April: Legos, baking, and new groups

April started off well with a prank about artisanal spam, but quickly turned sour with Galina getting sick (again) during the first week. Because of it, Ivan and I had to stay home while Igor and Nikita went to Philadelphia for a chess tournament (one of many this month) and the Art of the Brick exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Here are a few of the photos Nikita took:

Do you have some gum gum?

Imitating art...

And music.

Staying home turned out to be a good thing because Ivan caught Galina's stomach bug. Although the bug passed through his system in time for his birthday, he was still wary of the lasagna he requested, but successfully kept down half a box of Fruit Loops and learned how to separate eggs for his lemon meringue pie. He loved his presents, which included a ukelele from my parents, a punching bag and an amirgurumi Moomin from us (as for me, I want a Snotty Oliver yarn bowl). He was also thrilled that there was no new snow; indeed, most of the snow had melted by his birthday. Later in the month, he celebrated his birthday with his classmates, playing soccer at a YMCA. Here are some photos:

With Ivan-separated eggs. 

Left to right: Flat Stanley (guest), ukelele, Moomin

More proof that I have sons.

Not enough for a soccer team, but plenty for a birthday.

April saw the longest stretch of 60+ days since October, but of course, the warm days coincided with biggest pile of student assignments since November. Not to mention taxes! Despite starting them the last week of March, figuring out the cost benefit analysis forced me to file the taxes on the last day and celebrate Easter a week late. But Easter was worthwhile: I roasted lamb, baked a bunch (12 loaves of Igor's kulich, 24 crescent rolls, 50+ peeps), and discovered the superiority of British Cadbury eggs. On top of the baking for Ivan's birthday and Easter, I made snickerdoodles (now my 3rd favorite cookie) and flan (because I had so many leftover egg yolks), but I didn't get to bake these scrumptious-looking chocolate-caramel cookies. With all the time in the kitchen, I really appreciated a new podcast called Home of the Brave and audiobooks (Fahrenheit 451, A Primate's Memoir); the only "print" book I read was Olive Kitteridge.

Even though I didn't get to read much, I loved the books I "read," learned of the new LitHub website, and joined the Ladies & Literature group on Goodreads. I also got taken out for dinner by one of my classes, enjoyed an evening of Herbie Hancock & Chick Corea with Ivan and a former colleague, and got back into letter writing by joining the League of Extraordinary Penpals - the Facebook group is super active! But perhaps what really kept me sane this month were the kickass moves of Agents of SHIELD: