Life in Corn Country

Thursday night after we FINALLY got here (got lost for an hour in a detour in Rockford, Illinois), me, the girls, my sister (Becca), brother (Dale), Mom & Buzz, my aunt Annie, cousins (Landon, Lauren, and Lauren's cute little Isabella) all went to Happy Joe's Pizza for dinner and I had my beloved BLT pizza. YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!! It was soooooo good. I ate too much, but loved every minute of it.

On Friday we toured Crystal Lake Cave (a cave with a "lake"...really a little pond...in it). It was underground and nice and cool...a nice break from the heat and humidity here. I took a bunch of pics, but I will have to post them when I get home cuz I forgot the cable to download them. Later that day we went to some cute little shops in Galena, Illinois (it's a small town known for it's shops and also for some history...Ulysses S. Grant used to live there). I found some great sunglasses for 9 bucks!!!

Yesterday my sister, the girls, and I did some fun shopping at the oh-so-big Kennedy Mall in Dubuque, Iowa. Got a steal of a deal on a cute church outfit for Katelyn. Last night we went to Mario's Italian Restaurant and I had my beloved panzerotti (sorta like a huge calzone with the world's best marinara sauce on it).

So far I am enjoying my little vacation. I have had time to see some family and friends that I haven't seen in a while...went to my home ward today...wow...some of my friends parents are getting really old!!! Kira and my sister Becca have been having fun with hours of Littlest Pet Shop play. Katelyn and I have been doing some reading. I finished book 2 of the Fablehaven series (which was my goal, so that Kate can take it with her to her dad's to finish reading it). I am so excited to read book 3!!! Book 2 ended in a way that tells me that book 3 is going to be a real page-turner!