Spring...has it really Sprung?

It's that time of year again.  Warm enough to go outside and muddy enough for mom to cringe at the dog and child who insist on finding every single mud puddle.  But really, that's ok.

For the last few weeks I've been at my wits end...going stir crazy...waiting for SOMETHING to come along where we can channel some of this seemingly endless energy...

Finally...it has come!  Spring is HERE!

We have and always will be an outdoorsy family.  Any time we can spend outside, we are THERE.  Over the last week, with the weather in the upper 50s and 60s, we've spent most every day after work/school outside...playing, walking, learning, LIVING.

Lil Max has become quite the expert on blowing his own bubbles, and wants to carry his bubbles with him everywhere we go.  He also likes to yell out to walkers that pass by the house that he is "blowing bubbles!" and of course saying "HI!".   I find it quite humorous that the warm and LOUD greeting from my son startles some of these walkers....most of them are gracious enough to wave back and say hello in return.  I always wonder about the ones that don't...and aren't wearing headphones...who denies a 2 year old a brief hello?  What important things do you have going on in your life that you can't take 15 seconds to say hello in return?  What happened to being friendly?

In addition to blowing bubbles, we've collected pinecones and other treasures around the yard, we've looked at the promise of new life in the form of buds on the trees and plants sprouting from the ground, we've watched and listened to the birds flying overhead and flitting about in the trees, we've chased a few squirrels, we've hidden under some great big pine trees (a favorite activity of late), and we've talked about what we're going to plant in the garden.  I love this little life, and I love the passion my kid has for the outdoors.  I can't wait until it is a little bit warmer (and a little less wet) so we can pitch our brand new 4-person tent and stage a campout in the backyard!  Lil Max will be SO excited!!

And now, the forecast for this weekend has predictions of snow....I predict nothing will accumulate, but it serves as a gentle reminder that here in the Midwest, spring is a relative thing.  We get it for a day or two, and then it gets taken away.  Before we know it, we'll be in the sweltering heat of summer, and spring will just be a snippet of our imaginations.  That's ok.  Summer is pretty cool too.

Oh yeah, and just to make this post somewhat of a Friday's flashback....let's look back to a year ago, and Lil Max's reactions to bubbles.....♥♥♥

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