Summer Adventures, Part 2

After bidding adieu to my mom and Mark, we got in the van for our next leg of the journey! 

 Two years ago, we went to Nebraska, had a wonderful time, and decided that we needed to try and do that trip more often.  Last year, we bought our house and didn't make it out there, so it was a big priority this summer!  We wanted to make it out to Mitchell, Nebraska in one day, so after a few rest/fuel/food stops and about 12 hours later, we pulled into the Super 8, our home away from home for a few days!  We hadn't had cell phone service since Sioux Falls (so irritating), and we hadn't been able to call Joe's family to give them an update on when would arrive in town.  We swung through town to say hello and then went back to the hotel for a good night's sleep!  

We spent most of our time at Joe's sister Cathy's house, and more specifically in her backyard.  It was great to relax, catch up, and enjoy the nice (and hot) weather!  Alex had fun playing with his cousins, who are 7 and 5!  The trampoline was a big hit, as well as baseball and the xbox!  We so enjoyed being with Cathy and Joe's niece Andrea, and of course the kiddos, and Joe's dad!

It was fun to be with Joe's dad on Father's Day this year.  We are thankful for him and so glad that we got to spend so much time with him on this trip!  Joe's brother Frank was also driving through town, so it was a nice surprise to see him and his family too!

We got to spend three full days with Joe's family, had really great weather (and one Nebraska storm like Joe remembers from his childhood!), and had a good time going down memory lane.  I didn't get a picture this time of the Scottsbluff Memorial, but the beautiful scenery of western Nebraska, never gets old for me.  I'm so glad that Alex will have memories of his daddy's hometown and more of his extended family!  It's always a little hard to leave, but the sweetness of our lovely time will give us many good times to remember, until we can visit again!!