Homeward Bound

Panda + Lilah = fun times

Prepare yourself for pictures... this one's loaded.

We couldn't wait to travel back to "The Good Life" to have Lilah meet family and friends!  Rooney pretty much had the good life on the drive out though, I should've called shotgun earlier.  So, I was stuck in the backseat, while Rooney lounged on his bed in the front seat... what a cute little punk.  But we enjoyed the ride out by naming all of Lilah's toys and telling her all the cool things about her "homeland", Nebraska.

Rooney is mocking me in this picture

Lilah was an angel on the 10 hr drive.  We only stopped twice but found having a dog and a baby challenging at the stops.  Ben and I had to play rock-paper-scissors-lizard-spock to see who would go to the bathroom first and who would stay with Rooney & Lilah.  But we managed :)  The ride back wasn't so smooth, Lilah had a lot more to talk and yell about.

Lilah was 7 weeks old when went back to Husker Land.  We thought she would be so excited about seeing Memorial Stadium, the new Arena and meeting tons of cool people- but she really just wanted to lay on a quilt, kick her legs and be cute. Sheesh.  My mom found my brother's quilt made by our great-grandma and Lilah partied the week away on it.  It waas covered in nursery rhyme characters- a few of which I think are made up (Lucky Locket?? and Ten O'Clock Scholar??)... but google solved the mystery.  We have decided Lilah has a bright future as a light inspector... no pun intended (Bryan actually taught her already how to spot bulbs that are out also... quite a few of these in the Otto ceiling....)

Lilah-kins really gets no attention at all

7 Weeks and Looking Cute!

We will never be able to discipline this sweet face

Lilah met her walking milestone early

Dog pile on Ben!  Literally

Gpa O time

Cuddles with Grammy O

Rooney in Holmes Lake... never misses an opportunity to truly experience something

 I spent my first Mother's Day with my mom, grandma, Lilah, mom-in-law, and aunt.  The best way to go!  Lilah somehow scored a pedicure and a tee time for me... smart little girl!

The Gerard Family:

Great Aunt Joan

Here's Uncle Momo!!

Ahhh!  Lilah got mugged!

Frannie stopped by to say hello!  Two cute little babies together... one can peck the other though.

4 Generations... way cool!

He's like the family Pied Piper!

The Dudney Family:

Great Grandpa D + Nana + Lilah :)

Nana and Great Aunt Donna

All the Dudneys

Great Grandma D!

Hang time at the Dudney's in Hastings

Our little "thinker"

She is seriously styling in this

Unc Dude Andy and Joelle

4 Generations of Dudneys

Yes, Rooney needed to be held and admired also

Great Aunt Donna

Chris & Lauren's dog Moose showed Rooney how play time is done

The Nelson Family:

Grandma Brenda

Great Grandma Carolyn

The Nelson Boys and a little Nelson girl

Grandpa Nelson and Princess Lilah

Uncle Action!

The Nelson Brothers

The Nelson Siblings

The Godfather

Joelle is a baby goddess

Aunt Lauren

Meeting the other babies of the family... totally normal to have swans in the family

Unsuccessful photo shoot... shocking, huh?!

Ben got me this bear for one of our anniversaries :)

Ben: "It looks like the bear is going to spank her"

Probably not a frame-worthy one

Thanks to the Grandpa's for scheduling golf time in the week... this allowed for dinner and drinks after :)

Future Papa Chris Vasek

Not a bad way to spend an evening!

The Otto Family:

Matt Otto... someone likes Matt

My goddaughter Alexa with Lilah

April laughs at someone's funny faces

Aunt Sandy and the Light Inspector

More Friends meet Lilah!

The Stuehrenbergs in Hastings!

Em, Avery, Grammy O... sorry we made your life chaos that day, Em!

Harrison's mom is one of the funniest people I know, I have big hopes for you too buddy.

My first friend in Lincoln, Veronica, and now our kids are 2 mos apart!  Too cool!

The Mohrs :) 

Way cool centerpiece!  Nice work, Senora Otto/Grammy O!

Looks like a Dr. Seuss village!

Gal Pals!

Life is good  :)