5 Reasons to like Omaha

The recent news on the transfer policy makes me think I should change my attitude about this place.  I've got a feeling we'll be here for a while longer.

I'd do a top ten, but I couldn't think of that many!  Maybe you all could help me out :)  

Here it is.  

My top FIVE reasons to like Omaha:

#5-  It could be worse...we could be in Alaska

#4-  No annoying southern accents. 
#3-  Low cost of living- Where else can you buy a pineapple for a buck?
#2-  The people- seriously the friendliest I've ever met!

AND THE #1 REASON TO LIKE OMAHA IS...

NO Traffic!!!!!!!!!

Our Menu

All the other Mommy bloggers are doing it, so why not...

Monday- Tuna salad wraps
Tuesday- Marinated Chicken, Rice and  Salad
Wednesday-  Homemade hamburger helper
Thursday-  Salmon, green beans, and mashed potatoes
Friday-  Cookout
Saturday- Seven layer southwestern salad, fruit, and corn chips
Sunday- Pancakes and egg wraps

I only plan dinners! 

Breakfast is always a bagel with cream cheese for Josh and oatmeal for me.  Lunch is leftovers for Josh and usually a WW frozen meal for me. 

On the nights where the calories and fat are too high (Wednesday)  I will also eat a WW meal.  That's just for now while I'm trying to lose the last 4 lbs!!!!  

Here's the new recipe I'm trying with the Marinated Chicken.  It's from www.moneysavingmom.com

3 Whole chicken breasts
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup liquid sweetener (I'm using agave)
1/4 cup soy sauce
Cook in the crockpot on high for 3-4 hours.

We eat a lot of chicken breasts because I like it.  I'm always trying to find new, interesting, and low fat ways to prepare it.  If you have one PLEASE pass it on!

Lexie's progress

She's pulling up on everything and won't stay in one spot!  This week she has learned how to sit down from a standing position and how to walk from one piece of furniture to the next. 

8 month birthday

Carolina Style BBQ

Our dinner last night

Ingredients 
1 (5 lb) pork sholder roast
Salt and peper
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp hot pepper sauce
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

Put the meat in the slow cooker with salt and pepper on top.  Pour the vinegar around the pork.  Cover and cook on low for 12 hours.  Remove the pork from the slow cooker, strain the liquid, and save two cups.  Stir the sugar, hot pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes into the reserved liquid.  Shred the pork and mix it with the sauce in the slow cooker.  Cover and keep on low until serving.

A trip to the Zoo

This is how we began!  Alexis still loves the front pack carrier.  We can tell because she kicks her legs in excitement.  Here are some pictures of the couple of hours we spent at the zoo on Saturday afternoon. 

I would write more, but Lexie is on the move in a big way.  In fact, I have no idea where she is...better go find her!

Fun Weekend

 Alexis is pulling up on EVERYthing.  Including me!  Josh came home on Friday and snapped the picture above right away.  She is so proud of herself.
Saturday am we went to spend sometime with Lexie's favorite boy-friend.  These two are mobile now!!!  J is walking along the furniture.  It's so fun to see the progress.  The four of us spent a good bit of time clapping :)

 My favorite part of Saturday- the trail run.  We had three muddy creeks (or cricks if your from the Midwest) to pass through.   Josh carried me through the first one, I took the "girl route" on the second, and participated in the last.  We finished just under an hour.  I blame a lot of that on the 10 minute wait at the beer stop around mile 3. 

Second Crossing

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The last crossing!

Almost there!

The finish line

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 Poor Lexie sliced her fingers at church on Sunday.  I was letting her play with a shiny tin pan.  Ooops.  I saw the amount of blood pouring from her hand and went into instant panic mode.  Our small group friends were there and they reacted quickly.    It's amazing that so much blood can come from such tiny cuts.  She spent the day with a sock covering the bandages. 

 

7K Race Day

 It's the day of the 7K Race!  I didn't realize it was a trail run until a few weeks after registering.  Yikes.  The high today is 50, the race is hilly, and we'll be running through water.  NOT my thing.  Josh says he'll carry me across the water.  This will be a new experience for sure.  It's kind of fun not knowing what to expect.  4.3 miles will be the furthest I've run in over a year.  My goal is to finish.  45 minutes would make me happy.  We'll see!

http://www.luckybucketrun.com/

Our Trip to NC

 Lexie and I flew into Greensboro, NC on Friday, April 29th.  Kate and Jason picked us up, and after a minor stroller delay we were on our way to Marion- Home of the parents.  Lexie had been up nearly all day and was quite cranky, but the moment we arrived she put on her happy face and soaked up all the attention. 

 

Saturday we woke up and spent the day with the family.  Lexie got her toenails painted for the first time.  Aunt Katie did a great job!  I think Lexie likes pedicures.  She sat still like a good girl. Grandma Q came to eat dinner with us later that afternoon.  I can't believe I didn't take a picture of that!  Alexis didn't know what to think of Grandma at first, but then she discovered the glasses and they bonded.

 We went down to the meadow to swing.  Lady followed us.  She loved to be with the family.  Here is our last family picture with her.  A couple of days later Mom put her down so she wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

Lexie LOVES animals!

The whole family minus Josh

 Sunday we went to Oma and Opa's house for a visit.  Lexie had fun riding on the Greenway (which by the way is impressive)  This was a particularly hard day because of teething issues.  She spent a good part of the day in tears or lying on my chest.

 We made a couple of visits to Grandma T's new house!  Lexie liked playing on the back porch and discovering all the beautiful flowers. 

 She really enjoyed the orange pop.  Great.  She loves sweets.

 Lexie found out that "mean Aunt Angie" is not mean after all.  She knows just how to play with babies!

 Wednesday we had a Mexican lunch.

 Thursday, I picked Josh up.  He spent a little bit of time with us before heading out to the pre-wedding festivities.

Fighting the hat battle

 Lexie began to pull up on our visit!

 She also got to see Bob

 And Alice

 We had a Birthday/Mother's Day dinner outside.  We even had a fire. It was a beautiful night.

 Josh and Kyle threw the ball.  Lexie loved watching that!