Open up those Golden Gates...

...California here we come. Or actually we already went and we're back in Boston.

Last weekend we took a long weekend and jet setted out to Santa Barbara for some quality time with grandparents and great-grandparents. We had a great time, and Ellie was a rock star.

Ellie with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Van

Four generations of Calvetti (apparently I didn't get the memo to wear pink!)

Not only did she sleep the entire 6-hour flight out to CA (and back to Boston) but she was charming, and full of smiles and giggles for her great-grandparents, extended family, and friends. We took red eyes both to and from CA so the plane took off right around her bedtime and she had her own seat so things were definitely in our favor for the plane travel.

Ellie also experienced a lot of firsts:

• Her first airplane ride
• Her first restaurant highchair
• Her first time to the beach (the sand...not her favorite)
• Her first trip to the zoo (the gibbons were her favorite)
• Her first time seeing a real life caterpillar (a Monarch butterfly caterpillar no less)
• Her first piano lesson

Although it wasn't a restful vacation for us at all, we had a great time and really enjoyed seeing my side of the family.

Ellie and the entire maternal side of her family (except Aunt Susie, but we can photoshop her in).

Only a month until we travel to Chicago so she can meet the Harrer side of the family! I'm sure Ellie will be a rock star then too! She truly is an awesome kid!