back to normal....

2010 family vacation...we began in galena, illinois...

here are just a smidgen of the numerous photos we took!

after attending a local lutheran church's service,

karl  & the girls enjoying some ice cream at a shoppe with a working fountain.

the girls outside of the mississippi river museum.

enjoying the aquarium at the river museum.

outside the museum on the look-out deck.

we visited a bunch of parks.  this is at the eagle nest in dubuque, iowa.

eagle's nest park, dubuque, iowa.

this was after we rode a railcar up the steepest point in dubuque, iowa (a bit scary, but was fun!).

we spent one day in chicago, illinois.  we parked at soldier field and walked to the adler planetarium.

blast-off simulation.

"whack-a-mole", errr...underground exploring.

our astronaut, wren!

toes in the water, toes in the sand...

12th street beach, lake michigan!

apple wood fort, elizabeth, illinois.

apple wood fort.

sitting in the "tinker chair" at the belvedere mansion.

the girls loved riding the trolley on our tour...the house we toured weren't their favorite parts.  but they were very good sports and even found a few things to enjoy at each house.  the belvedere is a mansion in galena, illinois that is full of beautiful antiques and is gorgeous.  the tour-guide complimented us on how well-behaved our daughters were...he was very impressed!

meeting quincy, the alpaca, outside of galena, illinois.

a beautiful view!

we even traveled into wisconsin one afternoon...played at another park and watched some of a softball game.  we ended our travels by stopping at the "field of dreams" movie site in dyersville, iowa on our way back to nebraska. 

galena is an old lead-mining town.  it is full of quaint little shoppes and restaurants.  it is also has president grant's home.  lots of history in the area!  we had great weather most days - although the day we went to dubuque to eagle nest park and the lock/dam we were luckily back in the car before the storm hit.  we then had a long, leisurely lunch while the rain poured and poured.  the next day we went into chicago.  traffic was crazy!  and another good day of sunshine...until we were driving out of downtown to ikea.  another big ole downpour!  didn't damper our days though!

SO...we have our summer vacation all done and are back to normal at home.  now on to t-ball, linnea's 4th birthday celebrations, vacation bible schools, swimming and, of course, going to parks! 

ahhhhh, good ole summertime,

when the living is easy!