Mini Staycation

Yesterday, we took the kids into Springfield to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. What a wonderful place! The kids had so much fun and learned a lot. Country kids that they are, just driving into downtown Springfield is amazing to them. With the taller buildings and the one way streets. So sheltered.

When we got into the museum, we were greeted with the suggestion that we step into the holographic theater that was starting a performance in 5 minutes.  That really helped set the mood. Kellen got scared a bit but otherwise enjoyed himself. Lorenne and Josh loved it. After leaving that, we went into Journey 1, which began in a replica of a log cabin that Abe Lincoln might have grown up in. It was so small and cramped. But what I noticed right off - the knitting basket at the foot of the bed! Josh rolled his eyes at that. What was so interesting about the exhibits is how they were sectioned off and as you entered one, you wound your back into different rooms that had pictures and vignettes and artifacts. They led you around and out to the very next exhibit. There was another theater that had a performance about seeing Lincoln through eyes of the times and not the mist of the legend he has become. It was very thought provoking. I knew that he was not well liked by many at the time (I went through a phase of reading up on the Civil War era), but I didn't realize just how despised he was by everyone for one reason or another.
We ate lunch at the Subway that's conveniently located in the museum, got one of those souvenier pennies for each of the kids and finished up at the gift shop. Kellen got a bag of little soldiers, with cannons and horses and wagons. Lorenne got a quill and ink pot.
Next stop was Lincoln's home.

Because we got there later in the day, we were unable to get free tickets to go inside. Which was a bummer to say the least. But, we walked around the neighborhood, where there are a number of houses that have been restored to their original look so you can get a sense of what it was like. There are actors walking around in period dress and can tell you anything you like about the houses or neighborhood. We found it interesting to learn that until the mid-80's the streets were not blocked off and that there was actually a Piggly-Wiggly in the lot across the street from the Lincoln home.
Last stop for the day was to his tomb which is located in hilly Oak Park Cemetary.

Except for the bratty kid who was yelling at his grandma in the parking lot, making fun of the way she parked and begging for a butt-whoopin', it was a good way to cap the day. I haven't been there since I was a kid, and neither had Josh.

We also drove around the Riverside Park and saw that there's a stable there and so now the kids want to go horseback riding and are going to go to the Olympics in horse jumping and babble babble babble.

It was a good day, and good way to end my summer vacay from work.
I go back on Wednesday. Scary stuff, that. Not really, but I've become accustomed to sitting on my butt here at home and sitting on my butt back in that office just doesn't sound quite as appealing.

I've got some ideas for next summer and an actual vacation. We're very overdue. We've never gone on a vacation, the four of us, and Lorenne will be 12 in March and we'll have been married 13 years. Josh gets another week of vacation next year as well, after 9 years working for the company. I'm going to convince him to spend it with us over the summer break and not trapping with his dad in the fall. We'll see what happens, considering his dad didn't get to trap last year because of his leg injury. Pulled his thigh muscle away from the bone, two days before season started. He was out at work for three months, healing. Poor guy. Anyways.... I suppose that's all for now.
I hope I get into the swing of all this.

Oh PS: cast on for a pair of fingerless mitts for Lorenne. In a soft blue yarn, DK weight. Although I'm knitting them right in front of her, she doesn't know what they are and doesn't ask about what I'm making. So hopefully they can stay a surprise. Kellen has been asking for a knitted Angry Bird stuftie or an Angry Bird hat. I hate commercialism but the patterns I've seen for the hats are pretty cute. Maybe for Christmas...