july 4

i love the 4th.

riding scooter, watching the parade, walking around the freedom festival, and eating bbq while watching the stadium of fire from our back porch... needless to say, my fourth was different this year.

not a single old navy holiday tee? no missionaries in the parade? people trying to sell beer to us?

we started the day in chicago's grant park area at the "taste of chicago," where dozens of vendors sell food in sample portions so you can try a lot of different things. we tried chocolate gelato, italian ice, ice cream, peach cobbler, garlic bread, bananas foster, thai bbq chicken, and more. our favorites were gator sausage and potato pierogi.

chicago's biggest firework show, "independence eve," is held downtown every july 3rd. we wanted to go but decided against it because the regular 40-60 minute commute home can take up to 6 hours. maybe next year.


so we spent the fourth in itasca at chicagoland's second-biggest firework show. great fireworks, better company, smashmouth, and bad chinese food. happy fourth!