Lewis Birthday Pictures and More... At Namma's Blog

Remember sports-fans, you can always look for more photos of cute grandkids at Namma's new blog.

Lewis's Birthday, and More Beach

This is not the end of either the beach pictures or of Lewis's birthday pictures, but it's a start. As you can see from the videos below I've been rather busy this past week, and we're still catching up a bit. Here are a few pictures of cute people for your entertainment and approval, nevertheless.

Momo, really liked walking on the beach. She and Mommy share their enthusiasm for this activity.

Nelly, on the other hand, soldiers on bravely with constant reminders to smile and not complain.

Mommy and Momo, by the tide pools

Bonfire and marshmallows

And the burning of the marshmallow

And the birthday boy enjoying some of his birthday loot down at the beach. He got more loot at Namma's house later.

This is my Instructor

Since the embeded movie seems to be having techinical problems, here's link to the video.

Yep, that's me flying

The embedded version seems to be having problems, so here's a link

Best of class

Tonight at dinner--

Daddy: Kids, did you know, you have the best Mommy ever?

The kids all nodded firmly, indicating their agreement. But then Inge, wishing to be accurate, added as an afterthought, "Well, at least, the best in America."

The Beach

We've been enjoying our favorite vacation spot at the Oregon Coast.

Believe me, there's a reason that we have so many pictures of Inge in motion.

This is the Seagull who joined us for devotions. He heard us singing or something, and then he enjoyed Jeremiah and more singing. He didn't leave until well after we were finished.

The kids were walking very well--even Momo did a fair bit of walking. Pictures of that coming later.

And the sunsets were lovely, as usual.

The dory boats were out in force.

Claire and I got to go for some late walks since we brought our friend, Anoma, with us.

Here are some of the people I met on the beach.

Missed a Week

We're on the road here at the Oregon Coast right now. I've got some great photos, but I'm not going to move heaven or earth to get them posted--so I may not update today, either. I might update, I'm just saying I also might not. Anyhow, good news for grandparents and assorted relatives--Namma started a blog. You can see her pictures at this LINK.

Odd(itie)s and Ends

There is no cohesive thread to this, so I'm not going to even pretend like there is.

An insight I recently had was this: One of the things that makes the parent's job so challenging is the likelihood that, during your very pertinent and well-worded advisory speech to one child, another one will be doing a funky little dance in the adjacent floor space, and maybe trying his best to bend your nice kitchen whisk out of shape. I ask you, what social critic or pundit would be at his wordy best in that context?

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Yesterday I unwisely chose to be gone during that crucial half hour right before dinner prep and karate class--that critical time during which we either maintain the status quo and a good, sane platform for upcoming activities, or else the house goes to you-know-where in a you-know-what, and we end up a little demented by the end of the evening. When I arrived home, I found that Inge had decorated the house with lilacs (my favorite flower, so sweet of her) in my absence. There were vases everywhere, and she was waiting, so excited, to see if I noticed. Water was sprinkled liberally around the floor of course. Which of us doesn't sprinkle some water and plant leaves around when we do flower arranging? And she had also thoughtfully harvested a few mushrooms to add to one arrangement.

The challenge: to be thankful for kindness and beauty wherever (and whenever) it's found.

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Observation: when you put three kids in the tub and the smallest one poops, it's much more exciting.

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A while ago Mona walked past making a noise like an airplane. To all appearances, she was flying a cow. Okay, I've got to admit, she's following in Lewis's footsteps there. Have you ever seen a shark driving a truck? No? Well, come to our house sometime...

Stick Your Toe in Dirty Water

A Busy Week

Here are some photos from this week. We took a little family outing to take some photos of Fountain Flying at work, so the photos from the first part of the post are from that.

Inge enjoyed picking wild flowers.

Nelly stumbled as usual.

They call this plane "Soupy." It's a Rockwell Thrush with a "Super-Doer" conversion. Basically that means they swapped the under powered engine it came with for a 1200 HP B-17 engine and then made the rest of the plane strong enough and big enough to fit it. The pilot is Craig Fountain.

Ingrid is explaining something, no doubt about the flowers. She can talk a blue streak when she wants to, that's for sure.

Andy is checking the fuel level on the wing while he is refueling the plane. The wash from the prop is terrific even when the engine is idling. I did this job last summer.

Here are Lewis and Inge back at home with their shields. I made and decorated the shields. Spray paint is fun. :)

And Lewis mounting the rope swing. Summertime is here.