Jacksonville Steam Show

We met up with some good friends on Sunday to enjoy the Jacksonville Steam Show. Here are Kel and Carmen getting ready to set off on our little steam engine journey around the park. And check out their funky "peace and love" t-shirt duo (Jen noticed that after I sent her the photos).




One thing that Kel loves at the steam show is the "learn to drive a tractor" area.



It appears that he opted for the one handed approach this year. Lazy little thing.






My handsome boys.




Another favourite attraction at the Steam Show is the Wobble Wagon. Here's the whole gang heading off for a bumpy ride around the field (I was so terribly disappointed to miss out on this...). Here are Connor, Jen, Keira, Zane, Carmen, Kel, and Mark setting off on their whiplash inducing ride.



Bumpy enough for you?



Alas, they survived -- and they're still smiling!

Monticello Rail Days

Didn't get any great shots at the Rail Days event, but certainly had a great time. Here are a few shots of the boys and various trains.

Nic with an old Chicago "L" train.



Kel goofing around on a caboose.




Riding in a caboose. Ignore the messy face. There was some nastiness going on in the nasal region. He'd had a miserable cold all week.





The boys riding on a motor car. They love the motor car rides best of all.



The Leviathan. Gorgeous restored steam engine from the mid-1800s.





Some old engines and stock in need of restoration.

New Salem

The traditional music festival at New Salem has sort of become an annual portrait session for the boy. We listen to the music and I snap photos. This year, he's bald. But still cute.









He was throwing hay at me and into my purse.











We took a hike down to the Sangamon River.




Oh my, the mud.




Showing off the muddy shoes. Luckily we were in flip flops.



The prairie.





Abe Lincoln. Obviously.



That building is actually a pit toilet (well, was, not currently). He wanted a photo here. Not inside, luckily.

Illinois Railway Museum at Union

The Illinois Railway Museum was a perfect day out for this train loving family. You can't go wrong with a full day of trains, trains, and more trains!




Not to mention "singles" (signals), Kel's favourite thing in all the world. He got a behind the scenes tour of the whole signal collection and was taught how to work each and every one of them. Here he is standing with the control, giving me a quick pose. He spent nearly 2 hours learning all that there was to know about signals! Thanks to the man who is in charge of the signals and recognized a familiar gleam in the eyes our own little signal fanatic. They were like two peas in a pod.









I like this shot.



I don't like this shot. Needed flash, but the boys had already moved on before I got that sorted!



Kel also loves trolleys. We had to get lots of photos by this old specimen.






Look at the size of those wheels!






Nic riding the street car.




Just a series of random shots from one of the longer train rides that we took that day.