Hawaii-Wednesday, Day Five

Today was dubbed beach day. We played on the beach before lunch, we played on the beach after lunch, and we went out after dinner.

Kate and I were in our clothes the first time we went out around 8:45 and Ellert and Embla were in their swimsuits, so they ran around next to the ocean and then we buried them up to their necks in sand multiple times. Next, I made Embla into a Mermaid, and Kate helped Ellert become a Merman. They were really sandy, especially Embla, so when Kate and Ellert got back from getting the sand toys, she requested to go home and take a bath since the water was too cold for her. I took her back and ran her water for her, and then when she was done K & E came back from the beach and they watched Reading Rainbow while we packed ham and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We all went out again, this time with swimsuits, goggles and masks at the ready. While Ellert the sandman chased Embla the fairy, Kate found a fancy gazebo with a chair for everyone and a big table to boot, so we had our picnic there.



About that time we saw the trash truck drive up, and instantly Ellert stopped eating to watch it do its job. We watched, hoping that I put the bin in the right spot for the truck, because the night before I simply put it where the neighbors next door had put theirs. With a sigh of relief, we watched as the very full trash bin full of milk cartons, cereal boxes, and paper plates went up, up, up the side of the truck and over the open hole in the top.





The entire beach was nearly deserted; indeed, when we first walked up there was not a soul on it except for a huge flock of Red Crested Cardinals, so all of us decided to go play on the park that is right there on the beach. By the time we were done playing, there were several other children on the playground and we all had a rollicking good time. I played tag with Embla, and then we all played pirates. Ellert was the Commandant of the British Royal Navy, and Kate, Embla, and I were all pirates either trying to catch the Commandant or get away from him. It was great fun.



We were all sufficiently hot by then and were ready to swim! Kate took Elllert in the water next to me while I snorkeled. The water was clear as a pond, though not half so flat, so, needless to say, I got quite a bit of sea water down my snorkel. Then I spotted a sea urchin, and yelled over to Kate to come see it. I held Ellert and we wave jumped together in the waist deep water while Kate snorkeled a bit. In case you're wondering where Embla was while all this was going on, she was at our picnic site next to the water. She had gotten quite cold, and was snuggling with her bunny named 'Bunny' in one of the chairs.



After walking a bit further down the beach, snapping more pictures as we went, I swam around some more while Kate served Embla and Ellert their snack, and then, gathering everything up, we were ready to head home. When we got back home, we had quiet time during which Ellert fell asleep and Kate took Embla outside to play in the trampoline and while he slept, I wrote down some more Icelandic words we could use with the children. After he had been asleep for about 25 minutes, I decided that he should be woken up to prevent any bedtime blues that seem to occur.

Once he was awake, he was pretty upset about it. He's a lot like some of my siblings in that respect-they cry and get all upset when they are woken up. I decided that I should probably offer him some cereal (his food of choice) since it was snack time. I told him that if he calmed down, I might offer him something to eat for snacktime. He did so, and I asked him if he wanted some Rice Krispies. He moaned a yes, and then sank back onto the cushions of the couch. After making them I noticed he wasn't coming over yet, so I looked over at my little Icelandic phrase card and asked him "Eru per Komdu, Ellert?" (are you coming?) and almost immediately he shot back, "Ya"
He came over but apparently there was something gravely wrong that I couldn't find out nor fix about his cereal. So, I steered him outside towards the trampoline where Kate and Embla were playing in hopes that playing there would cheer him up a bit. It didn't work, he screamed. Kate and I switched off-one took Ellert inside, and the other continued to play games with Embla on the trampoline. I am afraid that Kate got the short end of the stick for I could hear Ellert's loud protests all the way outside. :-)

While Embla and I were playing, an idea came on how to get Embla to practice her Icelandic on me and teach me some in the process, for she is quite shy about her intimate knowledge of the language. I pretended that I was one of those ponies at the store that you put quarters in and they start riding. But, instead of quarters, you had to say an Icelandic word and then the meaning of it in English. She started right away. I learned house, which is hýsa, and ride, reið, before she began to get tired of it. So, I changed the game to where to wake the Monster from his hibernation, you have to turn make the 'bad' words that the sleeping Monster says into 'good' ones in Icelandic. She liked this one, and I learned how to say apple which is epli. Then, she was the monster, and I was quizzed by the Monster on my knowledge of the Icelandic language, if only for a handful of words.

It was scary.

;-)

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, Kate took Ellert out for a bicycle ride in hopes that it would soothe him. When she returned, her precious cargo was all smiles and finally ready to play. Then, they joined Embla and I on the trampoline and played (Icelandic) ponies. Then we climbed the tree in their yard and enjoyed the warm breezes.

It was about 5 now, and so Kate set to work cooking some yummy chicken for us to go with the leftover quinoa and while she did that I put the finishing touches on the macaroni. I slaved over some macaroni. It took me all day! I made the cheese from fresh, warm milk (which naturally, I milked by hand!) ground the flour for the pasta fresh from the field, and hand-kneaded the macaroni dough, and then threw it all together in a warm pot. They loved it.

You don't believe me? For shame!! Oh, that blue box over there? Why, that is just a cereal box that Embla......uh, drew on and embellished with a picture of macaroni in anticipation while I slaved over her favorite mac and cheese. Yeah. No, that is NOT a cheese packet in the trashcan!! You are staining my reputation, now go out!!

After dinner, we took them once more out to the beach for a bit and played hide and seek and tag at which I failed miserably. She always seems to know just where I am! ;-)

After getting them ready to bed with NO fits, Embla and Ellert are watching Dora the Explorer in Icelandic right now as Kate and I email and update blogs. Oh, and in case you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Kate before, she is amazing. You must meet her because she ROCKS!

Without a bit out crying or whining from either of the two chidren (a HUGE first!), they went to bed, and as I write we are waiting on them to fall asleep.

góða nótt from Iceland.... I mean.....Hawaii!