4th of July

Since I wasn't going to be home between Canada Day and the 4th of July to change the flags, I decided to just put them both up. (And yes, they are both from boats)

Willow was watching me while I was packing up and getting ready to go.

I don't think she wanted me to leave.
After I picked up Sara, we headed down to Chautauqua to spend the weekend there and celebrate her first 4th of July.

My two nieces playing together. How sweet. It's amazing how fast they grow up. Seems like just yesterday Sara was the size of Addy.

Addy being silly. (Notice the Canadian flag tattoo on her face from a Canada Day party she went to the day before)

Lizzie made a delicious cherry pie and Sara and Jenn decided to make a lattice top for the pie.

The finished product.

What would a trip to Chautauqua be without a trip to Midway State Park?

Sara, Addy, and Graham on the carousel.

Addy on the boats.

Addy wanted Sara to ride the train with her.

And the helicopters too.

Addy, Sara, and Graham on the roller coaster.
Addy driving the cars.
Graham and Sara on the Tilt-A-Whirl.
Addy laughing at Sara and Daddy on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Addy on some more of the kiddy rides.

Playing ladderball.

What would 4th of July be without sparklers and glow sticks?

Addy getting ready for a boat ride.

The boat ride turned into swimming in Lake Chautauqua. Of course nobody had a bathing suit on, so in they went in their clothes. And yes, Sara was wearing the same shorts she was wearing when she went swimming in her clothes at Disney last time.

Sara floating around. I think she enjoyed herself this weekend.

And then she got to drive the boat. That same night she got the last piece of cherry pie. I think those 2 things really put her over the top for a GREAT weekend.

The gang leaving for yet another boat ride.

Calumet Stowaway (June 24, 2010)

Tornado Damage #2-Millbury, OH

Today they opened a few of the roads up around Millbury, so since we were out that way, we took a little ride to see some of the damage. You can't get too close to anything out there yet, but this is what we did manage to see.

Tornado Damage (June 7, 2010)

Late in the evening on Saturday, June 5th and into the very early morning on Sunday, June 6th, several tornadoes ripped through our area, the closest ones being only about 4 miles from our house. Today we were able to drive past some of the damage.

Lake High School from I-280

Looking towards where on of the tornadoes hit from I-280. At this point 795 was still closed so we weren't able to get any closer.

There is debris everywhere. On the left side is a truck that has been destroyed.

On our way back home we were able to drive along with path of the tornado.

A church sign

Damage at the park

The Lake County Administrative/Police Department building. There's lots of damage around the back that you can't see here.

An old restaurant with little damage. The windows were boarded up before the tornado due to the resturant being closed.

A grain silo brought down

Lake High School. There's a lot of damage to the school. Graduation was supposed to be on Sunday, but had to be postponed indefinately. I couldn't really get any pictures of the school because we were going the wrong direction. Once the road opens up the other way we might be able to see better.

The high school again.

Debris covered fields

The truck on the right tipped on it's side

Pictures from today's newspaper

Millbury

Lake High School

The route of the tornado. Our house is by the C in Curtice.

This is one of the gas stations in Dundee, by Cabela's, that was hit. This is also the gas station that Jay and the guys stopped at on Wednesday on their way home from the boat.

Splash Universe waterpark in Dundee

Millbury

It was a rough night that night and there are lots of stories that have been told. Everything from people sleeping through it all, houses being destroyed, people being picked up and killed, the high school and police department being destroyed. One 13 year old girl was sucked out of a house and slammed back down onto the rubble. She was lucky enough to survive. Horses were pulled out of barns as they collapsed and ended up in a neighbor's swimming pool. It's just amazing. All this was only about 4 miles from our house.