Nebraska City

After Ayla woke up this morning, we packed her up and headed down to Nebraska City. We took her last year around this time and had a really fun day so we wanted to be sure to go again this fall. It was overcast...the sun tried to peek through a few times...but luckily, the rain stayed away.

We started with breakfast at the Lied Lodge and we then went over to the Arbor Day Farm "Tree Adventure". There are paved trails that wind through the trees and a little area for kids to run around and play and explore. Ayla loved it this year. As soon as we took her out of her stroller and let her run free, she had a permanent smile on her face. It was so fun to see!

I know I post a ton of pictures all the time, but beware--this post is loaded. I couldn't help it. And I always have in my mind the fact that I want these photos in our books when I get this blog printed each year. So here we go--you pretty much get to witness our entire time there. :)

Pushing the buttons to hear different birds chirping.

Checking out the "smells of the forest". One was "deer musk." Umm, no thanks.

At the top of the treehouse.

She spotted a squirrel waaay down below. She has great eyes...I hope it stays that way and she doesn't get my horrible eyesight.

Walking across the bridge into the kiddie area.
Playing the xylophone...she was sooo happy!
"Design your own tree fort"...she was too little to "design" anything, but she was thrilled to be able to play in all the different colored fabric pieces.

LOVE her boots.
Drawing on the chalkboards while we waited to get on the "hayrack" ride. I don't really know what to call it--there wasn't any hay on it. It was a huge thing with bench seating and cushions and it was pulled by a tractor.
To help explain where we were, we told her we were at the "apple patch" (since we went to the pumpkin patch last week, she was able to get what we were talking about)...so all morning, she kept asking for an apple. Everytime the ride stopped for a second for the tour guide to point something out, Ayla thought we were finally in the orchard to pick apples. She kept standing up and saying, "YAY!!! We're all done!" She thought the ride was pretty cool though; she kept looking at us and smiling. :)

I'm gimping Dean by posting this next one, but I just had to--Ayla was so excited about picking this apple off the tree.

We attempted a couple self-portraits so all three of us could be in a picture together and well, this is as good as it gets. (Erika, this is why we need you to take pictures for us!)

Working on her apple during the ride back. She gnawed away at that for the rest of the time we were there.

After the ride was over, we went across the street to Arbor Lodge...we didn't go in the mansion, we just walked around the grassy area and took some pictures. The trees were beautiful.Playing in the leaves...

I decided to join in on the fun...

JUMP!

She has a thing for hugging trees...I don't know.

She spotted a statue and for some reason, all statues are called Buddhas to her.

Back in the stroller and back to work on that same apple...scowling just like her mama. :)A perfect fall day as a family. :)