The days with family in Nebraska and Missouri went too quickly as usual. We managed to pack in so much fun in those hours! We briefly visited the Omaha Zoo, but didn't return after lunch because Isaiah had apparently not gotten over his stomach flu....sorry to all patrons of Qdoba that afternoon....we made quite a 'splash'. Aaron and I got to go out to dinner and a long stroll through the quaint downtown of Nebraska City, shot clay pigeons with my dad and siblings, toured the factory where dad works, and took a day trip to Kansas City to see both sets of my Grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins. The morning we left we were driving into Lincoln just as the sun was up and from there it gets really desolate. Nebraska is a fun state to drive through to me. I like see the transition from agricultural land to the more western, ranching ranges. Nebraska is also home to the world's largest railyard, Bailey Railyard, in North Platte. We just couldn't pass up the opportunity to take our little train lovin' man up Golden Spike Tower!
Inside the rainforest at Henry Doorly Zoo
My little monkey.
The penguins and aquarium are my favorites at the zoo.
Sapp Bros. the truck stop chain of the west.
chilling at Grandma's
View from Grandma's porch at sunset.
We celebrated Isaiah's 3rd birthday at Grandma's! I am still hearing about how yummy a cake grandma makes and how it was a cool tower cake.
Thomas the Train.....travel size
Afternoon target practice with dad's shotguns. My hubby impressively hit his first 3 out of 3 clay pigeons.
Nebraska City's downtown buildings almost all sport some kind of vintage signs painted on their brick. I just love it!
Main street....don't blink its only about 2 blocks.
How cool is this bank building?!
Levi giving Grandma Mare some 'sugar'
Rebecca reading some favorite poems to my grandma.
Papa David likes hugs too!
Grandma Jude with 2 out of 3 Alldredge kids.
Back in NE grandma and grandpa took us to see the Arbor Day Lodge and Park. Pictures, of course, don't do this place justice. Next trip I want to stay overnight here with Aaron and eat at the farm to table restaurant.
Every rustic detail screams nature.
Stoping at playgrounds is high on our list of must dos wherever we go.
The 'farmy' side of Nebraska.
North Platte, home to William Cody, called Buffalo Bill because he killed 4200 Buffalo in 8 months which helped to feed the railroad crews at the time. Also interesting is his birthday.. February 26, just like Isaiah. Buffalo Bill chose North Platte for his ranch because it was located on the railroad and made it easy to move his traveling Wild West Show coast to coast.
Corny little tourist stop. I could imagine families pulling up in the 70s in their station wagons buying pop guns and head dresses for their kids.
My own kids thought it was cool and not corny at all. ;)
Those dummies have been standing their a long time and look pretty darn creepy up close!
Golden Spike Tower.....not because the golden spike was driven here, but to pay homage to that event.
Punching their tickets, just like in Polar Express.
Union Pacific Bailey Railyard...
14,000 cars move through here every 24 hours and Isaiah would have been content to see them all!
This link to the live web cam is fun (fun if you are 3....boring if you aren't) http://goldenspiketower.com/live-cam/
I thought I was going to come unglued when we crossed the oregon trail on our drive through western Nebraska. Rebecca thought I was being silly, but after reading Pioneer Cat, Beautiful Land and others this Spring she now grasps, at least partially, the romance and significance of the Oregon Trail.
A soddie house
The West is so photogenic....LOL
The sinclair dino is still alive and well past the Missouri.
#3 corny roadtrip stops you don't want to miss.
Yes, its a Stonehenge our of old junk cars. Levi thought it was pretty awesome.
The road keeps going and so do we....almost to South Dakota.
