Fishing poles, bikes and dogs??

So is anyone bringing fishing poles? I was thinking about a little catch and release action for myself, is anyone else going to have there fishing license?

Also do we know if there are good bike riding areas??

I talked to Jenn about dogs and she is bringing both of hers. I am going to bring Ada, however I have an effective (I hope) dog handling plan for her. I will bring a bunch of those 'bad flags' that I trained her with for the electric fence. I will set those up in an area and point them out to her and then use the manual shock collar to enforce the boundary. I bet after a couple of minutes she will be set. I know dogs are a pain but I like them. However I don't think I will be taking on any responsibilities for other peoples adolescents. You bring 'em, you watch 'em.

I am not sure what other food I should bring. I was thinking of bringing some hamburger supplies, more cold cereal and a variety of beverages. I will be coming either Thursday night or Friday afternoon. Jenn is going Wed. morning, mom and dad are going Wed. night I think and the Porters are going Friday sometime. See you all there.

Reluctant Relative

So is he waiting for us to beg him to come? Okay, come on, Greyson. We REALLY, REALLY want you to be there, too. Aside from this general, crushing pressure to attend, we won't force you to take part in any activities. We'll coach the kids not to ask you to play in any games. We'll put your tent in the most remote location. We'll let you pick out the least burnt baked potato. We'll all throw our fish back in until you have the biggest one.

Can anyone else think of some accommodations to encourage our reluctant relative?

Save me a smooth chunk of ground

OK, I decided that I wanted to go camping with the rest of you. Brian promised canoe races, water toys and bike riding. How can I pass that up. So what should I bring for food. It looks like you already have a ton of food on the list. I was even thinking about "working" 10 hour days this week so I could take Friday off. I am not sure about that yet. So are any of the Porter's making it for this camping adventure??

So I need some details: What kind of campsite is this? Is there a name of this place that you are camping at and do you have directions?? Will there be other people around? What is the consensus on pet attendance? Oh, I don't know if Greyson is coming or not, he is still thinking I guess.

Shull Reunion

I was just wondering why I hadn't received an invitation to the Shull reunion? Am I not invited this year? Is it because our child acted poorly last time. Don't worry, we are leaving her home this year. I looked all around and don't think there is anywhere else to camp so Greyson and I are just going to make this trip a day trip this year.

Garden adventures

Greyson and I have decided to dig up the sharp gravel around our house and in the paths leading to the garage and game room. We plan to replace it with river rock and flagstone stepping stones like we have going to the hottub. On the sides and front of the house we want to make what they call a "gravel garden" where you plant alpine type plants that like good drainage, in the gravel. We have some boulders we will move around and hope it to be very interesting. I am also considering making a "stream bed" out of the downspout water. I am not sure how that would work yet but I thought it could be fun. We are going to have to rake and shovel out all the old gravel. If anyone wants to help feel free to stop by.

Today is our anniversary. We were talking about playing tennis tonight but that just doesn't seem special enough. However if we combined a good set of tennis followed by some back breaking gravel moving, then your talking. Nothing more celebratory then that.

We started our healthy living again today. I went for a jog with Ada off the leash. She was good except for one brief chasing of the neighbor cat. She just couldn't resist and she was outside of the shocking range before I could zap here. But she came back to me all pathetic with her head down and her tail between her legs. She knew she was being bad.

Quark brought another live chipmunk in the house 2 days ago. It was quite feisty and took us awhile to get it back outside. Then yesterday I went out into the game room and here was this stupid chipmunk again inside the building (it still had the same slobber mark on its back from the day before). I grabbed it and took it out into the bushes where it was supposed to stay and gave it a lecture about houses and cats.

-Mel

Home At Last

I think I am automatically logged on as Dad, but its really me (Mom).

So much to catch up on -- camping, tennis, rafting, the beach. What a lively bunch!!

I thoroughly enjoyed our days in Delaware which also included some Maryland, Pennsylvania and who-knows-where-else. The states are ridiculously small back there. Loved all the history stuff-- Valley Forge where the Union soldiers wintered, the Dupont house/museum, Delaware Bay and William Penn's house, and the 1+ Smithsonian museums we got into. We took the commuter train to D.C. the day after the bombings in London and it was a little unnerving to see soldiers standing at the stations with Uzi's in their hands.

I'll let Dad tell you about Vegas. Suffice it to say here that he has no desire to go back.

The reunion is definitely the second Sunday in August which is the 14th. I wonder if there might be some better places to camp near Seaquest but further up the mountain?? Anyone have time to check? Maybe I can tomorrow.

I was hoping to rent us all a house at the beach for a few days again but was waiting to see what weekends we might all have free at the same time. I'm back to work the first week in August but will have a pretty flexible schedule for the most part and am working 4-day weeks. I really like the rafting with a camp out idea. We would be willing to pitch in the lion's share on that if everyone is in to it. Is that on the Rogue or the Deschutes (sp?)

Tim kept all our plants alive but we seem to be missing Mina. I think she got mad about Greta and decided to find a different family with fewer dogs.

Got to do a few more chores likes laundry and bill paying. Hoping to see y'all soon.

XOXOXOXOXOXO
Mom

She emerges from the mist!

Yes, our long lost sister/daughter Jennifer has finally joined us once again. It is great to have you with us once again.

Rafting??

With all the beach trip talk I just wanted to run one other idea by you all. If you wanted to do something fun and different we could do a family rafting trip instead. You can click on the Rafting title above to get a link to one of the companies (there are a ton out there). But anyhow, they do single day trips that run from:
All Day per adult /per child (14& under)
Weekday $65 /$55
Saturdays (June-Aug) $80 /$65
Sundays/Holiday $75 /$65

They also do two day trips where you camp in between. And if we have 12 or more they will take off $5 per person per day.
They have a web special for 2 days that would be about $2000 for everyone for 2 days with all meals and camping site included. The youngest kids (tuck, Gabe and India) should ride with the guide but the rest of us could follow the guides lead.

For a cheaper 2 day route you can rent a guide and raft for 2 days and then you can rent one other raft and a couple 2 person inflatable kayaks for about $1000. You have to provide all your own food and feed the guide. I know Jenn and Brian have a couple that are a bit too young to go but maybe we could take turns rafting/babysitting or something. And if you didn't want to do an overnight thing we could go the cheap route and just do a one day trip for about $755 for everyone (and maybe Brian's folks would babysit for a night??)
Sound fun to anyone??

Upcoming summer dates

OK, I want to know what dates are already taken this summer for events so I can plan some of my own things.

-I heard that the Shull reunion was the first week in August, is this true?? Did anyone find out about the group campsite at Seaquest State Park for the reunion?? I would definitely chip in for that if it is available.
-I heard the Deans would be at a Dean reunion the last week in August.
-We were thinking about our tennis/bbq/x-box party around the 2nd or 3rd week in August.

Anything else I forgot??

New Dishwasher

Well we finally gave up on our old dishwasher. It was going on 20 years old and became so noisy that we had to yell to eachother when it was running. So we finally put it to rest and got ourselves a new super-duper consumers best buy kenmore dishwasher. It took a couple of tries before we got it just right (and not leaking water). It runs so quiet that I don't even notice it is going.

Jenn, Brian and the girls came over for dinner. It was nice to see them with their kids growing so fast and all. Kalena is getting quite big and is at the 100% percentile of length Jenn said. She is a sweet happy baby and says she likes her Aunt Mel the best. Emma was also a very good girl, entertaining herself the whole time. She did great right up until the end when she had fun rubbing ice cream all over her arms.

Brian went and checked out my chickens for me. It turns out we have one rooster and two hens. We heard a soft cock-a-doodle this morning and suspected out three hens where not what they seemed. Brian even showed me how to feel their hip bones to see if they were laying or not (mine are not). Ada has some big abscess/swelling in the back of her mouth. If it isn't gone in the morning we will have to do a visit to the vet. She has the stinky breath going so she will probably need some antibiotics at the very least.

That is all for my updates for now- Mel

I'm posting

I don't have much, but Mel said just post. So...we are heading to Mom and Dad's this weekend. I think we'll go to Oaks Park on Saturday if anyone would like to join us. We could picnic and do the rides/bumper car thing. I don't know if we'll pick up Anita before or after this event, but we will see her this weekend. She just turned 19 and is in her own studio (yeah!) and is working for T-mobile which pays well and has benefits after 120 days.
India and Tuck passed their swimming test. India is now onto level 3 with Christian, and Tuck spazzed his way to level 2.

I'm working on the before and after shots of my beautiful front yard...birthday gift compliments of my parents. They rototilled, added soil, planted shrubs and flowers and this cool river-rock decoration all with a non-sliver type bark over it all. Very classy. I'm hoping for a repeat- perhaps the side of my house next year. So far everything is growing. Greta is scheduled to come home next Friday to give Mom and Dad time to fix or mourn their yard/garage damages. Kids, grandkids, granddogs, who knew the constant energy and patience required to keep a family together??

We love our van and I especially appreciate the DVD and wireless headsets.

Tennis - I think I've improved, but I'm most excited about my new little tennis skirts and tops. I believe a person should be able to hit the ball 90% of the time to wear a skirt, otherwise you just look silly. So Greyson, Tim, and Dad, I think you've earned your right. Somewhere I bet their some Scottish/Irish history in you. Embrace your masculinity, paint your face and wear a skirt.

Sherbert and Sam are great cats. yes, that's 4 felines. Better than 2 dogs any day. If my house starts smelling like the humane society pleace broach the subject.

Traci

Tennis than bbq THEN x-box.

So I am proposing a morning tennis tourney followed by afternoon bbq followed by x-box play for a weekend in August. Greyson has finals week on the 8th so I propose either the weekend of the 13th or 20th. How would that work for the rest of you? I am going to be babysitting Emma and Kalena tomorrow for a couple hours so I will run those dates by Jen to see if they are available to come play one of those weekends.

Traci, Greyson and I played some tennis last night. After a couple of matches we did a kind of queen of the court drill which kept us sprinting (jogging really) after balls and then back on the court to play. I was impressed with Traci's improvement after just 3 lessons. If we all keep practicing we could have some real rallies going by August. I have a new 2 handed backhand that I am working on and my serve is starting to become consistent. Next I will try to add some speed to both skills.

New Name

Mel,

I really like the new name you have chosen for the Blog. It seems appropriate, although maybe the Greyson, Melanie, Traci Blog would be a little more accurate of the true participants. With a possible minor acknowledgment to Jan. Otherwise, nice job.

I would hate to speak out of turn for my beautiful bride, but I do believe that Traci and I would be up for some tennis sometime in August. Sorry it can't be sooner but with school and all I will not be available until then.

Greyson, how goes life on the hill. I am also ready for another tournament of some sort in August. Let me know.

Tim

Tennis anyone??

I just wanted to let you all know that Greyson and I have been playing tennis and are expecting a summer tournament at some point in the next couple months. We have a nice court up here with 2 nets. There is a park nearby for kids (or they could be our ball kids if they prefer. We could play all morning and then hit the river for some swimming in the afternoon.

I have been working on a two handed backhand and a consistent serve. I hit 3 balls out of the court yesterday but at least I was being aggressive, right?? Traci, do you have any tips to give us from your tennis lessons? I would love to know some real techniques.

Rockets red glare....

Greyson and I enjoyed a nice small town fireworks show at Cascade Locks yesterday. The show was fun bet we got there around 7:30 and the show didn't start until after 10. People watching entertained us for a hour or so, but the last hour before the show started was really dragging. But it was fun regardless. What did you all do for the 4th??