Guilford, home of fury

So, yes, we got in the rental car and flew right up past "New York City" ("I'm going to tell Elsie!" Ida said.  "New York City, imagine that!") to see young Dan Kanju and his family in their fantastic rebuilt house. That's Hanako!

Soon, some Guildford beach pictures.  But hey, today after we got hosed at some other adventure by various school groups, we went to CITYKIDS and had all kinds of adventures.  Whoa.  Like this UFO.

But really, let's be honest, it was all about the Fishery.  We spent about three hours in there, harvesting fishes, jamming up various chutes.  Ida was carrying so many fish that DKV laughed at her and she's spurned him since.

Hanako moved some fish

and so did Leigh (note yellow fish being pulled up on the line...)!

Really we need a lot more footage, but this gives you some idea of the madness of the Fishery:


There were many minor miracles, too.  Like this train exhibit where Ida could stick her head up right in the middle, like some kind of gopher:

What's in Ida's head, these days?  Well, she's come clean, admitting, "Sometimes I think a lot about things that probably won't happen.

For instance, "If I had a string that went from my knee to my head, and it wasn't very long, I could only take very short steps."

Or, better yet, "Mom, what if you baked a pie out of my bottom?"

"What do you mean by your bottom?" Ella said.

"You know, my butt cheeks and my butt crack," Ida said.  "Well, I guess that probably wouldn't happen."

Hotter than the Hinges of Haddonsfield

Okay, eastern slice...we hit the Philly art museum right away.

Getting strong, now!

Meanwhile, Ella sweet-talked our way into a museum kid activity, but then Ida insisted we go on a tour for 6-10 year olds, which unfortunately took us back outside to the sculpture garden. Too hot for MIki.

So we hit the rooms full of armor, even for horses,a nd then bailed...

...and found us some water ice...

...much of which got spilled...

...and then straight back to Euclid Ave, where G-Toko had set up the pool!

Whoa!  Sultry and muggy, and tomorrow will be hotter!  Fortunately, we plan to sleep more tonight and be stronger tomorrow.

Also, both G-Toko and Grandpa Vining have been full of wisdoms, many of which I will share shortly.

the life with Miki and Ida

Ah, sisters.

So busy, so in love with umbrellas.

Here's a little late Mother's Day testimonial to Grambee...

I don't really know what this is about.

But I can report that the girls seem to fight worse and misbehave more extremely when wearing matching clothes. Odd.

Hoping to have some quick west coast adventures before heading east later this week. Arthur is going to take care of our house while we're gone.

Miki is Three

It's true. STill. She'll tell you the same. She's around 50 percentile for height and closer to 60 for weight. This is because she drinks too much (warm) MILK:

It makes her hair shiny, but still.

This is her 5 year old sister, Ida. Ida insists on "helping" to unwrap Miki's presents,and then immediately co-opts them as her own...

Oh yeah, at swimming lessons today, someone forgot to pack Miki's goggles! MIlk turns her into a WILDCAT!

Anyway, this here below is the sweet person who says, "Miki, your new Chihuahua looks very uncomfortable to sleep with, he should sleep with my dogs Calm and Runner in the dog bed in my room.  And is its name 'Dressa'?  Good."

Later, the birthday party!

And after that, at Martins St (thanks for a delicious salad, again, ARTHUR), this miraculous performance:

3

"My sister..."

What's up? I got some kind of karmic death-dealing illness. But the girls are fine. It's really funny how they're always talking about "My sister..." The other day Ida was eating lunch and very seriously looked across the room at me and said, "Dad, I have to tell you something very disappointing." "What's that?" I said.

"My sister won't be able to participate in the art class this summer, because she'll only be three."

Another word she's really trying on is "variety." "I think there will be a variety of cars in the parking lot at Reed College."