Trip to New Jersey

Ella and I went to New Jersey the first weekend in August. Ella had spent a week in NJ with Grammy and Grampy in June but I haven't been since 2011. We had quite the weekend with family, friends, and tons of nostalgia.

 

Ella loves Mom and Glenn's cats and spent plenty of time searching them out and chasing them around. She took of her of feeding the cats wet food in the mornings very seriously.

 

So sweet with Grammy

  

On Saturday morning we drove to my friend Rachel's house in Cranford. Rachel and I have been friends since 1st grade, and she met Ella when she was a baby, so it's been way too long since we've last seen each other. Rachel and Fabien have a sweet little guy Theo who just turned 3. We had a wonderful time catching up and the kids had a great time playing together.

 

 

Making pizzas for lunch

 

 

 

Mom and Glenn just closed on the sale of their house a few weeks ago, and on the Saturday afternoon we were in NJ, we went over so that I could see the house for the last time. We lived there since I was in 6th grade, so I was really glad I'd get to see it one more time before it sold.

 

Mom and Ella marking Ella's height on the growth chart with all our markings on it

 

In the bay window in Erin's old room

 

Taking a picture of herself in the vanity in the spare room

 

Doing a headstand in my old bedroom (...clearly she was missing the point of this important last-visit-to-the-house!!)

 

 

 

Kelly decided to come visit her family in NJ that weekend as well, and drove to Mom and Glenn's on Saturday night. It was so good to see her again.  

Asleep holding the box with her new fish charm from Aunt Kelly

On Sunday, Mom and I went to my friend Courtney's wedding shower. It was a beautiful shower and lots of fun, a great afternoon.

 

On the way home we decided to do a walk down memory lane, and drive by the house on Sierra Drive. We lived there until 1991, haven't been inside since, and it's been years since we last drove by. When we got there, the owners happened to be sitting out in lawn chairs, listening to music and drinking wine in the front yard. We decided to say hi, and they ended up giving us a tour of the whole house. It was incredible - so much of it looked just I remembered, some was completely different, and oh my goodness, so many memories!  

 

This one I had to send to Erin while we were there...the loft stairs leading up to our playroom. And of course she instantly recognized them and knew right where we had been! 

 

While Mom and I were out, Glenn and Ella had their own afternoon full of adventures.

Chores first... :)




They went to see the movie Turbo and Alstede's Farm to feed the animals

 

 

 

Back from a fun afternoon with Grampy

 

Such a great trip!