Paul and Rae Ann's Travels

Family was the focus of our recent trip through Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California and back to Washington. Over a two-week period we visited grave sites, attended a family reunion, and visited relatives in Utah and California. We are so happy and grateful to be healthy and able to see everyone!

My parents' graves in the Restlawn Cemetary in Pocatello.  

Pathway on a rickety bridge over a canal going to the Larsen family cemetary. There are about a dozen graves under the trees in the picture. 

Paul beside the tombstone of Lars Larson, Sr., his great great grandfather. It is in a family cemetary on the Larson homestead near Kimberly, Idaho. 

Paul beside a log building built by his Larson ancesters on the old homestead near Kimberly, Idaho. 

Utah Stop

After the Larson reunion, we went to visit Ralph and Joan in Pleasant Grove. While there we enjoyed a get together with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. Their son-in-law Chuck spent a whole afternoon cooking ribs on the barbeque that were out of this world! Lots of fun!

Ralph and Paul celebrating both of their birthdays.  

Ralph in their newly decorated living room. 

Train Trip Tradition

Nathan continues his tradition of arranging train rides for his dad and the family. This is one of several we have taken over the years.

Jane, Nate, John and Paul on board. The train ride was about forty minutes, boarding in Old Sacramento. 

Steam engine that pulled our train. 

Alex is Blessed

A highlight of our California stop was the blessing of Nate and Jane's baby, Alex (John's baby brother). Even though Nate had spent the night in the ER on an IV due to a bad case of stomach upset, he was there on Sunday morning, July 3, to bless his boy. Aunt Val Merrill came as did Grandma Janice.

Alexander Paul Merrill. What a sweetheart! 

Jane's mom, Janice, was there for Alex's blessing. Val is in the background. 

Fourth of July Fun

The family gathered at Perry and Monica's on July 4th to celebrate in front of their house with their neighbors. The temperature was in the nineties...great for the 4th!

Lots of water was consumed! Here Perry gives Andy a drink while Monica rushes off to the garage to get something in the background. 

Monica and a neighbor organized the block party on the fourth. There were over 100 neighbors and friends who joined in for a kids' parade, visit from the fire engine and fireworks. Lots of fun! 

This is Matt's "biker face." It turned out to be a red-letter day for him when he learned. after a little assitance from his dad, that he could ride his bike all by himself! Uncle Mike takes off the training wheels while Pete watches. (Andy in the background.) 

Paul blew up the balloons. 

Mike and Tim did a few wheelies. 

Matt and Pete join the parade of wheels on their scooters.  

Monica and Andy enjoying the festivities. 

Visit to Crater Lake

After leaving California, we took an extra day coming home to visit Crater Lake National Park in central Oregon.

We arrived at Crater Lake National Park in the late afternoon. This is a great hiking and biking park. The lake is five miles wide and ringed by cliffs almost 2,000 feet high. It rests in the shattered remnants of a volcano which erupted and collapsed into itself over 7,000 years ago. Amazing! The island is called Wizard Island. 

The lake was sort of erie...definitely not a lake for much recreation. It was cold and deep and very blue. 

The temperature was at least forty degrees lower than when we left Sacramento. There was snow along the road. 

After staying in Bend, Oregon, we drove north to the Columbia River and visited an interesting museum (Mary Hill) on the bank of the river east of the Dalles. Paul is taking my picture while I stood on the porch of the mansion-musem.