Natalia Visits with Ayden, and Boys: April 11-18

 Natalia was here for a week, from Saturday 4/11 to Saturday 4/18.  We had great weather and tried to do something everyday she was here.  

Saturday she came in late but we still got together at our house. Sunday we went to church, and then a visit to Mormon Trail Visitors Center and the Winter Quarters Temple and cemetery, followed by Sunday dinner at our house and then a visit to a neighborhood park.  

Monday we visited Lauritzen Garden.  We went all the way to the end, which I had never done before.  Six trolls line the path.  I visited the Lithuanian Sculpture Garden.  There are many other statues.  Workers were very busy as they are grooming and planting in preparation for summer.  Later Charity's boys came over and the girls went to Miranda's for a sleep over make up party.

Tuesday we visited Gene Leahy Park to the archway park and then the kids walked over to go down the slides.  I walked a bit further and went to the sculpture garden and later through the underpass and saw the Gene Leahy Park dog park and visited the visitor center.  I did not make it to the Heartland Park and pier.  We went to the movie to see the new Mario and then had dinner at Charity's.

Wednesday was our fist zoo day.  Sheri paid for a train ride and a merry-go-round ride.  We also saw the aquarium and the orangutan and ape houses.  Charity came over and Riley and I watched bird videos.  We went to American Heroes Park and I walked the history trail.

Thursday we visited the Omaha Childrens Museum.  It is larger than the Modesto Childrens Museum.  Kids especially liked the imaginative play store, train track, water way, the balls shooting out through vacuums, make up, and many other games.  Thursday night was movie night and we watched the original Mario.  The women, Sheri and all three daughters, went out to eat.  

Friday was a second trip to the zoo.  We saw the alligator swamps under the desert dome, and then also toured the Lied rain forest.  Friday night we swam at the Lied Activity Center and then celebrated Grandson's birthday with dinner and cake and pie.  

Saturday Natalia had an early flight.  She spent the morning packing.  Charity and kids came over to make sure we said goodbye well.  Miranda also came over.

Five-Year-Old birthday boy

 Look who had a birthday last week.  His day we went to the zoo, swimming at the Lied Activity Center pool and had dinner and cake.  He chose homemade chicken noodle soup.  The cake was chocolate with an almond flavored frosting which was very good.

Henry Doorley Zoo February 2026

Some warmer weather got us to the zoo.  We saw the elephants, butterflies, giraffes, rhinoceros, and gorillas.  There was one pretending to be a circus performer.  I also walked through the desert dome to see the road runner, but I didn't see him.  I did see the kookaburra bird.

Riley and the fish

a black snake

These two were funny.  The smaller one seemed to get the better of the larger one as he could get underneath him.

kookaburra

Henry Doorley Zoo November 2025

 Not many pictures.  We did see the zoo movie about the desert elephants.  At one point they had to dig down to th underwater aquaphor.  We went in the night exhibit underneath the desert.  It wasn't good agt all for pictures but we saw alligators and bats and an aardvark.  The zoo was decorated for Christmas.