Happy Birthday Lilly!

We recently went to Chicago to celebrate Lilly's first birthday. You might remember that Lilly was due to be born 10 days before Anna, but she couldn't wait to see her parents so she came 10 1/2 weeks early.

She went from this:


To this, in one quick year!


Anna had fun playing with toys that were new to her.


And when we headed back to the car, she enjoyed a leisurely stroller ride.

The best thing about Springfield

I can't believe I forgot about this! We found the most exciting thing in Springfield, IL when we were there...



Cheap parking! Maximum price was $6.50 - parking in Chicago doesn't even start at that rate!

Paducah, KY

We're currently in Paducah, where I'm attending a training class at CSI, our banking host provider. It's good stuff - today we talked about bank control records, balancing reports, Centerview reports, and service charge routines. I'm looking forward to the next couple of days when we delve into sweep accounts and multiple cash management accounts - but I digress.

Our trip started with a jaunt to Springfield, IL and some time at Lincoln's tomb; then it was off to the new Lincoln museum and a peek into the Lincoln library. They were beautiful!


















Then we went to the Lincoln Museum where they had replicas of Lincoln's boyhood home and his presidential home (the White House). They also had some pretty realistic looking wax statues - I thought I saw one breathing!













Tonight we went to Metropolis, IL, home of Superman! Not only do they have a giant statue of the man of steel, but they have a Super Store and Super Museum. And, their newspaper is the Daily Planet, of course.














On the way back to Paducah, we drove across a scary steel bridge. Since it was quite a way out of Metropolis, I don't think it was blue for Superman.

Happy Birthday America!!

Sights from the Fourth of July Parade, compliments of Crown Town...

Our corner:



The parade had it's usual line up of firetrucks and ambulances, all with their sirens blaring, then came the color guard and politicians. Everyone was tossing out candy. Kids brought their own bags to collect goodies.













After all that, it was time for the businesses and bagpipes. Wait, bagpipes? I guess no parade is complete without them.



















Now we wait for the fireworks tonight!