Los Flemings

Last weekend we returned to Shelter Neck for a second spring outing with the UUFR family activities group . The bonus was that this year Mame was able to join us. And since she only has one last test to go, and a minor one at that, she was able to fully relax and enjoy herself. We had a nice time visiting with other families and the kids had a blast running around in packs.

Saturday several families joined in for a canoe trip on nearby Holly Shelter Creek. It was a perfect spring day and Sam was even inspired to jump into the water.



On the way down Friday I couldn't resist stopping in Rose Hill, home of the North Carolina Poultry Jubilee and the world's largest frying pan. It is capable of frying 365 chickens in 200 gallons of cooking oil. Mame and Sam indulged me with a photo op.

Sunday we made it back to Cary in time to catch FSU v. UNC at the USA Baseball facility here in town (UNC's stadium is being renovated this season). It was a nail-biter, went to extra innings and then ended rather anti-climatically when FSU brought in a reliever who walked in the winning run for UNC.

For Easter Sam received a box of Bob Books. Last night he read the twelfth and final book in the set. Tonight in celebration he got treated to Goodberry's. (Thanks to Aunt Lynn who gave us a gift card)

Sam collected two caterpillars on the walk home from school yesterday . The captives joined two of their fellow species in the current indoor habitat in our kitchen. This morning he decided to let the two new ones go and told me, "they were just staying for a sleepover."

Mame spoke to the chief operating officer at Asheville Anesthesia Associates today and received a verbal commitment that they will have a position awaiting her upon graduation in the fall.

Only two more tests to go and we'll be headed to the UNCG graduation on May 15. Then she only has 3 more months of clinical practice to go.

This week Sam's teacher introduced a new work (the Montessori term for the manipulatives that the kids work with) on fractions. It is a series of wood blocks that stack on dowels. The first is solid - a whole. The second is the same height but divided in two sections. This goes on for thirds, quarters, sixths and on two twelfths. The kids have been tracing the blocks on a large piece of paper and then coloring them to match the colored blocks.

So, this morning Sam proudly divided his pancake in half, then in quarters, then in eighths. Then he got hungry and ate the eighths.

Just kidding, Sam and I went to Mt. Pleasant instead the first week of April. And we still had a great time. Sam toured around on his bicycle, explored in the back yard, played with the neighborhood boys, swam at the rec center, explored the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry on a rainy day, played on the Big Toy at Palmetto Islands County Park, witnessed the start of the Cooper River Bridge Run and attended a Charleston Battery pre-season exhibition match. We also enjoyed lots of tasty home cooking and generally hanging out.


Sam and Grandpa Glenn catch their breath after riding to the end of the Pitt St. Bridge.