A stop in Crescent City

Before we left we had Dad take our picture in front of the house. On our way up to Crescent City we stopped at the Klamath bridge and took our picture with the Gold Bears.
We took the kids to the beach to try our luck with tide pooling. Courtney found the first specimen. She wasn't afraid to hold it at all. Connor told her to hold it on the back end of it's shell so she did and it promptly snapped her finger in it's claw. She didn't even flinch.

We found another one with it's baby.

Justin found the next one.

The tide pools were empty today but sometimes they are amazing. Dad came along for the ride and enjoyed being out of the house.

We stopped by the cemetery to see Grandma and Grandpa Kurtz.

All of the flags were out for Memorial Day.

That night we played Bonanza with Debbie, Steven and Justin.

It was a short stop but we had a good time. Mom even made her yummy carrot cake (one of my favorites.) It was a big hit with the kids too. Thanks mom!

Melanson's moving day

We went to Eureka over Memorial Day weekend to help Mom and Dad Melanson pack up the truck to move on to Utah. We got there Friday afternoon and started to load the fragile boxes into Dad's truck. The kids were great and helped bring out boxes while Pete and Dad played tetris. This is a throw back to a picture we have of the kids doing this when they were little. My how they've grown! Mal's whole body in the old picture is about to Mal's tummy in this one.
We had to use the high bar to have them hanging.

On our way down to Eureka we stopped by the Costco in Salem to pick up my early birthday present. I got a new camera and I have high hopes that I can become a better photographer. All of these pictures were my maiden voyage. The picture of Mal and Court was pretty late in the evening and it still came out.

Saturday was the big day and there was plenty of hustle and bustle.

I think a few people had left before we got the group shot but for the most part this was the wonderful crew that came to help Mom and Dad.

After the truck was loaded (mostly) the kids had a great time playing in the yard. How many can you see?

The brothers and Dad fitting in the final pieces.

After all that work we went to lunch and then to Fresh Freeze for some ice cream.

That evening we played games and had a good time.

Sunday Mom and Dad spoke in Sacrament. It was nice to be able to be there for them.

Good bye Eureka!

Kudos for Connor!

Connor came home one afternoon and told me he got a certificate. I being the lovely mother that I am said great job honey and proceeded to go about my buisiness. Connor knowing me all too well followed me around and kept talking. I still wasn't catching on. Then he said, "And they'll be recognizing me at school for it...." I suddenly came around and realized it wasn't just a piece of paper saying, "Great job on you attendance" or some such thing. Connor had been chosen one of four students from his school to be recognized by a local club called the Optomist Club. They choose a seventh grade boy and girl and an eighth grade boy and girl from each of the middle schools to honor for their kindness and good attitude at school. The teachers vote for the student they think is deserving of recognition. The club has a breakfast for the kids and they give them acertificate and a gift card for being the great kids that they are.

We're so proud of you Connor. Keep up the good work!

Silver Falls

After the Easter egg hunt we invited ourselves to go with some friends to Silver Falls. We decided to take Hershey along too.
She had a good time and really loved playing in the stream for a little while. I just wish she would love her baths just as much!

Pete and Connor had been to Silver Falls but the girls and I hadn't been before. This is the first waterfall and we didn't go to the rest but I hope to sometime.

Hershey wasn't allowed on this part of the trail so Connor stayed behind while the rest of us headed down.

The kids liked the holes left from erosion.

" Look, it's the backside of water!"

We had a good time. We even hiked a bit more to go Geo Cashing. Connor is the one who finally found it. Way to go bud! It was such a beautiful day. It reminded me that we really do have nice days here.

Easter

They ward had an Easter activity and the Young Men were asked to get to the church at 7:30am on a Saturday morning to help out. They actually showed up! They had a good time hiding the Easter eggs for the younger kids. Some of the eggs were very easy and others....

were a little harder.

Courtney enjoyed her last year of finding Easter eggs.Mallory had been at a birthday slumber party and decided she would miss it this year. We had a great time and enjoyed our morning.

All Hail the Champion!!!

Your 2011 Melanson Family March Madness Bracket Challenge Champion

Congratulations to Julie who captured her 2nd consecutitve ncaa basketball tournament bracket challenge. That's right, two in a row. We upgraded the trophy this year but we still have to go down to the trophy shop and have her name etched in. One of the programs I helped manage at work changed their trophy design and we still had a couple of models left. I was able to convince them that our annual family challenge was worthy of the lead crystal trophy (light up base included to top it off). I don't know if Julie has found the spot she wants to keep it for the next year, but the 2" tall plastic cup from 2010 spent the year in the middle of the entertainment center. I assume this thing will not be hidden in the closet. It helps keep my brother, Mike, and I humble. The secret to her success, going with her gut and not watching any basketball over the year to cloud her judgement.

Also, big congratulations to our 9 year old niece who grabbed second place this year. Good job Anna.

A trip to Crescent City

I was able to go to Eureka to pick my mom up from the hospital. She had to have knee surgery done. On the way home to Crescent City we saw the local group of elk hanging out at the old school house so we stopped to take a couple of pictures.

They are so used to people that you can get pretty close. It's a little frightening. Mom and I had a good trip home ( I think. I hope my driving didn't make her too nervous!) And I was able to help mom out for a week. She's a trooper! We also stopped at the docks to see how the clean up was going after the Tsunami after shock came to town. The pictures don't show really well what was lost and damaged but it was a bit hashed. That used to be a boat.... Here's a bunch of debris that they had hauled out of the water and are sifting through.
And this thing takes up a large portion of the dock area. It has a crane on it that is getting things up from the bottom.
So that is the second Tsunami to have affected Crescent City. It is so strange that a Tsunami in Japan would reach all the way to the states.