Ohio Part II

Sunday morning Dave finally made it out for a run for the first time in 6+ weeks. Half the run was on the Cleveland MetroParks trails that ring center Cleveland.

Late on Sunday morning we got all of our ducks in a row and started heading towards Lakeside. We went by Great Grandman and Greatgrandpa's graves on the way up.

We took the slow route up along highways 2 and 6 - both scenic byways because of parks, old nice homes and old industry to look at.

We stopped for lunch at Quaker's Steak and Lube: Great food and a great place for the kids to watch the boats go by while waiting for our food.

The we drove the remaining 20 minutes to Lakeside and checked into the Lakeside Hotel - built in 1857.

After that we walked around to see the sights: water, beaches, cottages, shops, etc.

From 6pm to 7pm we watched the band Pantasia from Findlay, OH - an all steel drum band. They were very good.

After dinner at Sloopy's we split up to get the kids in bed or to play minature golf. Dave was trounced by his brothers' in law.

Elissa and Sean watch boats in the harbor from Quakers'

Sean and Ellissa pose as fried food

Pantasia, a steel drum band from Findlay High School, performs - they were good

Sean drums along on a tree

Ohio 2009 Part I

After relatively smooth flights Friday the entire Boyce clan from Texas gathered in Cleveland to visit relatives from Nana's side of the family (the Ross clan.) Everyone is staying at Sean's Great Grandma Ross' house in North Royalton. Saturday we toured the port and the Cuyahoga River on the Good Times III tour boat - a two hour tour. Saturday evening we went to David and JoAnn Ross' house for dinner. A good time was by all, catching up and watching the kids.

Kathleen (Nana) and her three brothers and three children, husband, mother, two neices and two grand children

The Good Times III

A fire boat on the river

Nick and Elissa on the Good Times III

Cleveland is also known as "The City of Bridges" There are an impressive number of fixed, lift, swing and jack knife bridges over the river, most still in use. The following link has pictures of the different types of bridges. The bridge in the foreground, above, is a lift bridge that had just lifted to let us through. Cleveland Bridges

Downtown Cleveland skyline. The taller building on the left is the Terminal Tower. This 52 story building was the 2nd tallest building in the world when finished in 1930 and was the tallest building in the U.S. outside of New York City until 1964. (when the Prudential Center in Boston MA was completed.) There are now about 20 buildings in Houston alone that exceed the height of the Terminal Tower.

Aunt JoAnn and her family put together great gift bags for Sean and Elissa. The most fun was Elissa's box of sidewalk chalk. Here, Grandpa helps out.

Jeannie helps Elissa and Sean color

Mid-July

July has been a busy month for the Pastas with lots of busy weekends. Unfortunately, we have not been very good at picture taking this month!

For the 3rd we went to Dave's work friends 4th of July party in Beach City at his house on the Bay. He has a huge swimming pool that Sean loved. He even got hit in the head with a water polo ball and just said "ouch!" Barbara hit her engagement ring on a door frame, checked to make sure the diamond was still there (it was,) and 10 minutes later it was not! We were a little horrified. However, by means means we cannot explain, it showed up on our bedroom floor two days later. We are still trying to figure that one out.

On the 4th we celebrated the 4th Friendswood style, with a huge parade down main street (I am not kidding - it was impressive) followed by a concert at the park.

On the 5th we went to a party to celebrate the birth of Tyler Elliott. It was hosted by Barbara, Heather and Carol and was a smashing success. Tyler (as in the Tyler Rose - Earl Campbell) has had some difficulties and has not yet made it out of the hospital, so please keep him in your prayers.

Last week Barbara was in San Francisco for a week for business. Daddy, having lost his teddy bear, slept with Sean all week - not a good idea of course. Two days after Barbara got back we coaxed Sean back to his bed after having played "tent" in the living room all evening by making a tent over his bed. What kid could resist?

Mom says goodnight

Sean says goodnight!

A sneak peak from the Florida pictures that still have not been published!

After a very fun weekend Dad decided to take a beach day from work. Mom hastily rearranged her schedule too.

Dad and Sean start with a small hole

The hole keeps getting bigger!

On the ferry to Bolivar. We saw lots of dolphins. We also saw lots of missing homes on Bolivar, still being re-built since Ike

Dad was very impressed by the amount of water this ship was pushing with its bow.

Letters To Grandparents

1) It is amazing - we posted twice on the way to Florida and not once since. We are still processing pictures.

2) Sunday on Sesame Street was about writing letters. Sean wrote letters to both sets of Grandparents and then we walked to the post office to mail them.

Sean needed fortification before setting out for the post office. He would not let his letters go, though!

On the way to the Post Office

I can't reach it this way...

I've got it now!

Florida Part-2: Baton Rouge

Stuck on I-10 bridge over the Atchafalaya

Sean and Kasey under the playground at Chick-Fil-A

The girls table at Chick-Fil-A

Florida Part-1 I-10 in Texas

We left Home at 7:23am, only 23 minutes behind schedule.

Sean hangs 10 in the van

Dave shows off his new camera with 20X optical zoom from the back seat

The divas

Alligator Out!

Kasey's Birthday

On Saturday Kasey C. had her 4th birthday party. She had a big blow up pool and a huge pool-jump toy. All the kids, including Sean, had a great time.

End of May

Sean plays with his big construction puzzle from Aunt Nancy

We coasted into the end of May enjoying the longer days (finally) and summer like temperatures. Sean is having a great time with summer. A couple of Fridays we have gone to the Friday night concert series in the nearby Stevenson park. The pools are open later and Sean is becoming a little fish.

Nana and Grandpa stopped by a day on the way back from their trip to Eastern Europe.

Memorial Day

On Sunday we had all sorts of friends over for Memorial Day. The Boyces, Carters, Cooks, Hofmans, Johnsons, Scotts and Auntie Joanne (that would be 14 kids total!) The party started with a deluge...

Click HERE for all the pictures

Cami helps to sweep rain water off the patio

Sean fills the pool for Elissa, Mark and Kasey

Braden, Cami, Madeline, Mackenzie and Mark eat dessert while Sean waits to clean up.

Nick tells a story while Todd, Morgan, Heather, Tiffany, Jewels, Keri, Sean and Barbara endure. Connor is in the baby carrier.

Sean and Abigail watch Finding Nemo together

Sean and Morgan go to night-night

Sean and Daddy in Memorial Day bubbles

Aunt JoJo Blog

As the Pasta's are between camera's, you might want to check out Joanne's Blog for pictures of this weekend. See link on right hand side of this page.

A new camera will be bought tonight and hopefully delivered by this weekend.

Today Sean is spending his first night in his "bed," not his "crib." The side of the crib was taken down this evening and he seemed interested in the idea. He fell right asleep - we shall see how the night goes!

Thanks Wheatleys!

Our great travelmates, the Wheatleys, looked through their pictures and uploaded some for us to use. Thanks so much!

Here are a few photos of the San Diego trip.

LegoLand

Barbara tries her hand at being a pirate-Aarrgghh!!

Sean's first "roller coaster". He's not too sure about this.

Checking out LegoLand by Legocar.

San Diego Zoo

One of the famous panda bears having a snack.

All the kids taking a break after a big day.

The Wild Animal Park

Look closely. Can you see the baby pelican?

Who knew Land Cruisers were great napping spots?

San Diego Harbor, Double Decker bus tour and La Jolla

Dave at his photo shoot for Pirates magazine.

The double decker bus tour was a great way to see many parts of the city.

Living the life in La Jolla-Sea Lions lounge on the shore.