Summer Trip to IL

I was able to take the girls back to Illinois
this summer for several days. We all had a great time despite
the weather being hot and VERY humid. Ewe! Here are the
girls asleep on the plane, they were cramped but
had a good sleep.
The first day we were there we drove up north to visit
some friends from college. We got to see Shannon first and she
is expecting her first baby in December. We had a good visit
at the mall and shared a good meal together. Miss ya Shan!

The following day we went and visited Somer and her
family. All the kids are close in age so they played real well
together. Anderson and Abi saying " red-heads rock!"
Our other friend Jenny was there visiting too
but escaped before I cold get a picture! We all had a really
great time! Miss you girls!

Then we went off the visit Stephanie, Jay and Caleb!
The kids all played real well together and Abi even
got on a big bike for the first time! Miss you guys tons too!

The rest of our trip was spent down at my parents house which is
now in the middle of a wind-turbine forest (pictures below).
But we still had fun swinging, watching movies,
riding the dirt bike, shopping and visiting the zoo and a museum.
Even after getting a burn on her leg from the pipe of the bike Abi still
rode on the bike, more than one time. That's my girl! (video below)
She also helped boy-Grams mow the
lawn and build a fire to make s'mores. Yum-yum!
Mom also took Abi downtown Chicago to the American Girl
store. I know they had fun and Abi came home with plenty of
souvenirs for her and Leah. Thanks girl-Grams!

We ate some lunch at a nearby park before going into
the Brookfield Zoo. The zoo my sibs and I went to
when we were kids. The weather was warm and
humid but we all made it through, thanks Dad for
being there despite the weather! We saw the
dolphin show, the sting rays and rode the carousel.
Again, Leah was crying on the carousel and wanted off
but Dad managed to calm her down and she still
likes to ride them. In fact, now she says "see Momma,
I not crying." Cute!
After the zoo we stopped for dinner at the best Chinese
restaurant, the Magic Wok! Then in true Price tradition
we went over to Tates ice cream, got our ice cream and walked
over to the train tracks to wait for a train go by. When
us kids were little Dad would put a penny on the
track to flatten it, not something I'm ready to show
my girls yet. We told the girls it was going to
be loud so they made sure to be prepared by putting their
fingers in their ears. Leah had hers in for at least 10 mins.

The view from the front, back and side. Also a pic
to show how the farmland is destroyed as they install these.

We also went up to Cantigney, a war museum. With
lots of beautiful gardens and tanks to climb on.
Again, a place that as kids we went to. Again it was a
really hot and humid day and Leah kept telling me
she wanted to take her shoes off because her
"foots are hot." Abi saw the biggest leaf she has
ever seen and probably wanted me to pick it
so she could keep it. After walking through the gardens
we went over to the tanks where Leah just had a blast.
I think it took her all of 5 seconds to get to the
top of some of these tanks. She showed no fear climbing up.
Thank goodness Gramps was up there to climb with them.
Cuz, no way could big belly Momma do it.
Abi was not so fearless, but wanted to be where
the fun was so she slowly made her way.

Abi was our photographer! Good job!

It was a great trip! We will do it again next summer!