Logistical Impediments to Peacekeeping

Five minutes ago, Lewis suddenly began howling. As usual, the details of his complaint were slightly obscured by the emotional nature of the discourse. The substance was clear, however: Inge had done something. Inge looked surprised enough that I suggested she might apologize for the injury as an accident done without malice aforethought. Here's the conversation that followed:

Ingrid: "I'm sorry, Lewis."
Lewis: howls
Me, prompting: "Tell him it was an accident."
Ingrid, a bit turned around, but with obvious sincerity: "I'm sorry, Lewis; it wasn't an accident."
Lewis, taking his cues from his sister: "It waaaas an accident."


Now, I ask you, what is a parent supposed to do?

Moody Bean

Michelle has had a rather moody day-mostly cloudy with occasional sun.
The cream pie was a definite step in the right direction according to her.

Pictures before church were not to be endured.

Homestead Watersports

Some of us like the water better than others.

This is Michelle's new camera grimace. Cute, ain't it?

Here are the two little mermaids.

From the day infamous

Lewis with tic tacs stuck on his finger--from the day that Claire posted all those other posts.

And the Final Word

Scene: Michelle is on the floor, growing irate. Lewis is muddling about nearby. Inge is building a hotel with her blocks. Daddy is changing Michelle, and musing aloud about how we might have been able to prevent a tithe or so of the day's disasters. Things have begun to get a little hairy again, so...

"Inge, get in bed," says Daddy.

Inge hops into bed, catching Lewis a healthy clip on the cheek in passing.

"LOOK AT MY TOWER, MOMMY," says Inge.

"WAAAH!" says Lewis.

"WAAAH!" says Michelle.

****

I should just say, by the way, that I have an awfully spiffing husband, and he had an awfully cheering conversation with my three small culprits, all about being good little kids and not tearing their mommy apart. They seemed touched and attentive, so we have high hopes for the morrow.

And with that, goodnight. Ice cream and Psmith await.

Rounding Out the Day

So, it is now 7:51, and we are almost home free. Two are upstairs, under strict instructions to remove their clothes and find their pajamas. The third squelches slimily up and down in my lap. She says she would type, if I would let her. She also says that green peas don't taste so good the second time around.

Not too much has happened since the last post. Inge just made it to the toilet on time--just barely, I suspect. While she was gone upstairs, Lewis brought the kitty her food and water in the playroom. "NO, NO, NO," I said, very calmly and distinctly. "PUT THAT BACK RIGHT AWAY. We don't bring the kitty her food and water in the playroom. And Lewis, be very careful not to..."

"Splash," went Lewis.

Michelle promptly slewed around and made a bee-line for the fresh puddle, and I, while returning the bowls to the kitchen, entertained thoughts of what cat-germs might do to a six-months child.

Meanwhile, Lewis is right behind me, making conversation. "I tasted the kitty's water," says he.

Another one.

This one is courtesy of Anoma, who overheard Inge practising her short vowel sounds:

"A-A-A-A-Apple

I-I-I-I-Indian

U-U-U-U...

(thoughtfully) U-U-U-U...

U-U-U-U-Elephant!"

****
Yeah, the work I'm doing is surely paying off.

Today...

...Someone who shall remain nameless wet through his underwear while sitting on my brand-new playroom rug.

...Someone (who shall again remain nameless) got his finger stuck in the box of tic-tacs. Talk about getting caught red-handed. We'll try to get a picture of that posted later.

...Someone's sister played a little too long without a bathroom break.

...While Someone's sister was taking a bath, the cat joined her. Upon Cat's exit from the bath, several things in the bathroom got wet, including Someone's Sister's pants. My first clue that all this was going on? The enthusiastic voice from the bathroom, commenting, "That's enough bath for you, and you look GREAT."

...Someone's Sister's freshly bathed cat climbed into the kitchen garbage--whether to restore a comfortable state of shabbiness or to sample the raw hamburger juices we have not yet ascertained.

This brings us up to date as of 5:10 this afternoon.

Definition of Stamina

A conversation I had with Lewis five minutes ago, repeated verbatim. Neither of us varied our inflection at all.

Lewis, pointing to the garbage can: That diaper is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
Lewis: That one is wet.
Me: Okay.
****************

And I just want to say: Why?

A few other cute things

Here are a few more pictures of life at the corn cob connection.

Lewis Dalbey

The Dalbeys have a baby-- Lewis Eugene. This is the Dalbey clan with the in-laws (the Becks).

Here's the Grandma. Lewis is a first Grandchild-- poor kid.

Lish, David, and Lewis-- the happy family. If their experience is anything like ours was, they are also probably tired.

Father and son.

Here Claire and Inge say hi to the other Lewis.

What Tuppence Does

According to Inge: Among other strong points, Tuppence eats the mice so we don't have to.

Well, we took the plunge.

We got a cat. This is Tuppence:

After a protracted session of cold feet last night, we piffed over to Pullman to "look" at a grey kitten. Of course, you know and we know that one doesn't look at a grey kitten and then leave it behind. So the decision to go was the decision to bring the cat home--though we sturdily denied the undeniable beforehand, for Inge's sake, and just in case. My husband was as curmudgeonly as I've ever seen him be on that half-hour drive to and from Pullman; one would almost have said, a bundle of nerves and pretending not to be. But he stopped over at Walmart on the way home and bought her a litterbox, some dishes, two kinds of food, and a toy; and then she slept on his lap before bedtime, and now he has capitulated, utterly and completely. As for Tuppence herself, she is an amiable creature, fond of cuddling as every cat ought to be but not every cat is, and seemingly impossible to provoke. She and Inge are fast friends already.

To our relatives with allergies, we're so sorry. But you'll like her, we're sure you will.

More Pictures of Children

Yes, I do cater to grandmas. This is for all of you out there.

Here they are picking some low down apples.

Louie from a week or so ago-- making tractor noise.

Inge, from the same time-- cookie in mouth.

Inge and Lewis resting on a bench after helping make cider. They were actually good helpers.

Here they are hauling a bucket of apples to the press.

Kid Update

We went to the orchard again yesterday. Here are some recent kid photos.

Chimney Project:

So, this past week I had a chimney problem. The stainless steel chimney liner was stuck (and I mean STUCK) for 3 days. Eventually I did get it out and now the project is complete. This is where I was, and this is basically what I was doing for many hours this week. If you ever want to install a chimney liner, ask me about my experience-- I can tell you a couple of things NOT to do.

A Few More

Here are a few last pictures from our trip to the coast. We had a great time.

Down by the docks on at Newport, OR. The smell of fish should go with this picture. And funnily enough I find this smell one of the best in the world. It reminds me very much of Alaska and boats and all that good stuff. I raved for the first 5 minutes.

This is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. That is Lewis looking at the fish and the diver (fins in upper left corner).

The sun shining through the clouds.

A Tribute and a Request

This post is a tribute to a dear saint who passed away this morning. She will be missed. The request is that you pray for the family and church she leaves behind. The two children in the picture and one more about Michelle's age along with three older children are now grieving and missing their mother. Mr. Treadway (also in the picture) is certainly also missing his dear wife. Pray that the Lord's comfort would be with them. Please pray for the Treadways and Heritage Covenant Church.

This picture was taken over a year ago.

Claire's Photos

Here are the photos I promised earlier from the same walk the produced the last three posts.

Lewis riding on dad's shoulders.


Lewis and Michelle and Dad just arriving at the cape.

Dad showing Lewis the picture Lewis just took by pressing the shutter.

Dad and Michie getting a picture of the snail.

The Other Stuff

Here are some of the other things we have seen and appreciated on the beach.

Pelicans...


Cape Kiwanda, itself.

More pelicans, apparently talking in mid flight. Either that or their licking their chops. I think the Seagull is hanging around with them to pick up the scraps.


A snail-- who was a long way from the beach. One wonders if he is from the Ocean, or not.


And piles of kelp washed ashore by the little storms we've been having here.

Surfing

I think you have to admit that this looks like fun.


Notice the guy going through the wave on the left.

A good reason to look like spiderman-- except all black.

This guy rode this wave all they way one direction and then turned around and followed it the other way. This is where he is turning.

Beauty, exercise, and excitement.

The Family

Here are few pictures of the family from the last couple of days.

We took two cameras-- look for the pictures from the other camera later.


Getting Lewis to look at the camera is like trying to hold mercury between your thumb and forefinger...

Inge is quite the artist these days. Here's a bit of beach art she was working on yesterday. Can you tell what it is?

Lewis is two years old, and we know it.


Michelle is now pretty good at scooting backwards around a room. Hence we call her our little "Scoot-backer."


Lewis has trouble getting his clothes on properly. He didn't notice, or didn't care about this mistake.