Beautiful Nebraska Land ♫

Nebraska is a huge part of my childhood since we went there a lot when I was growing up.

Both my parents are from a small town on the west side of the state. 

It was fun going back because the last time I was there was 4 years ago and the time before that, I can't even tell you. 

All the childhood memories of the place came flooding back to me. 

Our first stop was to see my Grandma. I have not seen her since 2015, so it was so much fun to see her! She

had never met Andrew before so it was fun for me to see them meet. And she loved him! 

We made it to my Aunt's house and celebrated the 4th of July there. It was a really cold day, so it wasn't the typical 4th of July
but we manged to have some holiday fun. And I love how we are literally eating out on the road in this picture, haha,

The next day it finally started to warm up a little bit more and we could actually go out on the lake! 

I loved being outside and out on the boat! it's one of the best things of summer!

 ^Blake^

^Andrew^

Later on that day we hiked the Scottsbluff National Monument. I remember doing it as a kid and 

the memory I have is nothing to how it actually was. But we had so much fun! We loved hiking and seeing the
beauty of Nebraska. It's a state that does not get a lot of credit for it, but it really does have it's sites to see.

Plus we were able to see my Grandma's house at the top!

^Nebraska is beautiful!^

^Us at the top!^

AND on our way up we met a bull snake and it was mad! The hissing it made was loud and no one could get 

through the path. Leave it to my brother to pick up the thing with a stick, and throw it off the edge. I couldn't 

look I was so scared but he didn't get bit and Andrew recorded the whole thing!

Andrew made Viet food for my family one night and they LOVED it! 

They were so impressed with his amazing cooking ability and the foreign food. 

On our last full day we went to see some famous Nebraska landmarks. On the way to Utah, a pioneer woman named 

Rebecca Winters became sick, and like so many, died on the trail.  But what makes her stand out is that a family 

friend marked her grave with a metal rim of a wagon wheel with her name and age and buried her along the trail.

 So many graves the went unmarked, and her's is one of he few that were named.

We also were able to go to Chimmny Rock, a famous landmark for all the pioneers who were coming west. 

I love how this little town of my parents has some history the westward expansion tied with it.

One fun thing that we were able to do was drive drive down memory lane. 

My parents met at a movie theater. My mom sold the tickets and my dad ran the projector. It took many years 

for them to actually get married but the movie theater was the start. There were two movie theaters within a
block of each other and they worked at both. This is the only theater on the street that remains.

This is the theater where they actually met, but it's no longer a theater, just a local shop, 

but that location is where it all started!

We went to Taco Town. My aunt and uncle used to own this restaurant but with circumstances beyond their 

control they had to sell the place to new owners and move on. But we still always make a special trip to 

Taco Town and the tacos are some of the best you will ever have.

We also drove by my Grandparent's old home and the library where my Grandpa and I would walk to when I
would visit. It's crazy how everything becomes a memory and how much things change. Sometimes I wish I could go
back and experience some of those same things with greater appreciation. Go back and remember the feelings, places,
smells, and people with greater love. 

And saying goodbye is always the worst. Here is my cousin Lance and his little sister Taylor. 

I wanted Taylor so much. If I could get away with kidnapping her, I would do it! 

 She was the easiest baby that I have ever seen! She hardly ever cried, even when she was tired or upset she would just
let out a little whine to let you know and they she would stop. She was one happy baby and would always smile,
wave, and try to copy your facial expressions. Andrew let's have one like her ok?
That would make the baby stage of motherhood a lot easier!