Spring, lovely Spring

Last winter was a doozy. "The Long Winter" we are calling it. And spring has been slow. The past few days are the first ones where there's really been noticeable flowers.

We love winter. We love snow--but that got seriously tested this winter--and the bottom line is that when it's in the negative degrees and windy, no matter how well you dress you just don't go outside for any longer than you have to.

So for the first time in my memory, I was looking forward to spring. And in the morning when I open my backdoor to the world outside, I still feel a little thrill. 

And I wonder how long I'm going to feel that little thrill, honestly. Seems like it should wear off at some point. 

But regardless, we are loving spring, and being outside. We've wrapped up almost all of school for the year, and started in on some new stuff for the summer. These books are ones that I'm planning on us going through until next spring, as they go month by month. So far the kids love them. 

In celebration we are spending as much time as possible outside. We've taken to calling our backyard our nature preserve. It's fun to watch all year long, but especially fun in the spring when you can watch the green overtake the brown, every day, and the birds return and build and fight and play. It is a wondrous blessing of this home.

The canadian geese are both fun and annoying... For a few weeks there they were fighting constantly. Geese can run on water, in case you're wondering. It's noisy and wild.

She's always gotta climb the trees.

Nature Journaling.

Exploring. Constantly Exploring. Outside? Outside?

Daria's obsessed with birds. She instructs them constantly, and is continually irritated at the fact that they don't listen to her. She finally found one that would hold still for her.

She loves to throw "wocks!"

Keira and Brianna can't run at the gym, so as soon as the weather got good enough we started running outdoors. Proud of them both, as they have worked really hard to build up mileage.

Our natural-born runner. Right before this she told me that every time she got tired, she just ran faster. Must be nice! I'm pretty sure she can outrun us all. 

Daria: Are you alright? Oh, baby! Are you alright? Keira is doing awesome too. She has really committed herself to building distance and keeping up with dad. It's been so fun to watch her blossom as a runner.

Last week we joined the community garage sale. We haven't had a garage sale in 7 years, and with moving so much the last few years I haven't had time to really keep stuff well cleaned out. So, it was time, and it was a lot of work, but even so it ended up being really good and a lot of fun. My garage sale was pretty small compared to all the others I could see, but we still did pretty well.

 I am SO SO glad that we've gotten to experience Midwest Thunderstorms. I may retract this statement about mid-July when I haven't slept for three weeks due to constant thunder all night long, but wow. They are amazing.

 And the last few days have been warm and lovely. School outside, and playing outside, and doors and windows open.

A few more leaves on the trees... Geography, en plein air.

Daria learned how to put her pants on by herself the past few days. So she's been wearing multiple pairs at once, just putting them on as she can find them. 

Hope your spring is treating you well!