Our Nelly just keeps growing up and growing up, so here it is-- the latest collection of stories and trivia about Nelly:
Sometimes we tease Nelly about being some other person than herself, such as Mona. Her standard reply is to say, with self-conscious dignity and sometimes with severity: I'm
not Mona. I'm a
yaney named Newwy. If we ask her who she is, the reply is always the same--a lady named Nelly.
Nelly loves being pretty, and she exuberantly loves seeing other people be pretty. I sometimes put on my makeup while Nelly watches from the toilet, and often I hear, "Ohhhhh, Mommy, you yook so
pwenny!" Or a running stream of commentary, punctuated with giggles: Oh, Mommy, you pud on your mate-up? Heh-heh, why you pud on your hnap-snick (chapstick/lipstick)? Tan
I have some hnap-snick, Mommy? Oh, you yook so
pwenny, Mommy!
When I offer to paint her nails or anything else especially good, "Wwwwweeeeawwy?
Weeeawwy, Mommy? Oh,
hyank-you, Mommy!"
When the paint in the end comes off her nails, as all paint eventually must do (let the materialists among us beware): "My finner tumming off, Mommy." This last can be a bit alarming, given no warning. Soon I will try to teach her that the paint coming up is not the same as the digit itself coming off.
Like all women, given the choice, Nelly prefers to be beautiful; but unlike many women, she has a strong sense of realism about the matter, conditioned upon the state of her nails and her hair. She has been known to glaringly say (from her perch upon the toilet) "No, I'm
not pwenny."
Moving on from this frivolous topic of personal beauty...the kids have begun playing war. They enjoy naval battles particularly, but they also kill bad guys on land, in great numbers and on an individual basis, not involving the state or local government overmuch. This afternoon Nelly rounded a corner at a high speed, brandishing a sword with vigor and evidently in pursuit of evil incarnate. But then, catching sight of Mona, her warlike demeanor changed. A softer light infused her countenance, she lowered her weapon and said, "Oh, Moni, I won't till
you. You're a hweet mamy."
Nelly did a good job picking the apples we couldn't reach. 
Inge was an unwilling rider and getting her off Aunt Rose was exciting.
Inge can climb into some of the trees though!
Mona enjoyed the trip and got a nap or two in as well.
Since I was on kid hauling duty the sisters were on Apple hauling.
Some delicious MacIntoshes--I think. 
Hit the dusty trail
And, of course, there is the cider making. Yummy!
Nelly helping Mona read a book. Please don't kneel on her fingers.
Mona reading her book.
The goostly park trip, or more fun with off camera flash.
Looking into the future?
Cute poncho--thanks Grammy!
A playground is like a tonic these days. Please, please, let them run off some energy. Shipes!
This is a Sunday morning scene--last Sunday morning to be exact.
The girls were playing dressup, as you can see. So pwitty.
Lewis enters into the play--and the games are not all princesses and tea--a good bit of destruction of bad-guys, sinking of ships, eating of surfers, etc goes on.
Curious George was one of my stuffed animals when I was a kid. For some reason he always plays the role of the wayward child. I think Inge was explaining some of his recent misdeeds to me.
Nelly, again, looking so pwitty, with her "mare" named "mutter mall" on account of it's butter yellow hue.
I took about six pictures of Lewis having a jumping fit. He is prone all of the sudden to be all full of energy and break out into wild movement of some kind. Jumping is common, as is the violent shaking of some nearby object or person..... Tuppence likes to be let out first thing in the morning these days.
Sweet Moni, again, doing her tummy exercise. She's rolling and does travel that way, but not so much on purpose yet.
All of the three older ones really liked the rides.
A rare Belgian Hare being judged.
Awww, chicks. :)
And ducklings.
You bite my back I'll bite yours. 
The dazzle, of course, increases after dark.
Inge is a good big sister.
The kids could actually control the height of these planes with levers in the "cockpit." Cool!
And did I say they liked the rides?
