July 17th & 18th (17th-Driving to Vandalia, IL/18th-Day 1:Vandalia-Old Courthouse, Arch & Metal Dragon/Portillo's/Hoosier's/Ohio-Airbnb)

We left this afternoon later than we wanted but drove to Vandalia, IL to stay the night at a cheap Airbnb in a cute little apartment at the old town. 

We woke up ate some breakfast and walked outside to see the cutest little town!

It was actually the capitol of IL for awhile in the 1800's. The old capitol/courthouse was right across from our AIRBNB!! So we decided to check it out.

Abe Lincoln was President then and was from IL. 

(I was born on his birthday)

(Ella has been having more seizures so she is wearing a helmet a little more just in case she falls.)

Our Airbnb was up these stairs in this old building.

This place looks so cool.

And it opened right when we went to check it out. Plus it was FREE!

Inside was really old and cool looking.

These are the actually floors that Abe Lincoln walked on!! Wow!!

Then we found out they had a fire breathing dragon, so we had to go check it out. 

So funny that I just found a cheap place and it ended up being so interesting!!

And as we drove to it, there was an arch!! So cool.

And here it is the Kaskaskia Dragon!!

You have to get a token for a dollar to do the Dragon at a place across the street and we didn't want to, but luckily a couple had gone into get some so we got to see it breath fire.

I took a video as well. It did breath as big as we all thought, lol.

Time to hit the road to Indianapolis for lunch.

A giant cross we saw!

The clouds look so pretty today.

We made a stop at a truck stop and the girls found some souvenirs. 

Made it to the restaurant. They are based out of Chicago! Can't wait.

Really big place, with lots of fun stuff on the wall. 

It's a hot dog place, so Ella was in heaven.

The onion rings were very yummy.

Chocolate cake shake....I didn't like it. But everyone else did.

Time to head to Columbus, OH!

Cool looking house.

We found another fun stop along the way.

Hoosier Gym they used in the movie. Nick was excited for this!

Wow this place is super cool inside.

Old basketball hoops. 

Nick loved the movie, I think I watched parts? Lol. But I loved things like this.

Old chalkboard.

Water fountains??!! Crazy.

Ella ended up having a seizure by the ticket booth here so I loaded the girls up to the car while Nick talked with the old man that was telling stories of people that have visited there.

They also allow kids there to play around for FREE. It was FREE to get in as well. Having fun along the way!

More clouds.

Another giant cross.

We made it to Ohio. I was hoping for a bigger sign than the green one, then magically the blue arch arrived for us! Ha. 

We made it to the airbnb finally!! Yay. This little house is in the heart of Columbus, OH so I was a little worried about the neighborhood. But it was so cute and nice. Lots of rehabbed homes!

Loved this couch.

Cutest kitchen ever.

This place is too cute! It is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom. Glad we made it here. Nick and I went to the grocery store and we ate dinner. Tomorrow is the first day of the PMG Convention!!