Once every 17 years, millions of cicadas come out of the ground in the eastern part of the United States. They mate, lay their eggs, and die in a matter of weeks. This phenomenon happens nowhere else in the entire world. The entire process begins in late spring when the weather warms up and it lasts 4-6 weeks. The female cicadas lay their eggs and then the babies burrow into the ground and feed off of tree roots for the next 17 years until they do it all again. Because I happened to be working out in Washington, D.C. this spring, I had the pleasure of experiencing Brood X (that's what they are calling this year's group of cicadas). The bug experts estimate there were over one million cicadas per acre throughout much of the eastern states.
Grandma joined us for Douglas's birthday celebration.
We went to the trampoline park this morning.
This is one of Douglas's birthday presents. He really likes it.
And I like it, too!
Other happenings:
Penny knows how to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The kids came to Costco with me the other day.
Diana at the park.
For Family Home Evening (FHE) yesterday we put together school supply bags and delivered them, along with a bunch of diapers and feminine pads, to an organization that helps refugees.
Sam played two videos showing how we can help refugees and she used the following scriptures to explain to the children that when we serve others, we are serving Christ:
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." [Matthew 25:35-40]
This is classic Penny. Why sit in a chair when you can jump on it?
Mother's Day: The children (with Grandma's help) made a Perler Bead bowl for Sam for Mother's Day.
We love our annual vacation to the Agle home! Jude came with us this time.
Paggy, Douglas, Jesper, Oskar, Diana, Penny
Douglas, Diana, Penny
As usual, I did a lot of swing pushing.
Penny and Oskar
Taking a break from the pushing
Making eggs for breakfast. The egg on the left is a goose egg.
Check out the difference in size between the goose egg and regular chicken eggs.
Many crepes were made. Here is Jesper with a large quantity of crepe batter.
Sleeping arrangements for Douglas, Penny, and Diana. Sam read to them each night.
Douglas and Paggy
Penny, Diana, and Douglas asleep (sort of) on their beds.
Taylor (Sam's sister) drove down to play with us for a day.
Sam and Taylor
Diana and Jude (wearing the glasses that turn the world upside down)
We spent half a day at the beach.
Jude getting a mud bath.
Many, many games were played (Yahtzee, Code Names, Rummikub, Guillotine, etc.)
They even got a few games in before 9am church on Sunday.
We got to attend all of the church meetings in person for the first time in over a year. It was wonderful!
More games
Some of the children accompanied Lizzie to pick up their new dog (Finnr, aka Finn), who is their current dog's brother (same parents, different litter). The two dogs, when fully trained, will protect each other and the other animals from the various predators in the area. I suppose they will also protect the Agle family.
Finnr is an old Norse name meaning "wanderer."
Everyone watching Finn drop his first poop on the lawn.
Lizzie loves her new dog.
These are some of the animals the dogs need to protect.
Douglas gets a kiss from Bjorn, Finn's older brother.
Ice cream sandwiches on the driveway. Karsten, Oskar, Douglas.
Karsten riding the Tonka truck down the hill.
Diana wearing the upside-down glasses.
Diana loves the little meat sticks (Duke's) from Costco. She saw Jude eating them and she decided to try one.
The children had so much fun when Lizzie pulled out the leaf blower on the trampoline.
Paggy saw me cutting strawberries one morning and he offered to help.
Look at Diana's lips and Penny's lips. Can you tell they are watching French videos? 😁
Oskar, Jude, and Karsten hanging out.
Diana and Penny followed Gimli around trying to pet him. Once or twice they were successful.
Penny and Diana talking to Finn.
Diana climbed up on the couch one day, unprompted, to take a nap. These kids wear each other out!
Jude enjoying a banana milkshake.
Diana enjoying some of the same milkshake. We used 11 bananas.
The older children got a couple of hours of gaming yesterday.
Meanwhile, the younger children watched Octonauts.
Lizzie and company were kind enough to watch our children for a few hours yesterday to allow Sam and me to visit our favorite sushi restaurant (Harney Sushi).
Unbeknownst to us, Harney Sushi changed their hours and we ended up arriving at the restaurant one hour before they opened. Fortunately, the restaurant is located a short walk from the ocean. So, Sam and I enjoyed a lovely stroll down the pier. Beautiful wife, beautiful weather. Twas great!
We saw this pelican getting some sun on the pier. I got very close and it didn't move.
Lizzie kept the children busy with various activities while we were gone, including picking and eating blueberries.
Last day in California: Lizzie is going to get rid of her geese soon. So, I wanted the experience of catching a goose before leaving California. Soren gave me some quick instructions and we entered the arena.
Some of the children watched the fun from the deck.
It was fairly easy to catch . . .
. . . after the goose bit me.
Despite the fact that his bite drew a bit of blood, it didn't hurt much because it's on my leg.
Diana and Penny cleaned up my leg for me.
Oh, how we enjoy these trips. Thank you, Agle family, for a fantastic week. We love you!
