And then, we didn't have a place to live. Part II: OMAHA!
Let's stand up and Freebird lighter style slow clap for the G's of Omaha. Who took us in for not two weeks, no not four weeks, YES, six weeks!! While the house was made pretty. Or more like, just made, really. Anyhow, glory be and we had an amazing time. I actually got to exercise, Matt (and Brock) got to disc golf half the week, I doubled my wardrobe, Alice was not even ignored at all, and Brock started 2nd grade! And did I mention that we got to even go to museums and stuff? Anyhow, good times.
We hit the ground running and headed to a disc golf course right away. I think? I don't know where we are. A tree?
You know, maybe we are on our way to Omaha here from St. Louis. We stopped somewhere along the way and met friend Darren to play some disc golf. It was fun. Turns out we do like Boulevard Beer, thank you very much Darrin.
As mentioned, I actually got some time to do some walking with Julie who is a veritable force on the pavement. 7-9 miles every day Julie racks up and I'm so grateful I got to tag along for maybe 6 of those miles! Anyhow, with Alice in tow on some days, we had to factor in playground time and M&M's.
And yes, as mentioned, museums were a bit open there! Here we are at the excellent Omaha Children's museum in the ball room that we knew Brock loved and that Alice would love a re-introduction to.
And disc golf. Again. Yes! Brock and Matt and Jim played every other day and Julie and Alice and I joined on the weekends. AND this time, we had the edition of the NEW BUS HOUSE, baby bus house, Jim's new toy a camper van complete with a 5-Crowns game table in the back.
One of our first outings was to a state park with a highly dangerous course where the disc line was in the path of pedestrians, unknown to them.
Do detect juniper! Yes! It is duck time. We forage to supplement our dish to share with G's of Omaha and try to make up for at least one night of cooking.
And the greatest invention ever, right behind beer and the spork...a two person swing!
Then Matt and I went to Chicago!! For an afternoon to check on the house and pick up Brock's school books and tie up a few loose ends there. And Matt drove the El Train! That is all I have to show from that awesome one day vacation where Matt and I were tourists in our own town while the kids played in Omaha with the GOmahas.
A day trip to the Air Museum. And Matt makes something neat with Keva blocks.
and Alice gets her pilot license.
There was a retirement party in this stay somewhere for Jim that soldiered
on despite COVID and any smack talk. The Den's and
Don's came out for the event and it was so great to talk to several
humans at once again. Grandma and Grandpa have such lovely neighbors! Den's wife Joanne had some interest in the zoo and we love a trip to the fabulous Omaha Zoo so that is just what we did. That tum is irresistible!
All of our weekends were filled with a new adventure that normally took in the great weather and the gypsy wagon. Here we are at a state park (I think?) climbing about after a hike around
Is this a moose that Brock made? Maybe?
Here Brock and Matt play Floor is Lava, this is the "Woods" level.
Alice is like "just get some hot lava boots like Grandpa and I"...
Mini golf was a theme of the stay, and today we are headed to Pirate golf. Duh. Brock gets into the theme with the help of a past pirate costume of Jim and Julie's...
Rrrrrn't ya jealous of my booty bling matey?
This is the knights themed mini-golf. complete with dragon and copious picture opportunities. And it moves!
One of the weekends we attended a fantastic Arbor Day festival that was saturated with fabulous feeling of fall.
Throughout the area there were wonderful wooden structures.
and a fun zippy liney thing. Alice and Brock both had a blast on this.
The cutest hosts ever!
Other highlights of the Arbor Day festival which I do not seem to have pics of, was a wine tasting of Nebraska's finest vines (Bordeaux, just watch out!). We will be not adding a bottle to our cellar, but perhaps the cider
which actually was delicious). We also picked apples and I think this is where we did a super fun ropes course.
A trip out to a favorite park and fishing area to feed the geese and listen to the frogs.
Were these the cheese balls left over from Jim's birthday 4 years ago? They tasted like it, but they were actually leftover from the party. ANYHOW, these cheeseballs were re-purposed into an engineering project for Brock.
Oh yeah, then this happened. So one morning Alice and I are playing in the living room and Alice takes an insane dive head first into the step after sliding on the rug. Blood everywhere. Chaos. Tears. Gaping wound. Off we all go to the urgent care clinic that glory be is a 5 minute drive. I feel faint so Matt goes in with Alice to get stitches while thank goodness Brock hugs me and and tells me everything will be ok as Alice wails from the back room. We all, but most importantly her, recovers but the scar is still there a year+ later! 
My dear friend John had an online wedding while we were there (and during Jim's retirement party) and we attended virtually. Brock made John and Savi, his beautiful bride, a very romantic betrothal card. It is gothic themed.
We had a lovely fall day to pick out pumpkins to carve. As what as become usual, Alice gravitates toward small white "baby" pumpkins.
This place we went was so charming and low key. They had all of these fun homemade picture opportunities and wooden climb-ons for the kids.
Here we are carving up our spoils from the pumpkin patch.
And Alice remains a pirate. With a pumpkin.
As a final shot, we roast marshmallows outside on a glorious eve and count bats and sip scotch by the flames. This post could never possibly sum up what a great time we had being homeless and just the enormity of thanks to Jim and Julie for hosting us. I often have very fond recollections of the stay.
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