Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nathan, 18 months

Can you believe it? Can you believe that Little Man Nate is already 18 months? Nathan's Famous Hot Dog on Halloween. At 18 months, Nathan is 33.25 inches tall and nearly 29 pounds, but mostly, he is on the go. Nathan is curious about the world around him, spending lots of time opening doors or drawers, saying "uh-oh" when he finds something new. I know for certain I will have to buy a new set of measuring cups when we move again, as Nathan has adopted some into his toy collection, while others are just plain MIA. He loves pushing his cars, trucks and lawn mower around the house. He is quickly learning to match shapes with puzzles and point to his nose, ears and belly. He uses sign language to say "please" and "more" as well as ask for "help". We have just started practicing the sign for "thank you" and he seems to be grasping that one. Nathan will put his cup in the refrigerator or sink when he is "all done", and u...

Christmas 2020

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on Our troubles will be out of sight As a result of the pandemic, the model train festival we typically enjoy this time of year was canceled (thus no pictures with Santa). We missed family and friends this year. The fun energy of the last few school days before Winter Break was not quite the same over Zoom. I missed singing carols in church during month of December.  As the season progressed, I couldn't help but reflect on other times in history where celebrations were small and often just a nuclear family. Times and places where travel was too difficult or too expensive to justify leaving home. For those generations of families, the traditions were as simple as reading the Christmas story together or baking a special bread. In so many ways that was our Christmas this year and by seeking the joy in each moment, we found our hearts lighter.  We visited our favorite local tree farm to find THE TREE.  We...

The Drive

    I love our new home in Battle Ground!  However, I am still a little unsure about living in Battle Ground.  Battle Ground itself seems nice, just a bit further out than I ever imagined I would live.  Six months ago we had a cute little NE Portland home, where we could walk to Breakside Brewery or Podnah's BBQ Pit.  There were multiple parks close by and despite the energy of the city we had a peaceful backyard retreat to relax in.    Now, it may seem strange, but having a 20-25 minute commute seems like an eternity for me.  Not since our first year of marriage have I had to commute more than 15 minutes.  It was the trek across Lake Washington  from West Seattle to Kirkland that made me vow to always have a short commute.  While I do not mind the extra time to make phone calls or listen to some talk radio, I can't decide if the drive is peaceful and relaxing or just a slog to and from the country.  I imagine it will tu...