Omaha

After last Friday's black belt promotion, we came home and Asher finished packing. The next morning, Asher, Nathan and I headed out for Omaha! (Noah stayed here with Micah for some brother bonding time. Micah had work and school.) It was an uneventful 8-ish hour drive, pretty straight and straight-forward. (We took two vehicles so rotated driving between the three of us.) We arrived and checked into our AirBNB (just a couple blocks from campus) then walked nearby to get some dinner (more on that later). 

Sunday, we moved Asher into his on campus apartment! We picked up his ID card and checked in...unloaded everything and started getting things set up...back and forth for some various errands...checking out more stuff on campus...etc. 

Above: the pile of stuff Asher took with him, standing in line to check in, and putting his room together.

UNO has two campuses, primarily. Dodge campus has the main buildings and some living areas. Less than a mile to the south, Scott campus has the engineering building and a lot of additional housing. Asher's in a living learning community on Scott campus. The building is four person apartments, so Asher has three roommates. They each have their own room, there are two shared bathrooms (two boys to each), and they all share the kitchen, living area and patio. 

It's a pretty nice set up. :) Asher's room is fairly spacious, too...

It could have something to do with the minimalist nature of my boy, lol. He refused any discussion of a decorating theme or anything like that and will add things as he sees fit. Already, we've ordered a large beanbag for that open area where the extra chair is. It should get there today. :)

So, back to that initial dinner we walked to. Just south of Scott campus is this fabulous Aksarban area...

It's just a couple blocks from Asher's apartment. There's a fabulous food court area, a theater, plenty of restaurants and shops, and a large field and stage for events and live music. He's already played glow in the dark ultimate frisbee there with building-mates.

Beyond that area, which is all walking distance, we ventured out to see other areas of Omaha while we were together... 

We enjoyed food and ice cream in the Blackstone district, walked the Bob Bridge, and wandered the Old Market area. 

Over our time there, we took some pictures together...

And then, on Tuesday, Nathan and I left our boy in Omaha and drove home. We're so excited for Asher and all the experiences he's going to have. 

I'd be lying, though, if I said it wasn't hard. I found this drop off worse than any of the times we dropped Noah off. Noah's only 10 minutes away. :) And. When I came home after dropping off Noah each time, I came home to two boys. (With Noah's first drop off...the hardest...I came home to a 13 and a 16 year old, neither of which could drive yet on his own.) This time, I came home to a newly licensed Micah who's very much enjoying his independence. It's different. I suppose we'll adjust.

Sigh. I miss him, but I'm so proud of my Asher and know that he's ready.