Nebraska 2015

We made it!  Back to the midwest, that is.  Unlike our 2013 westward adventure, we were extremely blessed to have good traveling weather, a functioning van, and blissfully little to blog about regarding our return trip.  Even the munchkins were great travelers, though they were all more than ready to get out of the van and get some wiggles out.

What better place to welcome ourselves back to Omaha than at the downtown slides?  

I think Eila’s Uncle Jason was excited to have his family back.  He was also willing to safely escort Eila on her inaugural ride down the famous slides.  

As usual, what looked like many days on the calendar indeed turned out to feel awfully brief as we lived it.  In hopes of capitalizing on every moment, we began with a family favorite; the zoo!  While the weather was exhaustingly hot - a ride on the train lifted everyone’s spirits.

Eli also made a new friend from the positively cutest tortoise ever!

Looking good for being the smallest species of tortoise in existence.

About a week later we all returned to the Henry Doorly Zoo on Members Day.  With special activities all around, it was a super fun way to enjoy some of the behind the scenes of this amazing place.

Kara and Annie check out the shark tank on our behind the aquarium tour.

Papa Kay teaches Eila all about rays and filtration systems.

Membership day meant free passes on the rides for everyone!  Talia was a wonderful Skyfari companion to Eila and I as we flew over the Rhinos and soon to be completed Africa exhibit.

My inner monologue beneath the smile:
“Don’t drop the baby.  Don’t drop the baby.  Don’t drop the baby!"

Back safely on land, it was time for some playtime and ice-cream.

Cousins!

Since it seemed a bit crowded with everyone on the sculptured turtle, the three oldest Wheeler kids finally took their camel ride that we’d given them for Christmas last year.

Camels have really cute faces - but they can’t compete with those munchkins!

Speaking of cuteness - how about some penguin fun?

Eila wonders if she should be learning to walk like a penguin.

 And finally some one on one time with a kid...the goat variety, that is.

"Can I ride it?” asks Eila

Sisters and a niece 

Lest you believe that we never actually left the zoo at all, here are some of the other wonderful memories we made together while I invaded the Wheeler/Andrus life.

YMCA- If you had told Kara and I back in high school that we would voluntarily spend our time together as adults working out we would have laughed at you.  Yet now it just wouldn’t be a visit if I wasn’t chasing my sister around a gym floor or trying to keep up on a jog. 

What better way to celebrate the end of a workout than with a family swim?

Brooklyn patiently introduced Eila to the pool.

It took a little while, but Eila eventually decided we weren’t trying to drown her and figured out how much fun it was to kick in the water.  I love the extra kid feet in this picture.  

Kaneko Museum

I’m often surprised when I return to Omaha by something new that has been added or renovated in my former hometown.  Visiting the Kaneko with its Play! exhibit was such a fun, new experience for us.  It was full of kid and kid-at-heart friendly toys and activities.  I honestly could have spent hours there happily playing around.

I'll leave you to try and decipher this chaos.

Ridin’ the pony!

Hangin’ at Home:

Whether I’m bumming around the Wheeler digs downtown or hearkening back to childlike ways in West Omaha, coming back to the Midwest always brings out the kid in me.  It’s possible the condition is contagious.

Check out that ruffle bum!  I apparently wore this bunny-filled ensemble as a tot.  I’m afraid it didn’t make the cut to return to the Northwest.  Good thing Eila makes everything cuter.

One of the more adorable phenomena we all got to witness throughout my extended stay with the Wheelers was Annika’s regression towards infancy while Eila was around.  Okay, I thought it was adorable, but I bet Annika’s mum would have preferred her potty training two year old not have been mimicking Eila in quite so many ways while we were around.  

Binky Buddies!

If I sitz I fitz!

Kara and Jason’s friends from Illinois Bruce and Brittney stopped over on their way back to Pittsburgh and we got to meet their three beautiful youngsters.  It was quite the sight to behold when we asked for a table for 7 adults and 8 children 10 and under.  Their youngest is just three months old - but already bigger than our tiny Eila. 

My gorgeous sister and baby Hazel.

Handsome Eli awaits his turn on the zipline.

Papa Kay asures Eila that she’ll get a turn on the zipline when she’s old enough to hold on.

Once again, and all too quickly, it was time for Eila and I to orchestrate our exit from the Midwest for the summer. 

Brooklyn and Talia give Eila one last snuggle before they head off for a day at Zorinsky pools.

NomiAnn cuddles in for one last sniff before heading to work.  School starts so early in Nebraska!

Papa Kay and Eli teach Eila how to properly adorn oneself at Firehouse Subs before driving us to the airport.

Eila says “See you soon!” to all of her Omaha loved ones.  

And she’s right!  It’s just four short months until Christmas.  See you in the snow!