CT and ME Trip!

We're back! And thank goodness, too, I was really starting to get homesick! We had a blast...as you can see!

The first few days, we relaxed and enjoyed some beautiful summer weather. We actually got to run through the sprinklers one day, which was pretty unexpected considering it was late Sept. 

We also got to spend time with some good friends. These guys have been there from the beginning of Tom & Shannon...in fact, Matt (in the box fort) gave Tom a pep talk on the night he asked me out on our first date.

Then we had a lovely little birthday party for Ellie with a Sesame Street theme, with a focus on Elmo. This is the Skypek clan.

I'm not sure if you can tell from these photos - she really loved the cupcakes.

On Friday, Audrey and I went to a Miranda Lambert concert. It was cold and rainy, but the drizzle let up just in time and we had fun, so that's what matters! Miranda was great - so gracious.

We had an Ouellette family cookout for Ellie the next day and she LOVED my cousin's daughter, Amanda. Ellie just lit up when she saw her and kept giving her lots of hugs.

She also loved fruit salad with Jello and whipped cream.

And balloons.

Then Tom went back to VA and Ellie and I headed up to Maine for my grandmother's wedding. This is the view from my aunt and uncle's house on Little Madawaska Lake. 

This is Aunt Alice and Uncle Bob at Grandma's wedding - the pic above is from their living room. 

Isn't Maine lovely? All beautiful autumn colors, rolling fields, and grazing animals.

This is Sacred Heart Church - generations of Ouellettes have been baptised, married, and buried here.

See that sign? That's OUR Ouellette sign. My (I think this is right...) Dad's grandmother and some other family members lived on that road, and it used to be a dirt road that they owned and were expected to maintain themselves. Then after they paved it, Uncle Bob went in and told the city person that they needed to maintain and plow it and explained why. The city agreed and called to ask him what he'd like to name it. Of course he said "Ouellette Road"!

Pretty sure I gained at least 5lbs that weekend...did I mention Aunt Alice's AMAZING cooking? She actually had her own bakery for years, until they sold it in 2008.

Gotta love the border patrol...never saw this before 9/11.

It was a great visit and we got to see soooo many friends and family, but I'm so glad to be home. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed. And Ellie agrees, I don't think she slept through the night more than two times while we were gone and hasn't woken up in the night once since we've been back. Well, scratch that, she just woke up crying. But anyway, we're glad to be home.