Our last hurrah this summer in Omaha was jam-packed as always.  There is never enough time to fit in all the visits with family and friends.   The recap:

*I managed to attend my 20th year high school reunion.  Facebook is great for updates on friends, but nothing beats and in-person chat, served with dinner and cocktails.  I was so proud of my new shorter, layered ‘do until I saw that my sister got the same exact haircut that week.  That’s what name tags are for, right?

* I had kid duty with the cousins (ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13) a few days, so we explored the Durham museum and Gene Leahy mall.  After a decade away from the Big O,  my niece had to lecture me on the importance of waxed paper when visiting the big slides downtown.  So, I looked like a complete nutter and bought six butts worth of waxed paper from some random mom.

*I got to catch up with two of my oldest (longevity, not age)  friends over dinner.  You get  instant permission to skip the small talk when you’ve known each other forever  (especially when they’ve seen you with extra-thick Strawberry Shortcake glasses and through the big hair years).  After a decade away, I still miss being connected to everyone back home!

*LaCasa pizza.  Runza fries.  Every trip!

*

I traveled solo with the kids for two 400 mile road trips (15 hours in the car) and survived.  There was a pit stop for stitches, however.  We headed out from Omaha toward St. Louis, choosing Columbia, Missouri for an easy overnight stop with indoor pool.  The kids swam for an hour, and I offered a five minute hot tub break to entice them OUT of the pool and toward our room.   Seconds later, E-Man was screaming and bleeding.   The hot tub bubble maker thingie sliced between his toes for a nasty cut.

The hotel staff printed out directions to the nearest clinic, and off we went.  My man got two stitches in his foot, leaving with a flip-flop on one foot and a home made bootie.   We successfully made it to St. Louis the next morning.  The end.

A Before and After:

New Orleans is NOT a city that should be in black and white.  However, these two waterfront images were so dramatic, that I had to convert them.   During my first ever trip to NOLA, the skies were moody all weekend.  Our Children’s Tumor Foundation charity walk provided a VERY wet tour of the city!