Surprise Getaway

Living close to family has it's perks!  Zach and Amie Houser were kind enough to take our kids for the night and I decided to surprise Paul with a night away.  I took him to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, a small town about 35 minutes away from Omaha.  We stayed at the Parmele Bed and Breakfast and had a great time just the two of us.

After we checked in we went to dinner at The Sister's Cafe.  Two Thai sisters run the restaurant, one married an American and the other married a German.  So they serve Thai and German food, odd combo huh!  But it was really delicious and given the opportunity we would definitely go back!

After dinner we went to a movie which to most is a basic evening, but to us it was awesome because we never go to movies in the theatre!  We saw The Martian and did a little shopping as well.


The next morning after a delicious breakfast we walked around their downtown area which really is well preserved and pretty.  We then headed to Nebraska Furniture to order a bed and dresser for Reid and had lunch.  It was a nice break before the storm and perfect timing once I realized Paul would be in the bishopric and gone a lot more.  I'm glad I made it a surprise, it was hard not to tell him, but it made the weekend much more exciting.

Surprise Baby Shower

I have the most thoughtful young women and young women leaders!  They threw me a surprise baby shower and I was completely shocked when I walked in the room Wednesday night.  They had the room decorated so cute with tons of refreshments and gifts.  Terrie Ridpath (2nd counselor) even made an adorable motorcycle diaper cake!  They themed the party with the motorcycles and it was just so cute.

One of my Mia Maids, Susan, planned all the games.  We played the toilet paper game where they guesstimate how big your belly is using toilet paper, the candy bar poop game where you have to guess which melted candy bar is in each diaper.   And, lastly we played a game that I have never played where a blind folded person had to feed pudding to their partner.  It was really fun to watch.

We opened presents and the leaders had brought lots of gifts for Reid and Hayden which was just so thoughtful.

I finally feel comfortable and like I belong in Young Women's and now I am released.  It's been a crazy week, we had a ward split and lost half our ward and Paul got called to be 2nd counselor in the Bishopric!!!  It was quite a shock and I am not going to lie and am afraid for myself.  Paul is a great help on Sundays and at night and I am going to be on my own a lot more often which is terrifying.  It seems like bad timing but we'll make the most of it.  Hopefully my attitude will turn around soon.  His parents drove all the way to Omaha for the weekend to have his father ordained him as a high priest and be here as he got set apart.  Hayden and Reid loved having their grandparents here for a few short days.  I only got one picture, Reid sure loves Papa Steve!

Halloween

We had lots of Halloween fun this year.  Reid is starting to understand holidays which always makes them more fun.  He did NOT enjoy carving pumpkins again this year and even Hayden was disgusted by the goo. So Paul ended up doing most of the work.

Hayden and Reid did have fun painting their pumpkins though. 

The next day Hayden had her Halloween party at school and costume parade.  I was able to help out in the classroom which was fun and Hayden was so excited to have me there. There were 3 Dorothy's in her class, it was quite a popular costume this year as was Star Wars Themed costumes.  

Hayden strutting her stuff in the parade

Mia was a cow girl

And Caleb was a mad scientist

One of Hayden's best friends from school, Lexi

That night we had our ward trunk or treat.  It rained so we didn't last very long, but here was our attempt at themed costumes.

Saturday we got together with the Housers children and went trick or treating.  It was so fun to be in Omaha for trick or treating. Our neighbors had haunted houses in their garages, another neighbor gave hay rides on the back of his 4 wheeler, and the streets were filled with kids and their parents, just a really fun night and the weather was perfect.  Reid was so cute running from house to house with his little lion tail, he loved getting candy at each house and stood there each time waiting for them to give him more candy!  His ploy usually worked!

Here is Reid and Hayden "roaring" like lions

Gotta love Hayden's poses!

All the cousins together