Grandparents: Yosemite Trip Part 2

More of our favorite photos from the weekend:

We can finally see it! Ella's face says it all- ha.
Vernal Fall

Papa, Dad, and Ella

With Mom 
We almost made it to the 600-steps to the top, right? ...Maybe next time!

View of Vernal Fall from the bridge

Water,

sticks,

rocks,

AND grandparents?! Ella was so happy.

Skipping rocks and throwing pebbles: fun for all.

Perfect place for a picnic

Fun on the deck at the cabin

So

Many

Expressions!

Breakfast at The Grill at Pine Mountain Lake

Ella loves her grandparents!

Half Dome

Yosemite Fall

Yosemite is breathtaking.

Grandparents! Yosemite Trip Part 1

We were lucky enough to spend the second weekend of April in Pine Mountain Lake and Yosemite with both of our sets of parents. It was really special family time made up of relaxing and exploring. Chris, Ella, my dad, and I had never been to Yosemite (which prompted the trip), and our cousins were so generous to let us stay at their beautiful home in PML, which was about an hour+ drive to the Yosemite Valley. 

Pine Mountain Lake/Yosemite Weekend Highlights (in no particular order)

1. (Most of us) sipping fresh margaritas on the deck before dinner and taking in the fresh air and beautiful view. Ella and I stuck to water :)

2. The deer in the "backyard" were Ella's favorite!

3. Picnic lunches in the Yosemite Valley, especially on the river where we all threw rocks into the water after eating.

4. Seeing the water rush down the rocks at the base of the falls-- just as gorgeous as the falls, themselves!

5. Our 0.8 mile hike ("a.k.a. climb") to the bridge before Vernal Fall. A pregnant lady, a dad carrying a toddler in a backpack, a nana with a bad back, and a papa coughing... we were quite the group! haha. It was absolutely beautiful, though.

6. Ella finding sticks and rocks along every path... she is a nature-lover for sure, which we love.

7. 3 of the 4 grandparents sitting in the back seat entertaining Ella on our trips back and forth to/from the park

8. Family dinners at the cabin; great food and great company.

9. Fresh air, grand views, the sound of running water, and valley floor trails. 

10. Our in-house photographer, Rick Garber, who used his many lenses and talented eye to capture special family moments and beautiful sites. 

Our Family, Bridalveil Fall

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful family.

Bridalveil Fall

Garbers near Bridalveil Fall

"Walking! Hands!" -Ella 

Big girl, big stick!

Captured: Ella's 20 minutes of napping over 2 days.
Too much fun to be had with 4 grandparents :)

I love my dad.

Ella loves hers.

Climbing rocks, Swinging Bridge

Kisses and giggles

Exploring with Nana

Hitching a ride with Papa

Our joy that weekend-- I think I can speak for all 6 of us :)

Easter Weekend 2014

We had a wonderful Easter full of family time in Dublin. Ella was busy as can be- playing, blowing bubbles, dancing, talking, collecting eggs...

We went to the Spring Eggstravaganza in Dublin on the Saturday before with Grandma and Papa, Auntie Megan, Uncle Tim, and Joshua, and Great Grandma Ellie and Great Papa Goofy. While the Egg Hunt was sold out, Ella had lots of fun at the petting zoo and play structure. In the afternoon, Chris and I went to an appointment that confirmed the earlier guesses that our baby-on-the-way is a boy. We brought home a blue balloon for Ella and shared the happy news with family. Our Easter sleepover consisted of pizza and Frozen, or as Ella calls the movie, "Elsa."

On Easter we went to mass and had a delicious brunch at my parents' house. Ella found her basket from the Easter Bunny and all 12 of us watched as she collected eggs filled with goldfish crackers and bunny grahams. We spent the evening out at Auntie Kathleen's house for Tyler's Birthday and Easter Dinner to top it off! We are blessed.

Fun at the Park for the "Spring Eggstravaganza" in Dublin on Easter Weekend

"Horsey!"

Checking Out the Piglets

Fun with Great Papa Goofy & Great Grandma Ellie 

Ella is going to have a little brother!

Easter Weekend Sleepover

First Easter as Cousins!

Cutest Little Bunnies

Easter Brunch!

First Easter as a Family of Three

Sitting with Great Grandma Barbie on Easter Evening

They Love Their Auntie Katelyn!

Ella + Kobe

 

Fun in Gabie's Backyard

Did we mention Ella LOVES bubbles?

A few pictures from the week before when Ella took her first bath at Auntie Megan's house. Too cute!

Reading Books with Uncle Tim After Bath Time

Coming soon: a blog post about our recent trip with both sets of Ella's grandparents to Pine Mountain Lake and Yosemite :)