4th of July in Chicago

We left Ohio and headed to Chicago on the fourth of July.  We drove most of the day and got there just in time to check into our hotel and head to a local celebration.  Our hotel was near the airport and we found a place to celebrate not too far away! 

When we got there, it was a familiar scene of tons of people walking to the same place looking for the perfect spot to lay their blankets and stuff.  We had no idea where the fireworks were going to show up since it was a large park with a huge lake in the middle.  We used our imagination and decided on a spot.  It was also really near the food!

The kids stayed with me while Joe went and got some food for everyone.  He came back with a large pizza and some Mexican food!  I'm always hungry and remember the food as being really yummy.  As we were waiting for the food, the kids noticed all the other kids playing with toys that glowed.  They saw some swords that lit up like light sabers and Bernadette was eyeing the battery operated bubble gun.  There were bubbles everywhere!

After eating, Joe took the kids out and about to look around since we had some time to kill.  When they came back, they had a bunch of those toys that lit up and that bubble gun Bernadette was eyeing.  They all decided they would help Daddy with some of their own money to purchase all these fun toys.  Joe said that the guy selling the toys didn't realize what a hit they were going to be.  They were all sold out - our kids got the last double sword thingymabobby.

 

Eddie came back with some cotton candy.

 



We watched the sun go down, listened to a really good band playing Journey songs in the background while the kids played with their toys.  We were getting a little wet from all the bubbles coming our way from every direction, but the sound of their laughter and look of their smiles was just awesome as we enjoyed the gorgeous evening.

The fireworks started at 9:30pm!  To me, that's late.  I seem to think that they usually start at 9pm.  What's half an hour?  A lot when you have 6 kids.  Thankfully, it didn't matter.  The kids were great and having fun!  The fireworks started and our view was pretty good since they had one on either side of us.  I'm not sure if that was planned or another celebration going on at the same time.  Anyway - stunning fireworks!  All the kids enjoyed it, even Max who didn't show any signs of being tired.  No one was scared of the loud noises.  Yeh!

Overall, a great evening!  Thank you Chicago! 

The next day, we were going downtown!