Monday, August 20, 2018

Nebraska Trip!

A few months ago my best friend Whitney and her family moved from Texas to Nebraska. When she was here, she lived 5 minutes away from me, and we would hang out at least once, but usually twice a week. We missed her and her kiddos so much that we decided to take a road trip to Nebraska to go and visit them!
We stopped in Dallas on the way there to break up the road trip. Here are all the kids coloring at Grandpa Daniel's kitchen table. 
While we were in Dallas, my friend Kailee and I got to meet up with our kids at a nearby splash pad. She and I worked together at BYU at the Classical 89 radio station. I am so happy she moved close to Dallas so I can see her when we go there!
Here is Jamie with Kailee's daughters.
Me and Kailee got to talk and catch up while the kids played and it was so nice!
The kids had an awesome time and were totally worn out at the end.
The next day we made the 9-hour drive from Dallas all the way to Crete, Nebraska. We were so happy to get to the Hills' house and get out of the car! The first night we were there we roasted s'mores in their front yard. 
Whitney and I are convinced that April and Asher are supposed to end up together. They were born only one day apart and are best friends!
Jamie and Weston hanging out.
Ryan sitting next to Annabelle.
Baby Wendelin chillin' in the stroller.

The next day Whitney and I took the kids to a cool splash pad/park where they got to play and we had a picnic.
Asher and Ryan had the same exact swimsuit!
Playing at the park.



That evening after we put the kids to bed, Whitney showed me the downtown Lincoln area! It was so fun getting to walk around downtown Lincoln (without the kids) and talk without being interrupted.
They have this really cool old railroad crossing in the middle of the "Hay Market" so I just had to pose!




Getting ice cream at Ivanna Cone. It was so good!
Checking out this cool hotel downtown where Whitney and Aaron had their wedding reception!
We walked along this bridge/walkway that led from the Arena all the way to the baseball fields. It was a really neat way to see the city!
Standing outside the actual train station. 
We took the kids to the Lincoln Children's Zoo the next day!

We watched the penguins swim for a little while.

The Petting Zoo area.








They had this really cool skunk show, where an employee at the zoo talked all about skunks and shared some facts most people don't know about them.



The kids were all about these photo ops. Haha!



The flamingoes were super fun to watch.
The kids had a great time digging for fossils in the dino pit.


                                         The biggest hit by far was the butterfly pavilion. 
Everyone wanted a butterfly to land on them!
Annabelle was the first to get one on her finger.

Then Wes got one.
It wasn't long before Jamie attracted one.
And April, too!
Asher got a turn!
Whitney said we had to ride the train at the zoo, and I'm so glad we did! It was so much fun!



That afternoon the kids all watched Whitney fill up the little swimming pool.

They had a little pool party!




Whitney got a picture of all the kids together on the last day. We were so sad to leave! We had such a wonderful time in Nebraska and were so grateful to the Hills for hosting us.
We stopped in Dallas on the way back and went out to dinner with Grandma Cynthia. Jamie got another Birthday gift! Her own ruby ring.


She loves it so much! 
We also got to visit with Ben's Grandma Millie for a little while before the kids had to go to bed.
We had an awesome time on our trip, and everyone was exhausted at the end of it!