SOPHIE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

When Coppelia sent out the invitations, she didn't think they would all come, but they did, so it turned out to be quite a group.

As you can see, there was fun and games.  Lots of games.

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AN UPDATE FROM THE HAWAII KIDS.

January and Bob are still enjoying their stay in Hawaii. I think it ends tomorrow (Wednesday). They spend a lot of their time at Turtle Bay enjoying the surf and sand. They had a great night at the Polynesian Culture Center Show as well. They also had a visit Monday with LaMoyne Garside. Here's some pics.

Shave ice is now served in a bowl.  Looks yummy?????

Pounder's Beach is still pounding.  January said it is too rough for her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIA ROSE AGLE, AGE 6

The years fly by so fast.  Remember when she was the new baby at the family reunion in Cedar City?

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN (thanks to Dennis jr. for finding the bad cookie!)

Yes, I'm back in business. Dennis jr. was able through Skype to see what is on my computer and to research and find the problem. It only affected me as the administrator so no worry for anyone else, but it sure caused me some angst. Thanks, Dennis. 

THE BATTLE OF THE DANCE

Every day Orange County offers a half price bargain which we seldom if ever take advantage of, but recently Dad decided to try this one because it had such rave reviews. Called, Battle of the Dance Diner + Show held at a purpose built theater in Anaheim, we were in for a wonderful, delightful evening. Over thirty dancers and several entertainers, it was as good a show as you would see in Vegas. It mostly included Spanish Flamenco dancing and Irish clogging, but they threw in a Bollywood dance and some others just for fun.

They also had some other acts which were as good as you would see in Vegas.

This was Sonny Fontana who did an amazing shadow puppet show.

Keven Johnson is a ventriloquist.  Great act.

These brothers, Adans & Ivan Peres were Cirque Du Soleil caliber.
 

The dinner was good also, so for those who enjoy seeing dancing, it is highly recommended.

A NEW WAY TO POST

As you may know, I have not been able to post do to a glich. The problem is still there, but I think I have found a way around it. Hopefully this will work for awhile. Look for some catching up! Jane, Mom, Grandma, G-Grandma, etc.

WELCOME HOME FROM COLLEGE, ARIA.

Nice to have you back.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALEXANDRA BETH AGLE, HIGH SCHOOL GRAD

Completing one of life's BIG accomplishments, we say well done, Sashy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN AGLE, NOW 14 YEARS OLD

Yes, this was taken a few years ago, but he still at the piano and very, very good. Look for a performance treat at the family reunion. You'll be impressed. Happy Birthday Steven and best wishes for a great coming year.

NEWS FROM CORPUS CHRISTI

As some of you know, Dennis Jr. is in Corpus Christi doing a bank job.  Not the kind you rob, but just as tantalizing and exciting.  Okay, that may be a tad exaggerated.  I asked him to write a little about it and send some pictures and here they are.

As you may know, before there was Liken, Ken and I were working in bank consulting. When Liken funds slowed, we worked to reestablish some of those bank consulting ties so we could feed our families while pressing forward as best we could on the Liken front. 

We've been blessed with enough work to keep things going. Ken's expertise has been in growing demand, but every now and then a need arises that spills over into stuff that I can help with.

So for a good portion of the last few weeks, I've been spending time in Corpus Christi, a coastal town in South Texas near the border of Mexico.

The first week, I was here with Ken. The second week, I was here alone. The third week, I've been here with Josh, who has worked with us in Liken for years, but was a quick study on this portion of the project. We probably have another week or two of work here.

Mostly, the work involves reviewing hundreds of loan files to help a bank defend itself against allegations from the government that it is discriminating. The days start at 8 am and run until about 6 pm, when our brains have officially turned to mush. We go back to our hotel, chill for an hour by checking in at home and catching up on emails, then we hit a local restaurant (they know how to barbecue here in Texas), come back to the hotel and hit the sack until we do it again the next day.

It gets hot here, but fortunately it isn't too bad at the moment. Mostly 80s, but with a lot of humidity. My glasses tend to fog up when I go from an air-conditioned building to outside. This is hurricane country. Today in church, they announced that there would be a plywood cutting activity this week for those who needed it (you pre-cut pieces to fit your windows and keep it around, because when you need to put it up, there isn't a lot of time). The freeways out of town have hurricane evacuation route instructions on them. Nothing forecast yet, but best to be prepared.

We're here this weekend and worked a half day Saturday before heading out to see some of Corpus Christi's sites. Today we went to church at Corpus Christi 3rd Ward. Tonight, we'll cook up a pizza, watch some new special effects clips from the next Liken (Jonah/Chloe and the Great Fish, still working on the title), call it a day and get ready for a few more days before heading home Thursday for Sashy's graduation!

We fly into San Antonio, pick up a rental car and drive for about 2.5 hours to get to Corpus Christi.

The USS Lexington, a World War II vintage aircraft carrier, lives in retirement as a museum here.

It is small in comparison to the aircraft carriers you see in San Diego.

Office: This is me and the office where I'm living.

Me and Josh on a concrete pier with the skyline of Corpus Christi in the background.

Josh poses on the Corpus Christi bayfront.

I try to copy Josh's pose, but less successfully. 

Apparently I raised the wrong leg and had nothing to rest it on.
(That is so Dennis' humor . . .Mom)

I had dinner with Josh and Farrah Fawcett, who was from Corpus Christi.

This was inscribed on the men's room wall of the diner where we ate Saturday night.

I guess not everyone is as enamored with Corpus Christi as we are.

SOME PICTURES FROM THE KCADSNSJp'S

Sophie playing T-Ball

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Aria with her Mom.

They spent this weekend down in St. George watching Aria play in  the National Junior College Softball Championships.  Her team didn't take the final trophy, but Aria played wonderfully!

Ken and family rented a condo and made it a mini-vacation which included a lot of swimming for the kids. It also included a trip to a park with a large train.

 

I'm not quite sure what this is, but the insides look pretty good!

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO GETTING SHAVE ICE . . .

As Bob and January were enjoying their shave ice what should pull up but a truck covered with mud and blood and a man that had been up in the mountains hunting wild boar. The guy with his "babes" wanted some shave ice before heading home! January and Bob found out they he hunts them with his dogs and kills them with a knife! I'm not sure whether he is brave or crazy. Wild boars are mean, viscious animals and not to be messed with. I guess he's a little of both. The pictures tell the story.

JANUARY AND BOB SAY "HIGH" FROM HAWAII

On Wednesday, Bob joined January in Hawaii.  They send their "wish you here". 

ABISH

As some of you know, Abish, the beloved dog of the Agle jr.'s passed away last Sunday.  I don't think there ever was a dog more loved than Abish.  Everyone in the family, even Dennis, but especially Suzanne had very special feelings for her.  The thing that most impressed me was that rain or shine, snow or heat, summer or winter, at around 4a and 4p Suzanne took Abish on her twice daily walks.  We'll all miss Abish, but since Suzanne was her primary caretaker, I asked her to write a few thoughts about her beloved Lab.

My Thoughts on Abish (by Suzanne)

When we bought our house 8 years ago, it came with an "extra" She was a 1yr old golden lab who had been found in the Walmart parking lot by the home owner's son 4 weeks before we arrived on the scene. This dog had come up to his car when he arrived for his 8hr work shift and was still there when he came out of work! He had tried to find her owners but the phone number on her collar had been disconnected. "Lost " signs around the town came up empty as did ads in the local newspapers. The son was going on a mission. The Mom already had 2 little dogs and didn't want a 3rd. Her loss became our gain in so many ways.

It is with great sadness though that we experienced loss on Sunday when this glorious animal of ours died.

We renamed this large, energy driven puppy, Abish. She was the most beautiful dog ever. She loved everyone and was convinced everyone loved her. What she lacked in brains she easily made up for in love. (The best combination in any creature if you ask me). We became a fixture in our neighborhood. Twice daily walks rain or shine or snow. Abish especially loved the snow and at the end of every winter walk she would flop down on our lawn and roll enthusiastically in the snow. Her version of snow angels.

She was very good when we weren't home in the day, just waiting patiently, never destructive but when you came home, a better welcome did not exist! She just loved people, their company, their presence. She did not have to be the center of attention but if you could spare some minutes to pet her, give her a tummy rub, sit on the floor beside her, stroke those velvet ears, she was the happiest dog around.

Abish waiting at thetop of the stairs for the folks to come home.

 She didn't particularly like night time, the lack of human companionship, and so we would leave the light on and the radio playing softly to keep her company.

Sometimes even Papa would serenade Abish.

Abish could hear the rustle of food from anywhere in

the house no matter how quiet you tried to be.

When she began to struggle with her health about a month ago, I was so worried she would suffer. No one this wonderful should have to suffer, especially when they can't tell you what is wrong. Saturday was rough and sweet Abish was not doing well. I sat up with her all night Saturday night and by Sunday, knew that she did not have long. Sashy and I stayed with her all day on Sunday. Danielle joined us after church and Kate took Dennis to the airport for me. By 5pm I was praying that the Lord would take her home. We held her and she was just struggling so badly. Just before 6pm I told her it was okay for her to go. That we would be ok and she needed to go. At 6pm she took her last breath and went "home".

I will, for a short time, miss my "friend" and yet I truly know I will see her again. If she was asked,"Did you do the job I sent you to do?" I can testify on her behalf with a resounding YES! She was kind and gentle and loved unconditionally....a lesson we can all learn from a beautiful soul known as Abish.

ZAC BROWN CONCERT

View of the stage from their seats.Great seats!

After that exciting flag football game, (the one where Travis and Nathan's team won the championship) Erik tells us the excitement didn’t stop there.

We have tickets to take them to see Bruno Mars next month but on Saturday we took the kids to see one of my favorite bands, Zac Brown Band for their first concert. They play country but they are the "cool kind" of country that gets played on popular radio. The concert was at the Hollywood Bowl which is a great place to go to for a concert.

Before we got there we went to Pinks Hot Dog Stand (famous) stood in line for an hour and 20 minutes and took our food to the bowl so we could tailgate. The concert and crowd were great and we all had a great time.  We got home around 1:30 am which made for a couple of long days this past weekend but it was worth it. 

Lindsey fell asleep an hour into the concert.  She was a tired girl.

Here's an opeing sentence or two part of a review of the concert that I got online.
Confidence does not come with compromise, and Zac Brown Band isn't giving an inch.

Nor does it need to, as evidenced by its country barnburner Saturday at a packed Hollywood Bowl, the most glamorous stop on the six-piece pride of Georgia's first headlining tour.

The band's decade-in-the-making meteoric rise within the genre's fan base to the unofficial title "best group going in country" has come with an equally definitive "Who's that?" reaction from outside, despite its best new artist Grammy win in 2010. But unlike others willing to cross over to "mainstream" success, with whatever that entails in today's music industry, Brown and his cohorts clearly are content to let fans cross over to them.

Here's some info on the "Bowl".  It was built in 1927 and at one time was slated for demolition.  It has since had a few face lifts, but I believe it still remains the largest outdoor ampitheater in the world.

MT. SHASTA, HERE I COME

Robert had the opportunity to go with some friends and climb Mt. Shasta which is in Northern California at the southern end of the Cascades.  It is 14,179 ft. high.  Here's Roberts report of the trip. 

 

Thursday, 5/12 - Awoke at 3:15AM.  On the road by 4AM with two members of our ward.  Drove 4 hours to Mt. Shasta City.  Had a calorie-laden breakfast and rented some equipment for our climb.  I was able to borrow almost all of the gear and supplies I needed from the leader of our hike who has four teenaged boys and for whom he purchased ice climbing gear over the past couple of years.  My pack weighed between 45-50 pounds (1/3 of my body weight!).  We got on the trail by 11AM and spent the entire day hiking.  Our climb began at 6,900 feet and we eventually made it to 9,600 feet on Thursday.  We began our hike today at the trailhead with snowshoes.  Snowshoed for about 2.5 miles over relatively flat terrain.  Then the terrain became more elevated.  Spent the next three to four hours hiking up various steep snow inclines with crampons.  The hiking was strenuous but very enjoyable for me.  The weather today was very sunny and felt like about 30 degrees outside.  We arrived at our campsite at about 5PM and spent the next two hours digging a hole in the snow for our tent.  Retired to bed around 8PM and slept off and on for about 10 hours.

Friday, 5/13 - Awoke around 6AM.  Had breakfast and broke our camp around 10AM.  Hiked for two hours to Helen Lake.  Spent the rest of the day acclimatizing to the high altitude (10,500 feet).  The weather started to change in the late afternoon.  The temperature hovered around 20 degrees and the wind picked up in the late afternoon.  We also got our packs ready for tomorrow.  Retired to bed around 8PM.  

Saturday, 5/14 - Awoke at 1AM.  Had a tuna sandwich and boiled some water for my summit attempt.  I was in the first wave of hikers to attempt the summit.  Armed with multiple layers of clothes (for my body: garments, long johns, fleece thermals, hard shell pants, two down parkas and a hard shell jacket; for my head: a mask and helmet; for my hands: two waterproof, high altitude snow gloves; for my feet: two layers of hiking socks), an ice axe, crampons, and a headlamp, we made our attempt.  We spent the next three hours climbing 3,200 near vertical feet in temperatures that were well below freezing.  My guess is that we were near 0 degrees with the wind-chill factor.  We crossed over multiple ice fields where our lead hiker felt there was some risk for an avalanche and almost had us turn around.  Aside from small pieces of ice blown about by the heavy wind, there was little that bothered us in the pitch black.  When we finally made it to the top of a ridge before the summit, the wind was blowing so hard that the three of us decided it was unsafe to proceed.  A storm had set in and conditions were very bad.  It was so cold that my two, 1-liter water bottles in my pack froze almost completely in less than three hours on the way up.  As we talked, I realized that my right hand had the early stages of frostbite.  In fact, it was not until about 10 hours later that the tips of my fingers felt better.  On our decent we met with four different companies of climbers - all of whom we convinced to turn around given the weather conditions.  The last part of the decent to base camp, I was able to glissade (a mountaineering term meaning to slide down a glacier with only one's ice axe dragging in the snow to slow you down).  We took a two hour nap and then hiked the 5-6 miles back to our car.  Our group had a feast at Olive Garden in Redding and we made it back to El Dorado Hills just before the kids went to bed.

 I was disappointed we did not make the summit of Shasta but the experience was very enjoyable and I would gladly attempt something like this again if given the chance. 

CHAMPIONS - CHAMPIONS - CHAMPIONS

The Auburn Tigers have been UNDEFEATED and UNTIED the whole season of touch football.  Last Friday they played their arch rival for the championship, the Hawaii Warriors who had only lost one game and that was to the Tigers.  It was held in "the" Rose Bowl (aka the Chaparral High School stadium) with a real announcer and the night lights and four referees!.  Their game was the last to be played and it was a nail biter the whole time.  Both Travis and Nathan are outstanding players, and more than did their part to make the winning score of 18 - 10.

Lining up to receive their trophys.

Travis gets his.

Nathan gets his.

Well deserved.

Ryan also received an award for his team as: - - -M V P

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.  WELL DONE, RYAN.

Erik traded his warmer hat with Dad and took his.  Cool looking!

Kristin enjoying the game, but it was cold!