A nice long vacation to good ole' Nebraska

So we decided this year to spend the Christmas season with my family in Nebraska, my brother was even able to make it and it was PERFECT.  We had made plans to leave on a Tuesday and arrive the next day allowing us to take our time with an over night in Cheyenne.  However, we noticed the weather was going to be bad with some snow and a crazy wind storm so we told only my brother that we were leaving 2 days earlier and were going to surprise mom and dad by showing up Monday night instead which was the same night he was going to arrive too.  We got there first but hid up the hill and waited for my mom to get home from one of her meetings and my brother to make it there.  He made it first and then we saw my mom pull in so then within seconds we pulled up behind my mom and I wish I would have had the video camera cause she was shocked.  Then we knocked on the door and my dad answered and his face was just priceless.  It was a perfect start to our little vacation!

We hung out, watched movies, stayed up extremely late playing epic games of ticket to ride, we laughed and laughed so much, ate yummy home cooked food, did a lil' shopping, visited my mom's store, saw santa, built animals at build a bear, looked at Christmas lights, the boys went and saw star wars and watched Boise State play their championship game, made Christmas cookies for Santa, went to lunch a few times (took my mom lunch at work one day), played in the snow (which we did have a white christmas), opened presents, went ice skating, did some crafts, played at the pizza machine, and relaxed.  It was a great trip!

We had a fantastic 1.5 weeks vacation...it was time to go home but only as I shed some tears along the way.  I love my family so much and cherish every moment I get to spend with them as it isn't as often as I wish but at least we are the closest now than we have ever been!  On our way home once again we had an over night in Cheyenne but at a different much nicer hotel which included an indoor pool and hot tub!  We made sure to leave enough time for swimming and to pack our swimsuits!