Snow Much Fun!

Ever since we decided to come back to Illinois for spring break, J has been asking whether or not there would be any snow. We kept telling him that it was possible, but not to get his hopes up. He definitely got his wish! And even though it has been cold, considering how ecstatic the boys have been, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!



Happy children = happy parents!



Midwestern Museums

This year we purchased a family membership for one of the museums near us, in part so that we could take advantage of reciprocal free admission to other science-technology museums when we travel. And since we're getting in for free, I don't end up feeling like we have to stay long to get "our money's worth"!

Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover. I didn't know much about Herbert Hoover before today, except that he was President of the United States. Oh, and that Archie and Edith Bunker sang "Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again." Now that the "All in the Family" theme song is running through your head, here are a few more tidbits about our 31st President that we gleaned from our visit to Herbert Hoover National Historic Site today...

• Orphaned at the age of nine
• A Quaker
• Was a mining engineer
• Led humanitarian relief effort to provide food for millions of Belgians during World War I
• First president born west of the Mississippi

You're Going to... Iowa?!

Before heading to my parents' in Central Illinois, we decided to take a little detour to Iowa. Iowa?! What's in Iowa, you ask? Well, one of the few things that would get this orange-and-blue Illinois alumnae to venture into the heart of enemy territory... a visit to Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, our last National Park Service unit left to check off in the state!

Signs

My collection of entrance signs, 20 National Park Service units visited in all...

June 19

Barn Sour

We woke up on the western edge of Minnesota, but the boys were determined to make it to Chicago TONIGHT! So, today was just "go, go, go"!

Before leaving Pipestone, we headed back to the monument visitor center so that the boys could get their Jr. Ranger badges (and I could get my picture of the sign!)