with a spoon or fork. Plus she actually knows the difference between spoons and forks (no knives though!). She is so independent she pushes your hand away if you try to help her by holding her cup when she takes a drink. We're in trouble.



They had a whole exhibit dedicated to Mr. Rogers and his show from the 70's and 80's. It was such a trip back in time and so nice to share with Ella. We started by trying on the famous sweaters.





Then it was off to the toddler floor to lots of neat exploration. We played with bird seed, on the teeter totter and with a giant lite brite.





But by far, Ella's favorite sections of the museum were the messy ones. The entire floor of water, and of course the art gallery.







After the museum we were pooped - we traveled the last leg of our day's trip and landed in Gettysburg - for a little swim and a big night's sleep.

Road Trip: KY to OH

To be honest we didn't love the drive through West Virginia. We had been doing well with an Ella in the car because we timed her naps well and found toddler friendly things to do, but through West Virginia it was just a long drive. Actually we even stopped at a state welcome site and asked for kid friendly activities and they apologized to us and told us there weren't any. So, this time to leave KY we went through Ohio to get back to Pennsylvania. On the border of KY and OH we found the best aquarium in Newport, KY. Since this was our big stop for the day, it was all we really did beside drive, eat, and walk around, so here are our favorite pictures from the day:

Road Trip: Flower Girl

At last we were in Glasgow, and it was time for a wedding. We spent the morning doing a little site seeing, prehistoric style. We went to Dinosaur World.











After our dinosaur exploration, a nap and a little lunch it was time to get ready. Mom painted Ella's toes for the first time. She has never sat so still, while being so terribly excited.



Then it was time - the wedding began with a little baby train...



Followed by the flower girls - there were five in all, all older than Miss Ella. All of whom left her far behind them. One was even designated to hold Ella's hand but once she knew that she was supposed to throw the petals she was thoroughly distracted. Ella didn't seem to mind though, she liked to walk alone and hold her basket proudly.



Plus she was the only flower girl who really led the bride down the aisle. There were smiles all around.



During the ceremony she spent time making friends...



And stealing Cheerios from other wedding guests.



The reception was spent snacking, running around and playing with bubbles. A perfect day with a perfect little flower girl.

Road Trip: Kentucky At Last

There wasn't much to do in West Virginia besides drive and sleep, so we made our way out as soon as we could. The hotel we stayed in was interesting to say the least - Ella slept well, but Dad and Mom didn't as it was hot and the A/C was on a motion detector (Really! Who does that?)



But there was one big benefit to the hotel - Mosa, the talking bird. Ella was fascinated by her.



After saying bye to Mosa we headed off to Kentucky. It was another long 5 hour leg, so we stopped for some fun breaks. We have become experts at locating playgrounds for Ella to run around in. We found a very nice one at an elementary school in Kentucky.





Then it was time to visit a bourbon distillery - almost a playground for Dad. We ate very yummy bourbon BBQ, cookies, and chocolates.



We had a very short tour of the distillery as Ella was very tired. Dad did get to dip his own bottle of bourbon in the special Maker's Mark red wax. It was very cool.



We continued on the windy country roads of Kentucky to our final destination - Glasgow. We made it just in time to attend the backyard BBQ in honor of the bride and groom.



Ella even tried to join the bluegrass band...



We couldn't wait for the wedding and her big flower girl debut!