Sunday, July 22, 2012

Trip to the Capitol!

Bill suggested Friday that he wanted to take off Saturday and go stay somewhere for the night, since he'd been working so hard.  How can I argue with that?!  I haven't exactly had the best week.  : /  We didn't have anything planned for the summer and school starts in a few weeks, so why not?  We thought of a few different places, but our first choices didn't have any hotel rooms available.  Bill suggested Springfield, so at 9:30 on Friday night, I was booking a room in our state's capitol!

I called Grace's best friend's mom to see if Sam could tag along and thank goodness she said yes!  We would have had a great time just ourselves, but Grace and Sam get along so well, I thought they would both have a great time.  I was right!

We left out Sat morning on our journey to Springfield.  On the way, we stopped at an antique store that used to be an old gymnasium and saw some really quirky stuff....a spaceship/ufo, a pink elephant, a giant man holding an ice cream....really quirky.  Interesting, though!  We made our way into the city and visited the Illinois State Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Museum, and the old Capitol building.  We made our way to the hotel and swam before settling in for the night. 

Today, we went to the "new" capitol building, Lincoln's Tomb, and Lincoln's Home.  We had a great time while the girls learned a bit about Honest Abe.  On the way out of town, we had a nice lunch with my Aunt and Uncle who live in Springfield and did a little catching up with them.

On the 2.5 hour drive home, we listened to the girls in the back plan the business they were going to start - making friendship bracelets.  Their new business will be named "Cutie's Bracelets", and they will sell them for $.75 to $2 each.  They will have bracelets for every season and every cause.  Here's where I should mention neither girl really knows how to make friendship bracelets.   I'm not sure how long this new venture will last!  I did come home though and show grace how to watch youtube videos to learn.  Who knows?  You may soon see a Cutie's Bracelets near you!  :  )

**Every time I say "capitol" I feel like I'm in the Hunger Games!  Did you think that when you read it?  NO?  Well!

Clockwise from top left:  Grace and Sam at the UFO/space ship on the way, Standing with Abe and his family at the Lincoln Museum, sitting on a park bench with Abe, checking out the Lincoln's living room, Giving the ol' evil eye to John Wilkes Boothe, and the girls inside the gymnasium turned antique store (notice the stage in the background?)....Grace is holding a crocheted dress that is just like one my Grandma made for me when I was little.



Grace and Sam just setting foot in Springfield - Bill, Grace, and I at the old capitol, same, Grace and Sam inside the new capitol, and hanging out on the lawn.



Some pics from Lincoln's Tomb, rubbing Abe's nose for good luck (we all know I could use some!!).  I was so glad for the respect the girls showed while there, and the interest they took in all of it.


So, this ends our trip to the capitol.  If you've never been, I suggest you go!  For a tank of gas, you could take a day trip and see a lot of history from Illinois.  A lot of the things are free (we only paid for the Lincoln Museum and parking)!  Who doesn't like free?! 

I hope you had a great weekend as well!  Good night!
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