Summer Vacation: Madison, WI (Part 1, 4th of July)

I took quite a few pictures throughout the three-and-a-half weeks we spent in Madison (though just as was the case during our trip to Minocqua, I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I should have), so instead of posting them all today, I think I'll divide up the pics over at least a couple of posts. You know, just to keep the readers coming back.

Our first full day in Madison was the 4th of July. We started the morning off with the Vilas Neighborhood parade, in which Will rode his decorated bike and Hallie pulled her decorated and full-to-the-brim-with-stuffed-animals wagon. Well, Hallie started the parade pulling her wagon, but after the first half block she gave up and Grandma generously stepped in to pull the wagon - with Hallie in it - for the remainder of the parade route.

I told Will at least 17 times that the parade WAS NOT A RACE, but my words fell on deaf ears. He zoomed around the eight-block parade route, passing walkers and runners and riders and bikers alike, seven times before Grandma and Hallie made it back to the start. And every time he rode past Grandma and Grandpa's house - which happens to be on the parade route - he indicated, with a proudly displaced #1 finger, that he was in first place.

In case you can't tell, the parade was the best non-race of Will's life.

The neighborhood fire station's truck had been scheduled to lead the parade, but an unscheduled fire kept the truck and it's firefighters from arriving until after the parade had already come to a close. Neither Will nor Hallie had any interest in the fire truck when it did arrive - if you look closely in the picture below, you can see Will cruising around the corner, right past the truck. 

After the parade we headed out to the Stoughton Junior County fair, where we watched chainsaw wood carving, played with baby chickens and ducks, met a few larger and older animals, watched our first truck/tractor pull, rode the amusement park rides

After a family cook-out and showers to cool off (the 4th of July in Madison felt more like the 4th of July in College Station), we played with poppers and sparklers and watched Grandpa set off "real" fireworks until the mosquitoes joined us and threatened to ruin the party.

Hip, hip, hooray for a fun holiday!