Adventures with Clifford

Captain Adorable's class recently finished a unit on plants. Among other learning projects, they planted green beans and brought the seedlings home at the end of the unit. We transplanted the seedling into a bigger pot so it could grow bigger and maybe even produce green beans. (Which is ironic for me to put all this care into a green bean plant as I am a life-long green bean hater.)

You may notice a red stuffed toy dog in these photos. The kindergarten class has this dog, "Clifford" and each child gets to bring it home for a few days. Each family is supposed to take photos to put in a book and write about the adventures the child had with Clifford. The adventures are mostly things like "We went to my brother's hockey practice," and "We ate ice cream together," but some are more exciting. For example, the teacher had Clifford first, and she took him on a ski trip! Capt. Adorable had Clifford for an extra long time because he had an extra cool adventure to share! His uncle got tickets to see the Capitals play the Rangers in playoff game #2 from a box at the Verizon Center! Capt. Adorable was really excited and asked his teacher for permission keep Clifford long enough to take him along to the match.

The funny thing is, Capt. Adorable became a Rangers fan that night. He went to the game as a Caps fan but felt so sorry for the Rangers, who were playing an exciting game in an arena full of loud, enthusiastic Caps fans all wearing red (the Rangers' color is blue), that he switched teams to give the Rangers some encouragement, cheered for them and was angry when the Caps won!

Wake Up Mama

Captain Adorable almost always wakes up before Captain Obvious and me. He runs into our room via the connecting french doors and wakes me with a gentle kiss and a declaration of love (ok, I do hear his footsteps before I feel the kiss on my cheek). Then I pull back the covers and he climbs in to bed with me to snuggle. If I have to be woken up, this is definitely a good way to wake up!

The other morning he kissed me and said "I love you more than chocolate chip cookies!"

Overheard...

Yesterday after we had a family after dinner stroll to the marina and back (approx 4/10 of a mile) Captain Obvious gave Captain Adorable a piggy back ride on the way home. Capt. Adorable was in a silly mood (read: tired) and was looking for something to giggle about. I was walking ahead of them, only sort of listening to the silliness. Then I heard Captain Adorable say, "Oops. Where'd that gum go?" And then I started laughing so hard I could barely walk.

Fortunately the gum must have just fallen on the sidewalk, not in Capt. Obvious' hair. Which is a good thing.

Banana Knights

After he got home from school yesterday, Captain Adorable was playing with his knights. I usually don't pay much attention to what he is playing as his games are all variations on the theme of good guy versus bad guy/bad guy becomes good guy. Anyhow, then I noticed he was playing at the table with his knights and some of them were in an interesting jail.

You can see a pumpkin seedling at the top of the first photo. We had to thin out many of them from one of the raised beds and he wanted to take a few to school. His class is doing a unit on plants and he wanted to share the seedlings because they still had the seeds on--thus showing that the plants emerged from those seeds. Looking forward to hearing what happened when he gets home this afternoon.

Been watching some videos and looking at photos from years ago, when Capt. Adorable was a little guy. He was so beautiful and so sweet. I am so lucky to have had such a child. And oh I wish ... sigh, I wish ... I wish ..........

Pie and Scones

There was another luncheon for teachers and staff at Captain Adorable's school. This time it was a breakfast-at-lunch theme and I made scones and savory pie. Of course there are many other contributors--people made quiche and other breakfasty/lunchy dishes.

Of course I had to make 2 pies because Spinach-Broccoli Ricotta Pie is one of Captain Adorable's favorite meals. (He even asked me to make it for his birthday dinner one year.) Captain Obvious was off on a sailing trip with his father and two brothers, so the pie I kept at home (made with all organic ingredients) was a special treat just for my beloved child and me. (The pie I sent to school was not decorated.) Here are some photos.

Ready for the oven (our pie).

Ready to eat.

Ready for the oven (teachers' pie).

Cooling on the counter. The pretty edge did not show after baking.

I also made Cream Scones With Currants--a most traditional scone. Delicious! Look, I had to taste test them ... ok I admit it; I ate more than one!

Ready to cut into individual scones.

Pop them in the oven!

On the cooling racks.

Did not get specific feedback this time, but I know the school staff enjoyed their lunch. And I enjoyed cooking for them.

The Scent of Spring

Despite the 4 inches or so of heavy wet snow on March 25, then a few freakishly hot (93F here at our house) last week, it is really, truly Spring around my neighborhood.

The daffodils are just about finished but the tulips are still out and there is green grass and flowering trees all up and down the street.

While walking I noticed that even the smells of spring are here--fresh green grass warm in the sun, the stink from the bartlett pear flowers, the breeze off the water blowing warm and sweet.

Sailing, Egg Hunting, Sewing

I've been pretty busy lately, as I think I noted in a previous post. Indeed, I have just accepted another volunteer opportunity--more expungement work. I have an official start date for the opening of my practice, so watch out! ;)

However, there has also been time for adventure, fun, and new projects.

The captains and I went sailing at the end of March. It was pretty cold but we anchored out for the night--kept warm in our sleeping bags. We tested the new auto-tiller. It will definitely make long trips more family-friendly!

We attended two egg hunts this year (the first one was our neighborhood party and the second one was the one we always go to, at the home of family friends).

And, in preparation for a new boating season, in which we hope to spent more time on the water, I have been sewing covers for the boat (a grill cover, a settee cushion cover, and a cover for the auto-tiller).

I've had to make a pattern for the auto-tiller cover, which is more difficult than you might think...let's hope it works out well!