Shanna's 1st Birthday Party

Shanna's 1st Birthday Party hosted by Shawn and Jeff at their home. In attendance: Grammie and Pop Shell, Nana and Papa Dahlberg, Shanna's brother Jesse and sister Jenna. Shanna's uncle Brent and aunt Melinda, Jacob, Paige, and Noah. Jeff's brother Todd, his wife Leslie, 4 sons, Levi, Benjamin, Connor, Landon, and a neighbor girl Elisa. A buffet dinner consisting of taco's, burritos, and a fruit salad was served. The video below shows just how much Shanna enjoyed her 1st birthday cake. The picture of the dinner table is what's left after 20 guests feasted at the buffet.

Garden of the gods

If you're every in Colorado Springs, a must see, aside from Stargate Command at Cheyenne Mountain, is Garden of the gods. Shawn and Jeff played host to this tour of the gardens.

Golfing--Cottonwood Creek, Colorado Springs

The boys finally rolled out of bed around 8:00 AM this morning so we went to the local disc golf course located at Cottonwood Creek Park. This picture shows Brent and Jeff at the 8th hole. Click on the picture to enlarge and notice that Brent's disc (red) is just leaving his hand heading for what would become a "birdie." They finished the 18 hole course; Brent 5 over par, Jeff 9 over par. This was their 2nd attempt at a very difficult course, according to Brent the Pro a self professed expert on this topic.

Jesse and Jenna's baptism

We were very fortunate that our trip to Colorado Springs this year coincided with the baptism of two of our grandchildren (Jesse and Jenna). I'm attaching pictures of the baptism service where their father (Jeff) participated in the baptism. After the service we all went to lunch at the Golden Corral.

Vacation Plans 2008

This year we're taking a vacation...no joke, we're going to spend a week with Shawn, Jeff, Jesse, Jenna and Shanna in Colorado Springs. We'll be flying from LAX to COS and picking up a rental car upon arrival. Adding to the excitement, Brent, Melinda, Jake, Paige, and Noah will be there at the same time as part of their family vacation. We're looking forward to spending some quality time with the family. If Joyce reminds me to take the camera we'll be posting some new family pictures and sites we visit while in Colorado.



Just may stop by Cheyenne Mountain and checkout Stargate Command

Baby Ainsley April 13, 2008

Stephanie, Matt, Bracken, and Camden welcome new baby sister Ainsley (Grandchild #9)

Fishing Lake Crowley

I've been fishing Lake Crowley since I was 11 years old and haven't missed an opening day with the exception of 1964, and 1965 when I was serving in the U.S. Army. Most of my earlier years of fishing were with my Dad and a bunch of his fishing buddies. In those days we camped, slept in tents, and got up early EARLY to head to the lake for the morning fishing. Over the years we gradually progressed from tents to camping in campers, trailers, motorhomes and for the past 10 years we've been in 1st class accommodations at Wally's condo in Mammoth Lakes. In the 50's 60's 70's and 80's we were out on the lake 1 hour before sunrise and back at camp eating breakfast by 7:30 AM with our limits of trout and then some. For the past few years it's a much different story; the fish are smaller and no longer as plentiful. Opening day this year (2008) we hit the lake at 5:00 AM as always and didn't return to the boat dock until 5:00 PM, short of our full limits. It's always fun no matter how many or how few fish are caught. Next year we'll most likely be fishing the June Lake loop (June, Gull, Silver, and Grant lakes) mostly due to the less than spectacular fishing at Crowley Lake.

The pictures posted here are from 1998 at Lake Crowley and 2005 at Convict Lake. My fishing partners today are Wally (a friend from RAND where I worked) and my son Brent and son-in-law Matt (Stephanie's husband). The picture at the top of me holding the 5+ pounder was actually caught by my son Brent. The picture of me holding two 5 pounders; one was caught by me and the other by Wally. We always have enough fish for a good fish dinner opening day evening. There's nothing like cooking and eating the fish you've caught that day.

Early one morning we had two unexpected fishing buddies join us in the parking garage. They were helping unload a truck, just a few spaces from where we were parked.

Christmas 2007

Our grandchildren gather around the Christmas Tree the night before Christmas.

Ron's retirement from RAND

Ron retires after 43.5 years with the RAND Corporation, most of which was spent as Director of Computing and Network Operations. Now I'm looking forward to many years of fishing, drinking fine wine (no twist caps or boxes), watching Star Trek, Stargate, etc. and spending time with Joyce, family and friends at the cabin.

Baby Shanna July 15, 2007

Shawn, Jeff, Jesse, and Jenna welcome new baby sister Shanna (Grandchild #8)

December 2006

This is our cabin located in Pine Mountain Club, CA. It's only a 50 minute drive from our home. Yes, we do get snow in the winter.

Video of Bracken reading to Camden