She had us at "hello".

This past weekend, Nora and I took a trip with my parents to central Nebraska to attend a family reunion. We stayed with my grandma - it was Nora's first overnight away from Thang. It was sad to say "goodbye" to Thang on Saturday morning as we hopped into the backseat of my parents' car, it had been a long time since I had spent a night away from him too.

The reunion was actually of my great-grandmother's family and her brothers and sisters families - kids, grandkids and great-grandkids galore. I so enjoy hearing the family stories that have been passed down through the generations - like how great-great grandpa Pollman dropped everything he was doing in the potato field when he got the news he could leave Germany for America. And, that he ice-skated the canals all the way to Amsterdam to board the ship across the Atlantic. I really value knowing where I came from and hope to continue to pass down those stories to Nora.

And, central Nebraska in early fall (which it sure feels like around here) is gorgeous. I believe this year it is especially so - the highways and interstate were flanked with the tall cornstalks of late August and an abundance of sunflowers.

On the drive home, Nora decided to add another word to her repertoire...