4 Hours - 50 Degrees

All talk after church this morning was focused on the weather and what your plans were for the beautiful afternoon. My response was to be outside, as was most everyones. I mean, can you blame us... after a crazy winter storm on Friday and now temps in the 50's, who wouldn't want to be outside!

With that said, not once did I think my response of being outside would have included four straight hours of play. Let me tell you, I am tired!!! After baking a loaf of bread and fixing a batch of cookies, I heard the sounds of children increase from the bedrooms below. Instead of struggle with them to be quiet for "quiet time," we headed outside. The kids and I played with neighbors, I cleaned out my car, the kids adventured around the yard, they played with Eko, we went for a walk to the end of the street, Jon took a break from his homework and we all went for a longer walk, on the way back our neighbors were out again so we played some more, we rode bikes, we stomped out some snow, played tag... I think you get the idea!

I am SO looking forward to being outside this spring and summer. Hoping that I can boost up my energy a little bit more, although I suppose being wiped out after a day of play isn't a bad thing!

Happy Spring!

I am so grateful to our neighbor across the street for getting such a kick out of us this morning, that she even brought out her camera to snap a few pictures! She said, "We have such good breakfast entertainment that I just had to come out and take a picture!" I love our new neighborhood!!

As soon as Carl saw the snow outside, as we were walking up the stairs from his bedroom, he asked if we could go outside. He has been dying to use his sled outside but the snow had all melted in our front yard. So when he asked, I just couldn't say no. We didn't even bother eating breakfast! Jon took a late morning because of the weather, so while he plowed the driveway, the kids and I took the sled out! This is pre-8 am on April 4... you've got to love spring in Minnesota! I'm actually truly grateful for the one last snow fall that didn't come with bitter cold.

Hope you had good travels today and are now enjoying the warmth of the sun!

What One Has, Can Be Lost

Today I was reminded that what one has, can be lost just as quick - especially when in the context of a 2.5 year old boy.

My sister knit this fabulous winter hat for Carl (and took this picture)! He loves it and loves the cowl too for that matter (also knit by my sister). He quickly puts both on whenever asked and generally doesn't leave home without it. This hasn't been an issue since it's been so cold, but now that spring is semi-here, I tend to forget when he has it and when he doesn't. With such sentimental value I feel sometimes as though it should set on a pedestal and not be worn... but what good would that do!

Earlier this winter, Carl dropped it in our local floral shop and after another stop and running home, we realized it was missing. AHH! Thankfully it's not a big shop and the hat is quite memorable on this smiley young boy, that when I called, the girl quickly checked and saw the hat on the floor. We returned to pick it up and I gave Carl a friendly reminder to hold onto his belongings.

This brings us to today - strike number two. After a lovely day spent with my mom at the flower show, lunch, and a little shopping, we returned home and continued our day. When we decided to go back outside to play a little before dinner, again I realized there was no hat. I called my mom and it was not left in her car, which meant it was left where we had been shopping, a good 40 minutes away. UGH! I tried calling the store, but their recommendation was to call back in the morning, because "it's a big store and we don't usually sweep through the store until after closing." Well a lot of good that call did. I wasn't going to wait, so instead of playing we packed back in the car to the store.

Upon arrival I asked Carl where he left his hat. He told me, "in there!" Well good, that's where we are headed! I searched every place the kids rushed into or by or stopped to look. As we approached the very back of the store, in the far corner, blending perfectly into the concrete floor, was the hat. WHEW! I could not believe it. Carl and I had a deep heart to heart right there in the store, to which he apologized to me. What a sweetie! We headed home with still enough time to play before dinner.

I was ready to give up, deeply saddened by it's loss, but really what can you do? Things happen, little boys happen! We talk about responsibility with our toys and belongings, but again... he's 2.5!!

Here's hoping that strike number three never strikes!