Celebrating the Fourth of July

This year part of our Fourth of July celebration involved going to the Lincoln Bicentennial/Taste of Downtown/Music Festival in downtown Springfield. We enjoyed the Taste so much that we definitely plan to make it an annual event. Lots of food for a decent price usually means that we will have a good time!

Here are Olivia and Ethan with the Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln statues in the Old State Capital Plaza. Both kids love to play on these, although I never seem to have a camera with me when we are downtown.

Springfield has been invaded by stove pipe hats in time for the Lincoln Bicentennial. We were able to find 4 of them, although I know that there are at least 20 around town. Here is Ethan posing on the Obama/Lincoln hat (you knew we couldn't pass up a picture of this hat!).

Olivia and "beary" on the stars and stripes hat. She won beary in a carnival game from the festival.

Joe and the kids looking at Lincoln's home. We arrived too late for a tour of the inside.

On the Fourth we traveled to Litchfield to celebrate my dad's birthday. Although it drizzled for much of the day, we were able to get some pool time in. Here is Uncle Thomas assisting Ethan with a dunk.

And Uncle Thomas showing the kids some pool pointers.

Ethan and his Great-Great-Aunt Valerie playing Rock Band. One has to be careful around Ethan when he is waving 2 sticks around!

Ethan with his first sparkler. I am happy to report that both kids made it out of fireworks season with all fingers, toes, and eyes intact. But, we were not able to make it to a large fireworks display due to the weather causing Litchfield to cancel their display.

Olivia with her sparkler. She had a great time "writing" her name in the air with them.

Olivia and Ethan posing with their Great Great Uncle Ross and Aunt Valerie. They came down from Chicago for the weekend to celebrate dad's birthday.