Go Big Red! GO BIG RED!

Ok, so I must warn you before you start reading about our four, fun-filled days of vacation to grandma and grandpa's in Nebraska that you will see picture overload! There was no way around it, I took a ton of pictures each day, so enjoy a recap of our trip with us!

Thursday after school/work, we rushed to the airport to make our flight (probably not good planning on my part, as I was the one totally stressed out, but I didn't want to miss an additional day of work)! The kids were so excited to ride the airplane! Kyan and Lola had been on about three years ago and only Kyan remembered what it was like. Lola was a little scared at first, but after a little encouragement from all of us, by the time the plane loaded she couldn't wait and was saying, "wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!" during take off!

We got in late with the two hour time difference, so we headed to bed as soon as we arrived, but not without strict orders to my dad to get to the bakery early for the first of two must eats in Wahoo: applesauce doughnuts! He delivered three dozen (not all for me, my brother's family was staying at my parents too) bright and early in the morning and I think I was drooling before I ever woke up!
I have never seen these doughnuts made anywhere else before (probably a good thing, otherwise I would be about 300 lbs) and savored every bite! Little did I know that the kids would love them just as much as me. This trip marked their first time trying them and I am sure with each time they go to visit grandma and grandpa they will make the request for them as well!

After breakfast we headed to my mom's work to say hi to everyone! Then it was off to Omaha to do a quick shopping trip for Lola's dress for the wedding (something I searched for here in AZ and just couldn't find)! We ran into the bride-to-be (the reason we went back home in the first place) shopping for some shoes for the rehearsal dinner later that night and then the groom-to-be shopping for a gift for his bride, small world! The kids and my mom ate lunch at Paradise Bakery, but I was holding out for delicacy number two back in Wahoo.
Kyan and Ava took a little nap on the way home, while Lola was bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

We headed to the park when we got back into town! The kids played and played and played...
...while Chad and I ate taco pizza!
Why on earth the Pizza Hut's here don't make this is beyond me, because it is seriously the best pizza you will ever eat! Chad had the opportunity to eat with my mom and the kids while in Omaha, but he said I told him "he had to eat taco pizza with me", which lets me know he was just as excited to eat it as I was! Heaven in your mouth I tell ya!


After the park, it was time to head home to chillax for a little bit before the rehearsal. Kyan was the ring bearer in the wedding and cousin Ava, the flower girl, so grandma and grandpa volunteered to watch the two little ones for the night, so we could help if/where we needed to!
The three of us ready to go!

Practicing and opening his cool gift from the bride and the groom!


Kyan and I at dinner.

Chad and I at dinner, can you tell how much he loves to take pictures? Glad I was able to get cooperation for two out of three!

We had a great time chatting with family and catching up with the girls I used to coach in a basketball program called Wahoops! Three of the four girls in the wedding party (and the bride) were on the team and it was so fun to see them grown up, some even with babies!

On Saturday morning, I was up bright and early with my parents. I took a nice long walk into town with my mom before the kids woke up and wanted to be outside playing. My parents have a great backyard with lots of room to run! Kyan's favorite thing to do back there was play fetch with one of my parent's dogs, Lucy! It was a race between the two of them to see who could get the frisbee first!


Lola was the cheerleader, who also loved her hair blowing in the wind (and it was pretty much windy the entire time we were there)!
We enjoyed more doughnuts this morning, played together, and then it was wedding time (which took up the bulk of our day, starting at 11am for pictures, 2:30 ceremony, 5:30 dinner reception)!

The most handsome ring bearer out there!
Pictures didn't start on time (do they ever?), so I took the time to snap some of my own of Kyan! He looks so grown up.

Two very important girls and Kyan: the bride and the flower girl.

My cousin Carrie made a beautiful bride, from her dress to her hair to her jelly shoes!
Congratulations to both Adam and Carrie, we love you!

Meanwhile, back at home, while the wedding party was taking pictures, my brother ironed all of the boys (Chad, my dad, and his own) clothes! Shirts and pants, I was quite impressed and learned a thing or two while a came home for a quick shower in between pictures, like you are supposed to iron your pants inside out! Who knew?!
I got ready quickly, dressed Lola and headed back to the church about 30 minutes before the ceremony started so that I could try and get a few pictures of the kids before it started.
Lola hamming it up.

Lola and Kyan.
I couldn't decide if i liked the picture vertical or horizontal (and a little more zoomed) so I put them both up! Think that the picture sums up their personalities perfectly.
Really BIG love them.

Wedding cermony time!
Walking down the aisle. Rumor had it there were quite a few people wanting to know if Kyan was "for rent/hire", as he made quite the ring bearer! I was a proud mama.

I had big huge crocodile tears when I watched my little cousin walk down the aisle, I was so proud of her and she is just so grown up. I got quite a few pictures, but my cousin James (which feels weird to say, as he was always Jim or Jimmy growing up) made a beautiful video that I thought I would share instead.

It was a beautiful ceremony.

The reception was so fun! While waiting for the wedding party to arrive, the kids passed time with ring pops (a great idea to have a party where little kids are involved)!

More pictures of the family:

Finally, the wedding party arrived and made a grand entrance! Enjoy another video by my cousin James:


The kids got plenty of dancing time in too (but Kyan spent a lot of time outside playing because his ear was killing him, not sure why, maybe the flight, as he has no ear infection)!
What a great day/evening to celebrate and be around so many family members that I don't normally get to see! The kids crashed hard in the car and slept in Sunday morning!

Sunday was a great mother's day, church with my parents, breakfast at the Wigwam, then home for a homemade breakfast by Erin (my brother Joel's wife), pedicures with just my mama, then back home to spend our last day as a family! The new bride even came to town to hang with us in the afternoon/evening, as her new hubby was playing in a golf league!
We had some extended family over for a grilled meal by my dad, visited, and laughed a lot! It was the best to be surrounded by family all weekend and made me reflect a lot about the good times growing up with all of my cousins, when watching a new set of cousins play together!
Lola, Kyan, Brayden, and Ava

After everyone left and it was just the 10 of us left in the house, we went back to playing outside before bed. Of course it was super windy, but a great time to play fetch with Lucy and run one more time before we had to leave. I don't know what made me start filming my mom and I don't know what made me so giggly, but here is a little impromptu video of her on our last night home, it is a little over six minutes and my dad has quite the surprise in there for us that we didn't see coming, so if you get a chance to watch it all the way through, prepare yourself:



The kids crashed hard on Sunday night and fell asleep on the chair and couch in the living room. Our sleeping quarters were tight, as we slept in the office on a blow up mattress, with the kids sleeping on the floor next to us (my brother arrived one day before me so he quickly snagged up the guest bedroom, I need to plan better next time)!

Monday was spent packing and getting ready to head to the airport to come home. But we didn't leave before I got a new phone (yes, I am still on my parents family plan, spoiled, I admit it). I am now a member of the Droid family (I got the Milestone X, so did my dad)! I am still learning the ins and outs of it, as it is so different from my Blackberry, but very excited!

The two apps that I have downloaded so far for it are the WhatsApp (it is like BBM, but without the Blackberry, so I can still IM Candis during our Bachelor Mondays), oI love that you don't have to send anyone your pin, if they are in your contacts and they have WhatsApp, they are automatically added to your list! So cool huh? I also downloaded the Better Keyboard, as it is slightly bigger than the one it comes with. I am still getting used to the touch screen and I am sure it will take time!


Just want to say a BIG thank you to my parents for their hospitality and for making our trip so fantastic! We are blessed with great family and were so happy to get to spend our time with you in your home, instead of ours for a change, and we know how important that is to you! The kids keep asking when they get to come back and are counting the days until they get to in June (won't be long)! I am too!


We really BIG love you guys!