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| For Jen's 30th birthday we surprised her by half of the Valdez Clan coming to visit her |
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| Meeting Ainsley for the first time! |
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| Ellie was in love. This was HER baby. |
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| Aunt Jen warming Ellie up for holding the real baby |
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| Ainsley loves being cuddled so Ellie and I were in heaven! |
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| This is Jen's front window to her house. This is FOR REAL her view. It is spectacular. This was Ellie's favorite spot all week as the "look out" |
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| Ellie held Ainsley's hand during all car trips |
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| Ellie came in to say Good Morning to the baby as soon as she woke up |
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| Matt, his Dad, and his Grandfather all HAND MADE this boat bassinet. Ellie and were both in awe of the carpentry and the baby inside it. |
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| Graduated to feeding the REAL baby! |
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| Monterey Aquarium is by far the best aquarium I have ever visited. Ellie had a great time running around yelling, "MOMMY LOOK!" |
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| Ellie showing us where to go next |
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| Ellie thought this room was neat and called it the "Fish School" because I told her it was a school of fish. |
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| The most majestic part of the aquarium is the giant jelly fish |
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| What a pearl! |
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| We love the aquarium! |
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| Ainsley was awake for most of the action |
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| Chef Mini making "Punk" pie with Aunt Jen and Ainsley. |
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| Ainsley still trying to figure me out |
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| Ellie passing out sitting up after running around the aquarium all afternoon |
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| Happy Baby |
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| Shopping part of Monterey |
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| Ellie was ready to rock and roll every morning with Aunt Jen and Uncle Matt |
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| hiding from Calvert |
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| Double fisting Pumpkins |
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| Apple picking with her own personal ladder, Uncle Matt |
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| I am convinced Ellie would love manual labor at this age. She was running around the orchard and wanted to pick every apple she saw. |
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| The gang- Missed you Greg and Ava! |
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| Ellie loved posing with Aunt Jen and Uncle Matt but was a squirmy wormy with me |
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| She collect a whole bucket of apples |
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| Current favorite family picture of the Browns. They all always accidentally match as well :) |
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| Ellie calls all pumpkins "Punks". She was the cutest "punk" in the patch though |
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| My babes! |
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| This is the trail in front of Jen's house. Seriously, you can see her house in the background |
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| The beauty never ceased to awe us |
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| Aunt Jen and Ellie baked us some type of goody each day. It was fantastic |
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| The cutest Newborn "Punk"! |
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| Ellie's first experience at In-N-Out burger. Nom Nom Nom |
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| We were so excited to visit when Ainsley was smiling constantly |
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| We took the famous "17 Mile drive" and stopped by Pebble Beach Golf Course. A round here is $500 and the views make you understand why they are ALWAYS booked. |
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| Ellie was in a Grump a Dump mood so Aunt Jen twirled the grumpiness out of her |
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| time to race! |
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| Ainsley peeking out from the Moby wrap on our hike at Point Lomos State Park |
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| Hiking with Uncle Matt |
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| What a good sport he is! |
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| Grump a Dump |
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| Matt always jokes that he gets freaked out that Jen and I dress so similarly. He has been known to make one of us change before we go out in public with him too. We never plan it but it just works out that way. This was one of the nights when we were making homemade apple pie and he walked into the kitchen and said, "Really guys!? REALLY you have to dress EXACTLY the same!?" I swear it was a total coincidence! |
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| The pie was a bust |
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| worn out |
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| Ellie loves her Aunt and Uncle! |
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| "SOS!" |
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| Ainsley: "Mom have you run a background check on this person!?" |
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| My favorite part of the trip was seeing Harbor Seals in Jen's front yard everyday. I love how deliciously obese they are, how they flop themselves onto rocks, and how they bark at each other |
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| This is seal beach and all those little grey and black objects are seals! |
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| trip to the park to run the 2 year old crazy out |
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| Swing time! |
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| Painting her punk with Aunt Jen |
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| Ellie making herself right at home, even making her own recliner. |
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| Ellie wants to be a Mommy just like Aunt Jen. This includes feeding and burping her baby whenever Aunt Jen is taking care of hers. |
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| Ohhh the Joy of riding an airplane with an almost 2 year old |
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| She did sleep a tad on the plane |
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| So excited to get a window seat |
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| Grump |
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| She started to SING at the top of her lungs to all the passengers on the plane. I'm so thankful for kind patient strangers. |
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| Reading to her baby |
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| See you guys! |
Thank you to the Browns for a fabulous week. We are really looking forward to being in driving distance to them again in a few short months.
