A few things you should know...

...about the University of Illinois (and the surrounding area):

1) U of I is in the Big 10 - which Nebraska will be joining this coming year. Unfortunately, University of Illinois stinks at football and they're not even playing Nebraska for the next three seasons! Big huge mega bummer times 12.

2) Illinois Men's Gymnastics IS currently ranked #3 and IS coached by two former Olympians - Justin Spring and Ivan Ivankov. Kody is not a fan of me getting season tickets, but I'm hoping to see at least a few meets. :-)

3) I did not know Illinois had a women's gymnastics team, but apparently they do - definitely hitting up a couple of their meets next year.

4) In case you couldn't tell, I'm hoping to live vicariously through Kody for the next four years in order to fulfill my dream of attending a big state school because of the athletics. Just wish he would've chosen a school that plays Nebraska in football at least once! Just kidding, just kidding.

5) Jimmy John - the creator of Jimmy John's - lives in Champaign and the company is based out of C-U - although apparently he's moving it to Florida.

6) Super excited to use U of I's fitness center - well, I'm sure Kody will have access and I'm just hoping I will too.

7) Population of C-U is about 150,000 including students ... 100,000 without students.

8) C-U is almost equally far away from Chicago, Indianapolis (closest) and St. Louis (furthest), hence the airport problem. Apparently C-U, Bloomington-Normal and Peoria also have small airports, so we'll have lots to choose from!

9) Unfortunately, C-U is not any warmer that Omaha, Bourbonnais or St. Charles. But since Kody will be back in school, he might get a few snow days!

10) Right now we live 6 hours from Minneapolis (bro and sis-in-law's family), 7 hours from Omaha and 9 hours from Knoxville (Kody's bro and sis-in-law's family). When we move, we'll live 8.5 hours from Minneapolis, 7.5 hours from Omaha and 7.5 hours from Knoxville. Still right in the middle of everything, which is quite nice. And a long plane ride from California (sorry Todd and Jonathan).

P.S. A big hip hip hooray to Kacey, Kody's brother, for getting into the University of Tennessee vet school!! Two Carr boys in vet school at the same time! Fun stuff!