(Finally!) Thanksgiving in Omaha

We were really working on making Thanksgiving in Omaha a family tradition, and for a few years we were going strong.  Then we had to miss three years in a row: pneumonia, weather, and a global pandemic threw a wrench into our plans.

But this year was the year of our great comeback!

We made it all the way and really enjoyed time with our friends.

It's happening.

Martin's first drive on the interstate.

He almost hit a rouge garbage can going 80mph.

That's a permanent memory for all of us.

Stuart was relaxed for most of the ride.

The Monkey with the monkeys at the zoo.

The stingray exhibit was a hit.

The Thinker.

And The Stinker.

Katherine.

I was trying to get a picture of one of the birds stuck in Martin's fro,

but I was unsuccessful.

Storm-Pete.

Emperor Peter.

Random Picture Update

"Hello?  Aunt Jessica?  Your dog Buckwheat is wild."

Bat feeding.

I took Helen and Katherine to see the ballet version of Heidi.

Kate was out of control in the theatre.  I had to take her out into the lobby.

This is a live action shot of her tantrum.

Be grateful there's no sound.

Brian and I dressed up ready to dine with friends.

The kids put on a talent show for us.

It included such songs as 'Old Town Road' and 'Let It Go.'

One morning I woke up to three kids preforming surgery on a stuffed animal.

Just another morning in November. 

Hockey Pete.

 I am officially a Hockey Mom.

There is a lot of gear.

And prayer.

Happy Halloween!

 

Happy 7th Birthday, Peter!

Peter could hardly sleep last night knowing when he woke up he would be seven years old and there would be presents and balloons waiting for him on the table.

Today was the class Halloween party, so instead of sugary birthday treats he shared glow in the dark spiders with his classmates.

 

Thankfully we live in the era The Jetsons taught us about and Brian could zoom in to wish Peter a happy birthday before school and watch him open his birthday gifts.  He biggest surprise was a trip to watch a Notre Dame football game.

After dinner Peter blew out the candles on his football cake.

Happy birthday, P-Man.

You are loved more than you know.

Frozen!

 My dad (a.k.a Grandpa Randy) bought tickets to see Frozen on Broadway.  My daughters and I packed our suitcases and drove to the Twin Cities to meet Aunt Jessica for a girls night out.

What an incredible show!!  Definitely a 10 out of 10.

"Grandpa Randy is the best."

- Katherine

Covid Positive!

Well, it was only a matter of time before it was our turn with Covid.  Brian, Helen and I are/were positive.  The boys are negative and Katherine was never tested.  We found out after Sarah and the boys were here, and they had some positive cases themselves. 

Helen had it the worst.  She slept for the better part of two days.  When she was awake she was miserable.  Brian was a close second.  He pushed through and worked from home.  My case was so mild that I wouldn't have given it a second thought if it weren't for my lack of taste and smell.

My family are champs.  They did their homework with minimal fighting.  They played games together.  I even showed them my Zelda skills on my old Super Nintendo.

I even had time to work on Advent ornaments used for an exchange with some other moms.

Once everyone was feeling better and caught up on their school work, we painted the miniature pumpkins we bought from the pumpkin patch when the cousins were visiting.

 

And this last picture is of the three littles waiting for out post-Covid results.

Which for them were negative...again.