Lemons

Dylan has been exploring new foods - you wouldn't know it by looking at these photos but he loves lemon.  We're even able to get him to eat his veggies if we douse them in lemon juice.

Spaceman D

It's been a rainy Sunday so we headed back to the Air & Space Museum in Chantilly Virginia: they were celebrating the arrival of the Space Shuttle Discovery.  Dylan loved the space-man stuff and we all learned a bit from the scientific experiments.  Here we are "making clouds:"

Of course we had to try on some space suits...

...and a Dylan-sized Space Shuttle:

We had a great time playing with the other kids at Toddler Space Camp:

but we had a safe re-entry from our time in space...

British Officers Club of Philidelphia

I was invited to speak to the British Officers Club of Philadelphia on Saturday.  They were touring the Naval Academy for the weekend and asked if I would join them for dinner at the Annapolis Yacht Club.  Michelle and I had a wonderful time.  The setting in the Commodore's Room overlooking the docks was very nice; the dinner, drinks and conversation were most enjoyable - I think Michelle enjoyed hearing some "proper English" being spoken for a change!  Our hosts were a very impressive collection of former British military officers and their wives, most now living and working in the US.

Welcome Home Matt Rutherford!

I had the opportunity to represent the Naval Academy and our sailing program at a welcome home ceremony for Matt Rutherford.  Matt had just completed a circumnavigation of North and South America in a 27 foot sailboat.  This trip took 309 days, he did it solo and during that great expanse of time he never went ashore - non-stop north through the Northwest Passage, around Alaska, down the west coast of North, Central and South America, around the treacherous Cape Horn and up through the Atlantic.  He departed from and returned to Annapolis and did it all to raise money for a disabled boating charity called C.R.A.B (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating).  I shared the stage with Gary Jobson, the head of US Sailing, Maryland Governor O'Malley, the Mayor of Annapolis and several Congressional Aides.  Senator Harkin teleconferenced in via an onstage iPad.  It was a great event, honoring a truely heroic undertaking 

Cousins

One thing we miss, but really appreciate, is the opportunity for Dylan to get together with his cousins.  Here's the entire American gang...

Best buds for life...

Happy Easter!

The practice paid off - Dylan and his cousins had a great Easter Egg Hunt!

Easter Egg Practice

We were all excited about the Easter Egg Hunt - so much so, that we thought that a Saturday practice session was in order.  Dylan loved running around in the back yard of Grandma and Grandpa's house.  He got off to a great start...

But the morning wasn't without a few set-backs...better luck tomorrow!

Frequent Flyer

The little man has been airborne so often that he's now on a first name basis with most of the United and Southwest pilots - here he his hanging out in the cockpit, talking about recent developments in the Airline industry with the Captain of Southwest Flight 1460 to Milwaukee:

Safety at Sea

In the wake of the disastrous 1979 Fastnet Yacht Race which claimed the lives of 15 sailors the US Naval Academy began a seminar entitled "Safety at Sea" to focus on offshore boat preparation, weather forecasting,  heavy weather sailing and survival.  That seminar endures today and each spring we partner with the Maryland Marine Trades Association to educate Midshipmen and civilian sailors in the safe operation of offshore sailboats.  My staff put on a truly world-class event, moderated by John Rousmaniere and Ralph Naranjo.  It was a great refresher in the risks of offshore sailing - and a great opportunity to meet some of the foremost experts on the water.  Briefing slides from the event are available online.

Naval Academy Sailing

I've been settling into my new position as the Director of Naval Academy Sailing.  It's a great job - that probably goes without saying.  The program is actually far more complex than I could have imagined - 160+ sailboats in the fleet, a 6 acre marina, a mixed staff of Navy officers and enlisted sailors, Government civilians and athletic department coaches, 20+ funding sources, a charitable foundation and an advisory board.  I'm trying to get out on the water as much as possible but each day brings new challenges.  I'm very fortunate to have an amazing staff.  Within my civilian ranks are veterans of the Whitbread/Volvo Around the World Race, the Americas Cup, former Olympic hopefuls and a Collegiate Sailor of the Year.

We'll be right back...

Sorry we've been radio silent for a few months.  We're settling into a new life in Annapolis Maryland and will be back up online shortly!

Skiing at Keystone

We've bypassed the amazing back-bowls of Vail for the more family oriented experience of Keystone, Colorado 40 miles to the east.  The snow this year was miserable with a scant 38 inch base (and that was probably all man-made!).  Still, we had a great time in the mountains, got a few runs in and put Dylan on skis for the first time (at 2 years old!).  The best I can say is that he didn't hate it - and I think he's looking forward to getting back out there.  In addition to the skiing we put the little man on a new pair of snowshoes - great for stomping around...and we explored a huge ice fort at the top of the mountain.  One great aspect of Keystone is the night skiing - rare in Colorado.  Michelle and I took turns in the evening, ripping a few solo runs without the little man.  Overall a great family vacation - we're already planning another early January trip for 2013!

D on Skis!

Follow me...

Kings of the Ice Castle

Snowshoe stompy to the Mountain Top

The Top of the Mountain

5K Fun Run for Dylan and Mum

Ready Set Go!!

Go Go Mumma

I decided that it would be good fun for Dylan and I to participate in a local 5k fun run. We started with Dylans run, he was very excited to do his run, but paitiently waited at the line for the start. He did a great job made it all the way to the end to collect his medal. Next it was time for me to do the 5K, Dylan was very motivating, telling mummy go go go, it was a little easier for him he got to ride on my back. He even enjoyed cooling me down at the water stations by tipping water on my head, he thought it was really funny. My time wasn't that great, but all in all it was a great family day, just wish Les was there to join us.

Rock climbing

Dylan and I are enjoying a lot of weekend adventures over this summer. This time it was a morning hike to great falls with some rock climbing thrown in for fun. It is good exercise for me to carry about 40lbs on my back, but after a while it is time for Dylan to do some walking. We took a look at the falls and then hiked down to the waters edge for a picnic where there were lots of boulders for Dylan to climb all over. He really was great at climbing over the rocks, I think next time we will bring a rope and harness.

Summer Fun at the pool

During the sweltering days of July we were able to get to the local pool for some fun. Dylan really enjoys the pool and had a great time having swimming races with the other kids in the pool even if he wasn't wining. The water slide was also a big hit, but of course he wanted to go on the big water slide but he didn't quite make the height requirements. He stretched up as much as possible but I think the life guard saw right through that.