- BROTHERS-IN-LAW: Som-J, Me, Stig-J, San-J & Edison-J
Ava with cousins Damien, Satori & Orion
BROTHERS-in-LAW ‘J’: This summer both sisters arrived to Washington State with their families, and not only that, one bro-in-law brought his parents and brother, and over the weekend Aunt Tracy & Sanjay arrived. That puts three generations, seven grandchildren, nine parents/aunts & uncles, and four grandparents all at the Powell house on Whidbey Island. Twenty people total. We spent a weekend there during the Coupeville Festival. Fun joy fun joy fun joy…
Kaya holding broccoli. (Dad had to disinfect her immediately)
Gia, Ava & Kaya making crafts.
CRUCIFEROUS: I hate broccoli. Not just dislike. If broccoli had feelings, then I would ridicule that plant mercilessly. There are health attributes to the “vile weed” (as Newman called it in Seinfeld, see video here), but I say that even afficionados do not eat it for pleasure. If broccoli were harmful to the body, like bacon, no one would eat it. Thus, in the spirit, I wrote a poem, published this August, with uninhibited punctuation and all:
Nephew Nikolai & Gia. In the background is the pirate ship they will board at the festival.
Little Pirates: Gia, Damien, Orion & Ava
NORWEGIAN: Nephew Nikolai asked his father if he spoke English as well as he spoke Norwegian. Stig said, “Of course.” Then Nikolai said, “Oh, so you mispronounce words in Norwegian, too?” (It should be noted that Stig’s English is excellent, he’s fluent, although his Scrabble game suffers by not being a native speaker)
Face Painting at the Coupeville Festival
Damien, Orion, Ava & Gia
ERRANT PARENT: Also out in August, my essay about the mother who thought it’d be okay if her kids peed in the pool:
“Since having children, my wife and I have fallen in love with the all-inclusive vacation. We sit by a pool, waiters and waitresses bring us drinks, and when we want a break from the piglets, we put them in daycare. However, our last vacation in Mexico (and first exclusively at an inclusive) set the stage for a little poolside confrontation…”
....and Ava agree, cake is way better than broccoli.
- Kaya…
THE HAIR CHRONICLES – NEXT CHAPTER: True story, no exaggeration. I’m hanging out in the kitchen when Aunt Tracy, of Northwest Hair Academy fame, in our living room reading some girlie magazine, calls out, “Wow! I don’t believe it!” I mean, she just screams, multiple exclamation marks will not capture the glee. So I run over there and ask, “What is it?” She says, “Paul Mitchell just made a sulfate-free shampoo!” Really.
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PHOTO of the WEEK: Colorful Flowers
I read the essay on peeing in the pool. I hope you did pee, but if you didn’t, you should have said, fine, since it’s okay for your son to pee in the pool, it’s okay for me so I’m peeing now and you’re welcome to join me. And then I’d like to hear word for word her response. Also, describe her. I want a profile of this mom. Once again, thanks for the entertainment. Scott
Caleb, this has to be the best blog yet. I enjoyed every word. I read the poem, i read the “peeing in the pool” story and found them all entertaining. Your thoughts on peeing in the pool are exactly parallel to mine….so gross to think of people young and/or old thinking that it is alright to urinate where others are swimming. Don’t they realize that they too are swimming in their urine….ugh! What a wonderful summer you and your family have had visiting with all your relatives.
Haha Caleb! I have got your wife hooked on Sulfate-free Shampoo, too!!! Always love the broccoli jokes – they never get old!!!!
Caleb,
You posts are always so timely: Last night I had a huge, heaping, helping of Broccoli, and a buddy of mine just returned from Norway.
The synchronicity is frightening.