Spring adventrues have begun....

We have been so looking forward to spring. I love to see the sun finally come out and the leaves start to grow. It has seemed to me that this winter was incredibly long and very hard to handle. so I am so grateful now that spring is here. I look at spring as a rebirth of ourselves. Kind of a way to clean out the yuck that is there and bring in the new. I look forward to spring and summer, to be able to have that "cleaning out" time. It seems like it's these months that you seem to have more time to really look at things clearly and clear out all that is there that seems to get shifted around in the winter months. Spring is like a refreshener to me spiritually.

As I usually do I started spring cleaning the house a long time ago and it is just trying to finish up with everything so that I can begin a new outdoor project or two. The kids are certainly loving having warm weather too. It has seemed harder and harder to keep them on their schedule now, especially in the evening cause the days are longer and they think they don't need to go to bed until it is really dark and much later then usual on school nights. But we are SO thankful that the warmer weather has finally arrived. We look forward to many warm and beautiful days.This was a lovely Sunday afternoon after church.. I didn't let them change their clothes right away and they weren't to excited to take a picture or two, but I had to get a picture of the beautiful flowering Louisa tree that we have in the front yard. I love it. I'm so glad to finally be rid of all that SNOW. I have had enough of indoor days and no sun shine, so I say "Spring adventures have begun so let's go outside and have some fun" That little phase I created and put on some foam board and I velcroed it to our TV screen, the kids know that when the sign is up they have to go outside and play, instead of being indoors watching tv or playing the computer games. Yeah....it's warm enough to play outside...
Here is another one of those must have pictures with all the lovely tullips in full bloom. To bad they don't last a little bit longer then they do cause I know that I sure enjoy their beauty. Amazing that the kids were all looking in the same direction too.
Needless to say that Carl and I have been busy this spring, we are doing our usual outdoor cleaning up projects. Carl is such the "green thumb" he loves to be outdoors and loves to either be in the garden or planting flowers for me. He has been working hard this spring on creating more flower beds. He has put in more in the back yard, on the south side of the house and also farther down towards the corn field. He is always experimenting with what "new" plant or veg. or fruit will be able to grow here in Iowa. This year he has planted kiwi fruits. I don't know if they will grow but he seems to think they will. He says he does this all for me, but if truth were to be know, this is his way to unwind from his job. I say it is the best "Therapy" that money could buy. It is really his way of relaxing and unwinding. As for myself I have a few other ideas that come to mind for me to unwind...none of which I care to share either. I just know that my way is just as effective. I can't really complain cause all his unwinding certainly makes for beautiful landscaping projects and such. And deep down I know he really does do it for me..
Here is a little photo of logan, he is really getting to that "fun" stage. The only thing that isn't fun is that he doesn't let mom out of his sight, and if he had his way, he wouldn't be out of her arms either. He is just starting to walk along things and trying at times to let go of objects to "stand" on his own. I've been trying really hard to lesson his connection with mom, but I certainly am not doing it very well. He is certainly a moma's boy. He doesn't go to dad very often and most of the time if dad tries to feed him, Logan throws the bottle at him and screams. There is nothing like a mother.....I guess.

I am so looking forward to having the kids out of school here in 8 more days. I am certainly ready for them to be home with me, less running around and more "fun" time together. And yes, not having to have them up and out the door by 8:00am will be a HUGH bonus. I know that by mid August I will probably be really ready to send them back to school by then too. At least that is usally how it seems, but who knows maybe this year will be different.