back in may, jamie and i took a trip to omaha, nebraska for his brother eric’s graduation from dental school at creighton university.  his whole family was there, which was super fun!  i had met his parents and sister already, but this was my first time meeting eric, eric’s wife jen, their twin boys sawyer and finn, and jamie’s other brother, rob.  the only person i didn’t get to meet from his fam on this trip was ashley, rob’s girlfriend [now fiancée – congrats ashley and rob!!] since she couldn’t make it… but i got to meet her over july 4th weekend so that worked out.

it was short trip, but we had a great time.  we hung out with the family on friday night and saturday and then on sunday we all went to the omaha zoo, which was a blast!  i hadn’t been to a zoo in forever and the omaha zoo is one of the best.  it was my first time in omaha, and to be honest, i didn’t have high expectations for the city, but we explored the old market area of omaha, and it was actually pretty fun and cute!  it was a pretty time of year to be in omaha too – everything was nice and green.  i was glad i got to go to meet the rest of the family and celebrate eric!

{this was after our very first flight together!  we hurried after work on friday to try to make it to eric’s hooding ceremony but unfortunately just missed it.  still glad we got to make it for the post-ceremony festivities and his graduation!}

{this was hilarious – jamie and me trying to get a picture with three-year-old sawyer and finn.  [they were both wearing the cutest little outfits with bowties but i think it’s sawyer [??] that doesn’t like if his clothes are even a little bit wet and he got in the fountain or the sprinklers or something… hence the change in clothes. ;)  they’re identical twins and i still have a hard time telling them apart.]  anyway, here’s take 1 and take 2 for photos…}

{…aaaaaand take 3 and take 4, haha.  these two are so cute and so busy!  and we obviously know what we’re doing.} ;) ;)

{at the graduation ceremony}

{jamie, his brother rob, and his sister hope.  only missing the graduate, eric!}

{jamie’s family after we just watched eric walk the stage.}

{these two were so good at the restaurant – they had just woken up from a nap and were still a little sleepy.}

{we stopped at this cool nursery called mulhall’s and i fell in love with this cactus garden in the bed of an old truck.}

{isn’t this cool?!}

{exploring omaha}

{a snapchat taken by hope that jamie saved on his phone and i stole from him.  we had a lot of fun together!}

{these two.  love them!}

{sunday was zoo day!  check out this adorable family – eric, jen, and sawyer and finn in their john deere outfits!!}

{something about carousels just make me happy.}

{going for a ride}

{such fun!}

{a gorgeous snow leopard}

{a black bear and a polar bear}

{i got the feeling that this guy was hungry or agitated in some way because he kept pacing back and forth…}

{but he looks so cute and cuddly!}

{peacock!}

{HEART.  MELTING.}

{zebras}

{tigers}

{i liked this guy’s ears… black with a white spot!}

{they are beautiful creatures.}

{swans, ducks, koi fish, and some kind of exotic bird that i don’t remember the name of}

{a lioness and a leopard.  the most hilarious thing was that the lioness had her mouth open, and being the son of two dentists, one of the boys said, “mommy needs to clean that one’s teeth!”}

{giraffes}

{a sweet baby giraffe there on the right!}

{a mama gorilla [all tuckered out!] and her sleeping baby gorilla.  and an orangutan i think?!  or another type of monkey.}

{more monkeys!  the ones on the left are a mama and a baby.  you can definitely tell it was springtime when we went!}

{my man}

{the old market area in omaha}

{before jamie and i left for the airport, we went to the old market area and had a nice sushi lunch at blue sushi sake grill, and then it was time to head back to CO.}

congratulations to eric and thank you to jamie’s family for a wonderful weekend!  xoxo