Our Family Vacation 2010 Part 1

Dad and Mom are involved in a parenting ministry called GFI(Growing Families International).  Each year they have a national conference somewhere in the U.S.  This year the national conference was in Tulsa, OK.  We decided to make a family vacation of it and do some sight seeing on the way to Tulsa.  Our first stop was Springfield, IL.

Right before we left, we spent the weekend of the 4th of July at Lakeside where Dad's mom lives.  My two aunts, my uncle and many cousins also were there.  This is a long-time family tradition.  We ate lots of yummy food outside, we went to the parade, played shuffleboard, miniature golf, rode bikes and went swimming in Lake Erie.  Saturday night we went to a show in Hoover Auditorium and afterward got ice cream.  Below are some pictures from our weekend!

                                                  Grace, Rachel and Becca chillin' in the yard!

Aunt Judy and Elizabeth

Aunt Judy apparently doesn't like her picture taken!  We were so glad that Elizabeth was able to join us this year from Charleston, SC for the 4th of July celebration! 

Bella and Ben

Joseph, Daniel and Stephen at the parade.

Lydia and Glory with all their candy from the parade.

We spent two days in Springfield, IL learning more about Abraham Lincoln and his life.  Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield, IL for 17 years, longer than any other place in his life.  So there was lots of history in Springfield.

We went inside Lincoln's home for a guided tour.  There were many original items in the home that belonged to the Lincolns.  It was neat to be able to hold the same hand rail on the stairway that Lincoln and his family did when they lived there.  It was definitely a highlight of our first day.

Us with Lincoln in front of his law office.

The Old State Capitol, where Lincoln did a lot of work during his political career.

For dinner, we ate at the birthplace of the corn dog, Cozy Dog.  Isn't this corny?

The 114th Infantry Regiment scared us all to death when they shot a very loud cannon!