Trip through Cleveland

We spent a morning on the Goodtime III boat. This is a good way to see Cleveland/skyline and learn some historical facts. You travel on the Cuyahoga river winding through Cleveland and some days they take you out on lake Erie.

This is down at the "Flats" this area used to be full of restaurants, bars, outdoor concerts. I was so surprised to see that most everything was gone. "The Watermark" restaurant was very nice - when Russ first came to Ohio we sat outside one evening and had dinner (2003). You could watch the yachts and other large boats go through.

I thought this was an interesting picture. You have a very old stone bridge, new town homes, with a swing bridge across the river.

As you have seen, there are many different type of bridges. This swing bridge is my favorite. It was fun watching each one move - whether we went under, it moved up for us, or swung to the side.

This is on Lake Erie

There is a story behind these two pictures in front of the Higbee Store front. Russ wanted to go down town to the where the old Higbee store was. In the movie "A Christmas Story" You will see this store front in the very beginning. They show a picture of the Terminal Tower and then scan down to Higbees with the store front dressed for Christmas. When we were little kids my parents used to take us here to look at the beautiful windows dressed for Christmas. So this Christmas when you watch the movie - check it out. I hadn't known that it was filmed in Cleveland. You still are not able to go up the Terminal Tower but there is a lot shopping you can do in the area or catch the the train.

It was after 3 PM and someone was exhausted - when we left she lasted maybe two blocks before she was sleeping. This is my brother, Jeff with London.

Slides

You go out the back door and cut through the woods and you come to the playground at the elementary school I attended in Kidron. We took London over there a couple times to play. So very different from when I played there. All the original playground equipment was gone. I think these teeter totters might be original.

London enjoyed the slides. Funny story about the pictures below. This was a tall slide and there were three of them (which I thought was cool - so you could race each other). I wanted to take a picture of her coming down the big slide. So Russ sent her down . . .

Doesn't she look like she is having fun - she was until she hit the bottom. She went so quick that by the time I took a picture and tried to set down the camera - she was already laying on the ground - crying. Yes, that was a mom of the year award moment.

4th of July Party

My cousin Shari and her husband, Joe have had a 4th of July party at their house for the last several years. This year since we were in Ohio, we got to go. It was a great chance to see aunts, uncles and cousins. Thanks for having us all out - we always have a good time at their home.

JD and Hannah

This was London's first time playing in sandbox

Jill and Scarlett (they live in FL) Hopefully we will be able to come visit soon, but I promise to wait until after the baby is born. I think London and Scarlett would have a great time - at they did this evening.

My mom, Pearl and Shari

Mabel and Ted

Gloria and my brother, Jeff

my brother, Jerry

Rachel and Ashley

4th of July

Happy belated 4th of July

Yes, I made this shirt for London. She tried to pose for me - a little serious looking and couldn't get her to smile for anything. It was a quiet 4th since you can't shoot off fireworks in Ohio - so different from Kansas where most anything goes. We went to Orrville to watch fireworks - they have the BEST fireworks ever. Newton needs to take lessons from them.

Since we got there several hours early to save a spot, Russ, London and I walked down to the carnival while mom, dad, Ted and Mabel played cards. We found a few rides London could do. I couldn't believe all the people. It was packed.

This was her first time for carnival rides. She enjoyed the carousal - held on very very tight.

We went down the slide several times, she really enjoyed this.

Had to play games - spend a lot of money for really cheap prizes. We were hoping they had a ring toss game, she had practice already at her daycare carnival.

This what London did during the fireworks. She was up all evening and then right before (literally) they started. She fell asleep. I know she would of enjoyed them. They had practice ones and the booms did not scare her at all. It was a fun evening together.