Here's the mushroom. Why all the silence? A mysterious appearance of Jesus face in a window seems like it would be more interesting-- not to mention the goose laying a golden egg. Since that didn't seem to wake anyone up... here's the mushroom.  

One more

Me: Inge, take your finger out of your mouth. Why is it that you always put your fingers in your mouth after we've gone to the store? Is it that (here I'm getting well started) you think they taste good after you've had your hands all over the carts? Or is it that...or perhaps that...(blah, blah, blah).

Inge, a little reproachful: Mama. I was picking my nose.

Random are Us

Conversation had at Shopko, with the checker, about 1) a beautiful green beetle Inge found on her shirt and subsequently lost through the bottom of the cart, thus occasioning much grief; and 2) a recently deceased baby bird we happen to know of.

Inge, addressing our checker (name of Amanda) with a certain delicate soulfulness of which only Inge is capable: We lost our green bug.

Amanda: Oh, I'm sorry. How did you lose it?

Lewis, sensing a connection, and comparably soulful: It's deeeead.

Amanda: Oh, I'm sorry.

Lewis: The baby bird is deeeead.

Amanda, mishearing: Oh, the bluebird is dead? I'm sorry.

Inge, still thinking of the beetle: No, it's not dead.

Me: No, see, the baby bird died. The green bug is just lost.

Amanda: Oh, that's too bad.

Inge, suddenly standing up in the cart and eyeing the checker: She's colorblind!

Me: No, she's not. Daddy's colorblind. Sit down.

Amanda, handing over the receipt: Well, I'm sorry about the baby bird and the bug.

And finally, as we exit stage left, Lewis looks around for our newly made friend, and lets slip the somewhat embarrassing fact that he thinks we've been talking to one of his aunts.

Lewis: Where'd Abby go?

Now she's playing with her dad. 

S'mitch would really like to talk. Here she's trying for all she's worth to say "Mamma." 

I think they are happy. What do you think? 

I really like the way these feet go into these shoes.  

83843

I should probably explain the last couple of posts. I don't fully understand why these sorts of things show up in Moscow, but they do. Just down the street from this house (the Jesus and goose house) is another yard with an unusual decoration. This time it is a wooden sculpture of a giant mushroom--decorated, get this, as a bride. This in itself might seem to be a statement of some kind, but just about the time you've decided, "Yup, some crazy liberal prof at the UI" you notice right next to the bridal giant mushroom statue a small American flag planted in the ground. Drugs?

Here's the goose.  

And... last, but not least... we have.... Jesus. Look right above lamp in the window.... see him? Amazing, isn't it? This is a pretty weird house anyhow. There's a goose laying a golden egg in another window-- no kidding. 

And here... although its a good thing under my nose is covered up, eh?

Perhaps I'm just vain, but I fancy I see a father-daughter likeness here. :) 

Ingrid is planting bird seed in this picture. I can't say for sure, but I suspect she may hope that this will turn out to be a bird producing plant.

Thank you Grammy and Grandpa and Aunts and Uncles... somebody in Moscow, ID loves you back! 

Lewis' third birthday arrived in the mail yesterday.  

Helpful Tip of the Day

Draino does not dissolve silly pudgie (putty).

Cutest Bean! Incidentally, she was indeed singing and quite excited about the iTunes free single of the week. This week it's the Brit-pop group "Embrace" and she really likes it. Lewis liked Coldplay when he was younger too. I just hope it makes them smarter-- you know-- like Mozart.  

Singing Bean (we call her "Bean" right now). 

Smiley Bean... 

Time for Dolly-bean pictures...  

Inge brought me the baby bjorn carrier and her doll-- this is what she had in mind. 

Here's a picture that is out of order (from Saturday night). The import: Lewis is now in a big bed and Inge is in the top bunk. 

An evening trip to the park finishes out the day. 

While Claire examines the new Fathers Day harmonica, Michelle enjoys Claire's shoulder (and my attention).  

This inch worm climbed onto the brim of my hat. So I thought I should take his picture. And seeing that the picture turned out, I decided to post it. So if you meet an inch worm who needs his portrait taken, you know who to recommend. 

Things we DON'T like to hear...

...shouted from the bathroom, accompanied by a scream of real misery:

"My silly pudgie (putty) just went down the drain!"

Happy Birthday Lewis! More pictures later. 

Bucers had a fun jazz quartet playing for "Art Walk"-- The Marcell St. Quartet. 

Inge and Lewis in the stroller for our version of Moscow "Art Walk."  

Tappa is rubbing Mitch's feet. She seems to like it.