Go to a Cornhusker football game- CHECK!

Since we have always known we will only be here in Nebraska for a year we have been trying to take advantage of our time here by doing as many fun things as we can- the kinds of things that I consider to be things we might never get the chance to do again- things we might really only have the opportunity to do while living here.

And, this past Saturday we checked off another Nebraska "bucket list" item by going to the Nebraska Cornhusker vs. Idaho State football game!

We didn't have tickets beforehand, so we walked around the stadium looking for people selling tickets for reasonable prices. It took us a while, and for a little bit we didn't think we would be going to the game, but we finally found a few nice people selling tickets for prices that worked perfect for us!

(Keaton looks sad in this picture, but he really wasn't he just doesn't like to have his picture taken- the little stink!)

Ever seen the wave in slow motion?! We were laughing about it so hard- everyone looked so funny! That was for sure the highlight of the game for me! :)

We had such a fun time together as a little family at this game. :) And, we are so glad we got the chance to go to a Cornhusker game while living in Nebraska!

Here's too Fall.

On Monday, Keaton and I spent our day cleaning the house and putting up all our Halloween decorations together. Keaton loved it. He now walks around the house pointing at and naming all the "pumpkins," "ghosts," and "spiders" while whispering, "Oh... scary..." under his breath. Amazing how something so little and silly can make my day so happy. :)

Without a doubt this is my absolute favorite time of the year. Fall is at its beginning and I can feel and see it all around me- in the falling/color changing leaves outside, the temperature changing to be just right for lots of afternoon walks and bike rides, the change of scenery/smell in our home as we enjoy not only the fun fall decorations, but also the amazing fall scents in my scentsys and wallflowers- not to mention the fun Halloween movies and shows that are just waiting to be watched, good books to re-read like Harry Potter (that I just was spoiled with by my wonderful husband and now have ALL the ebooks!), and my new read for this Fall season- Dracula. The changes that occur during the Fall season happen all of the sudden, and all too quickly, and I am bound and determined not only to enjoy every single moment of this Fall, but hopefully to also find some new, good (perhaps even wonderful) changes in myself.  

For isn't that what Fall is all about- change? This change in season seems the most drastic out of all the seasons, which is perhaps one of the many contributing factors as to why it is my favorite. And, perhaps this year more than any other year before, I not only love and have looked forward to this change, but I also feel I truly am in need of it. In this life that holds so many unknown and uncontrollable experiences, both good and bad, I look forward to the small, simple, most favorite pleasures in life [for me]- like the changing colors of the leaves- always consistent, always beautiful. This Fall my plan is to let all my fears, anxieties, and frustrations at life fall away. I feel optimistic, content, and most importantly happy, and I look forward to this Fall with open arms and will gladly let it lead me on to Halloween parties, Thanksgiving celebrations, and right into Christmas and the New Year- and every little, wonderfully amazing moment in between.

A busy, but very good day.

On Saturday, September 15th we all got up real early in able to join the youth in our stake for a temple trip in Omaha.

While Justin joined the YM/YW in our branch to do baptisms for the dead on Saturday in the Omaha temple me, Keaton, and some of the other kids (from left to right- Tyler and Jake Hyde, and Fatima Munoz) took a tour at the Mormon Trail Center where also got to dress up like pioneers! :)


After our trip to the temple we spend the rest of the day in Omaha eating lunch at Buffalo Wings and Rings with the Peschke's and the Spicer's (both amazing couples from our branch), shopping at Sam's Club, shopping at Target, and more shopping at a fabulous outdoor mall where I could hardly handle that our day was so quickly coming to an end! We ate dinner at the Paradise Bakery and Cafe- delish- before heading back home to Columbus. What a perfectly fun fall day if I do say so myself! I honestly thoroughly enjoyed each and every second of it!

Keaton in the turkey hat we found at Target. :)

Daddy and Keaton's new shades. Ha, ha!

Oh, look- Mario and Luigi! (These are the moments when shopping becomes fun for Kari and I- when the boys start really getting into it too! Ha, ha!)

Keaton and daddy coloring together instead of Keaton eating his sandwich like he should have been!

Well, at least he enjoyed his yummy chocolate chip cookie for dinner... yep, I'm a bad mom. But, seriously sometimes there is only so much I can do!

Visitors!

Last week (Sept. 10th-14th) Grandma Patsy, my sister BreAnne, and her little girl Ellsie came to visit us! It was such a fun week! We packed in all kinds of fun adventures and also just had lots of time to sit around and talk/catch up. Here are a bunch of pictures from our super fun-filled week together!

 Ellsie's bubble beard. :)

Keaton and Grandma Patsy! (One of my favorite things about this visit from family is that Keaton not only got to spend time with Grandma Patsy, but now he also knows how to say her name and he says it so stinkin' cute!)

Ellsie letting her true colors shine! Ha, ha. This girl is truly a little spit fire with attitude!

In between the moments of these two fighting with each other there were moments like this.

You would never know these two are 9 months apart in age- they are exactly the same size! (Well, Ellsie may have a little more chub than Keaton!)

Keaton saying, "Cheese!" :)

Ellsie brought that cute orange and pink sippy cup and Keaton wanted it so bad and stole it from her all the time- so at the store the next day we picked one up for Keaton and then the rest of the week they proceeded to borrow from each other- drinking out of each others sippy's. :) (As you can see we have a few pictures of these two laying on Keaton's little toddler bed together- it was their favorite place to play together!)

On Thursday night the missionaries came over for dinner and to celebrate Elder Mickel's 20th birthday! Keaton helped blow out the candles. :)

Watching the "choo choo" train. Keaton is obsessed! After this train passed by Keaton was so sad and just kept signing and saying, "More, more, more!"

He got his wish! On our walk home from the park another train passed by. :) (Of course, they are not in short supply around here!)

Little friends, holding hands on the walk home.

Why is Ellsie crying you might ask? Well, because her mom got up to take the picture and I sat down beside her... Nope, this little girl didn't like me too much- especially if her mom wasn't close by!

Matching "pumpkin" pj's (as Keaton calls them).

And after a long week of playing hard these two crashed after spending the day shopping in Omaha before heading to the airport. Keaton was sad when he woke up and everyone was gone. He kept saying, "I want Ellsie!" "Where grandma Patsy?" "Where 'man' (BreAnne)?" What a fun visit we had with Grandma, BreAnne, and Ellsie! Thanks again you guys for coming to visit us in good old Columbus, Nebraska!