Matt and Wendy’s house

We had a nice and relaxing day to chat and watch the kids play.  The kids enjoyed a short walk and bike ride to the old railroad bed where they like to ride the quads. The tracks used to connect the local coal mines.  Brooke was being quite the daredevil driving as a blur along the flat stretch.  The area reminded me of the Polar Express with the houses lined along the railroad route.

We took a drive to see tornado damage from an F-2 tornado that hit Gillespie just a few weeks ago.  Wendy’s sister lost house her home to the tornado while she waited it out in the basement.  With just one month before her wedding she now has to rebuild her home.  The local high school lost an entire wall of the gym.  The elementary students are already attending school in pods because a few years ago the seven-year-old school started sinking into the coal mines deep underneath the school.  This is a link to an article about the hazards of mines.  The seventh paragraph starts addressing Gillespie/ Benld: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/jun/02/54pt-hed4-15-of-story-x/?print=1 This town has been through a lot, but Wendy tells me they pull together as a town and help each other out.  I took my camera to take pictures of the tornado’s destruction, but it just felt wrong to take pictures of other’s misfortune.

Brooke is  just loving the twins.  Cody was sharing his monster truck with Larry. He was determined Lucy didn’t need a monster truck as she is a girl and girls don’t like “boy” things.  We had a long talk about this.  I’m not sure how much soaked in, but Lucy did get to play with the monster trucks.

Brooke being silly.

The twins kept bringing me their bellies for itsy bitsy spider and tickling.

Larry and I had some fun bonding time.

This is little Larry with his namesake, his grandpa Larry. We all were a little sad to leave, but we had an incredibly warm and friendly visit.  Cody collapsed into an exhausted heap on the drive out.  A little late at 5pm, but at least he is getting some much needed rest.

Next stop: Scott’s roommate from college, Mike.

Mike is not used to small children, so we are keeping this visit as brief as possible in the hopes that we don’t scare him from ever having children.

This was one of those times when everyone was thinking, “Really, aren’t we done with pictures for today?”  I think the lack of sleep last night is settling in.  This is Mike’s house.  We had a barbeque.  While the food was cooking the kids played with mini-golf sets that Wendy and family sent us with.  Thanks Wendy!