Children's Museum.

When Sydney finished the summer reading program, she got a free entrance into the Children's Museum.  So, we went after she finished school for the day and had a blast.



Dressing up is a must.



And so is makeup.



Ta-da!



Doing a puppet show.



I love this picture.



The traveling display was tons of fun.  Sydney and I had a great time racing golf balls through various tracks and seeing if they would make it to the finish.

First Day of Pre-K

Sydney started Pre-Kindergarten this year.



I can't believe that my kid is in school.

East/West Game--2011

We went to Talia's first high school football game as an actual high school student.  Bellevue has two high schools and it is tradition that they play each other for the first game of the season. Because the game usually happens at the end of Arrows to Aerospace and about the same time as the air show on base, they had some guys parachute with the school flags as well as the American flag.



Bellevue West flag



American flag parachutist with the comp trail from the plane they jumped out of.







The real reason to go to a Bellevue West Football Game.

Cousin Visit

Charles has a sister who currently lives in St. Joseph, Missouri.  She and her family came up to visit and go to the temple.  Sydney had a blast with her cousin, Kaytie.







Dancing...or playing...it was sometimes hard to tell with them.





Chamberlin cousins are very dramatic.



Hiding from a scary part in Tangled, I think.

Durham Western Heritage Museum

After the parade we went out to the Durham Western Heritage Museum.  It is an old, gorgeous train station that has been converted into a museum.  It is fun to go and see the trains and the displays about the history of Omaha.

Part of the museum showcases traveling displays.  This time it was one on George Washington Carver and had artifacts and then some science experiments for kids to try out.  Sadly, I got in trouble for taking these two pictures, since, apparently the experiments are too delicate to take pictures of or something.  Totally embarrassing.

Talia and Sydney on a trolly car that ran in Omaha...did you know Omaha had a trolly?

Inside a tee-pee.

Checking out a rocking chair.  I probably would have taken more pictures, but Talia lost an earring that she had just bought and we spent quite a bit of time looking for it.  I, again, got in trouble for trying to open a door on one of the trains that had been open when we went through, but was closed when I went to look.  Once again, embarrassing.  Oh well, I'm over it.

Arrows to Aerospace Parade.

Bellevue has a yearly parade called Arrows to Aerospace.  It celebrates the history and future of Bellevue and it is a big to-do out here.  For the last twelve years, at least one Duran kid has marched in the parade, with the exception of the last two when there was none of us in the marching band.  We went out to watch Talia march in her first parade.  It was so much fun and Sydney came home with her body weight in candy...mostly tootsie rolls...mmm..

 Waiting for the parade to begin.




Warming up.






Talia



They bought this banner when I was in high school...

Nauvoo, Illinois--Day 3

We took a trip to Carthage on Sunday.  If you go to Nauvoo, you HAVE to go to Carthage.  While it is a sad place to visit, it is always so worth it.







My little ham, while we were waiting for Papa.





Back in Nauvoo, we stopped on the Community of Christ side and visited the Red Brick Store and the Smith Family Cemetary.







Learning how they make bricks.



After taking some naps at our hotel, we came back to the temple to walk around and take some pictures.







I love this shot...but it would be better without the girl sitting there.

Nauvoo, Illinois--Day 2

This is day two(or the first whole day, take your pick) in Nauvoo.



We went on a carriage ride out to Inspiration Point and back.  It is an interesting ride because the missionaries tell inspiring stories of some of the people who actually lived in Nauvoo.  And, like almost everything here, it's free!



Well.



One of the horses who pulled our carriage.



With the horses that pulled the carriage.



Oxen ride.





Scovil Bakery, where you get to sample a gingerbread cookie.



Carding wool at the Family Living Center.



Learning about making candles.



Making rope.



I love these flowers.



Parade with the Brass Band.



Playing house.



One of the things that amazes me about Sydney is her ability to make friends instantly.  Here she is with a bunch of little girls who watched Just Plain Anna Amanda with us.



Just Plain Anna Amanda is a show that the Young Performing Missionaries put on while they are in Nauvoo for the summer.  This was their last show before they all went home.  A perfect show for kids...and to sit and enjoy the air conditioning.





Trying on one of the missionaries' hats.



Learning about the printing press.



At our favorite spot on the Mississippi...at the end of Parley Street.







It was really windy, if you can't tell.







She wanted to put her feet in the water...



...but was a little afraid...



...of how cold it would be...



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