First Day of Spring!

It's funny to think of how anxious I've been for Spring's arrival. We've had the warmest winter I can remember. Temperatures have been spring-like and sunny for weeks and months. But the advent of Spring is still a milestone. It means we are inching closer to Spring Break, a much needed respite from work and surviving the "ides of March" within our classrooms.

Nathan has been talking about the transition from Winter to Spring for a few weeks as he tries to understand the seasons. In the car ride home on many afternoons, he'll ask, "What comes after Spring? And then it's my birthday?"

Nathan seems to talk our entire 20 minute commute home, in fact. He has lots of ideas about how the world works as well as questions. One day recently, he declared he was going to paint my car red with purple polka dots because those are his favorite colors. Just a few days ago, a song came on the radio and we had this cute conversation:

Nathan: "Mommy, what is this song?"

Me: "A song about Jesus."

Nathan: "Who sings it?"

Me: "Oh, I don't know."

Nathan: "Jesus sings this song?"

Nathan is also taking his big brother role very seriously lately. He will turn to Andrew and tell him important facts. While leaving their school, Nathan leaned down and announced very seriously, "Andrew! The sun is out so we can play basketball!"

Andrew patiently listens to Big Brother but doesn't always follow Nathan's directions. Nathan has recently decided he wants to be Andrew's teacher and boss. We're trying to encourage the former more than the later.

In addition to feeling anxious for Spring Break, I am feeling anxious for my flowers to bloom. I wait all year for their arrival and then I try with all my might to will them into bloom, just to make sure all goes according to my vision. We've recently relocated several plants from the backyard to the front and I'm excited to see how they'll look in front. Every day after work right now, I can't help but go outside, "just to look". I guess I'm impatient!

The large plant in upper right is a lily we transplanted from the backyard. If it blooms, I'll know we didn't kill it.

This little birch was a new addition last spring. We planted three and two have survived.

We are taking volunteers for a few yard & household projects over Spring Break. I hope this new season brings you joy as well. And I hope I survive my classes until I get there.

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