Easter in Omaha

So, Ella had her first trip to Nebraska. Easter has become one of the holidays during which the family gathers, in recent years Aunt Joan & Uncle Stan's farm has become the setting. Aunt Kathy and Uncle Neil were kind enough to host mom, dad, & Ella in the Stoffel family boardinghouse. We arrived on Thursday. Ella's second flight wasn't quite as smooth as the first, for some reason the airlines use a slightly smaller plane to go to the big-O. The smaller flight was a bit rougher but Ella was a trooper.

Ella made herself right at home at the Driscoll residence.

The night we arrived Ella was quickly introduced to Grandma & Grandpa. The setting was the neighborhood pizza joint and a good contingent of family was able to join the fun. Grandma & Grandpa

Friday night was the night out to see our friends. Ella was introduced to Bobby, Matt & Heather, Jason (Ashley was farther west), Sam & Holly, and Matt, Heidi, & their daughter Kaitlyn. We met at a "resturaunt" and had a good time. After dinner, Mom & Dad left Ella in the capable hands of Grandma and Aunt Kathy, and we all headed up to the Dundee Dell. We spent some quality time with a bit more of the old crew as well as a good contingent of the Stoffel clan. Impending births (Gabe) and weddings (Joe) abound.

Saturday Kathy & Neil had a dinner party. Great Grandma Chatterton came up from Red Oak, Iowa, along with Aunt Cathy & Uncle Gene.

The night was a blast. We discovered that Aunt Kathy has a weakness for Reisling, though with a little bit of ice. Dinner led to great conversations and as the night progressed Mom noted that as the wine bottles accumulated the conversations became just a bit more boisterous. Needless to say a sizeable dent was made in the wine supply at the Chateau Driscoll.

Easter Sunday Mom & Ella were introduced to the Nebraska that most people think of...in the form of Aunt Joanie and Uncle Stan's Farm. A trip out to Clarkson Nebraska and a day in the country was great. Most of the local family turned out and the day included a full meal, an Easter Egg hunt for the little ones, a beer hunt for the older grandchildren, and the annual family softball game with some local rules.

Ella with Grandma & Grandpa Chatterton

A slice of Nebraska...

Ella see's her first Cow.

A round of picture taking was well justified.

Ella and Aunt Kathy

Uncle Andrew, Cousin Cameron and Anita.

Mom & Ella relax amid the family circus

During the softball game, Ella had a dirty diaper then got hungry. A makeshift diaper changing table and nursing station was found.

It wasn't quite as easy getting out of Omaha. For unknown reasons the flight was delayed a couple hours. When we finally pulled back from the gate another hour was spent waiting to taxi. As one might imagine it's not typical to wait on the tarmac to taxi to the runway at Eppley. As always Ella was in great sprirts, but Mom and Dad were slowly losing patience. At the end of the day we made it (but dad didn't make it to class that night). Whew, what a trip (Ella at the airport)!!