After such a rough winter with lots of snow and sickness, it was so refreshing when spring finally rolled around.
The boys got summer haircuts to stay cool...
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| Caleb likes to tell Cindy to do "something different" with his hair when we go to get it cut. Then he hopes Dave won't recognize him so he can trick him. |
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| When he first started this game, I had to call Dave and warn him to pretend he didn't know who our son was when he got home from work so that Caleb wouldn't be disappointed. Daddy's got the hang of it now. :) |
...and Hadley got to don her raincoat as the rainy puddle season began.
As the warmer days showed up, we didn't waste any time getting outside. As early as March, we made our first trip to the playground!
After being cooped up all winter, my initial goal was to get outdoors every day this spring with the kids to take advantage of the wonderful weather...but somehow I forgot about the rain! We did get a lot of time in the sunshine though, even if it wasn't every day. Whether we were at Granny's house...
....the park...
...NaNa's...
...in our own backyard...
...(or front yard for that matter)...we got outside more than we ever have I think. Part of this was because all the kids are getting a little older and it's becoming easier to keep up with all three outside. Plus, a good portion of the spring Caleb was still in school, and while he was getting to play on the playground there, Mommy was able to manage the other two on adventures a little better.
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| Hey, Caleb...Don't mess with that! |
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| Caleb's creation |
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| We've been having brush cleared from part of our yard...Reid was pretty interested in the tractor the man helping us left behind. |
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| Whatcha got good to eat? |
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| Don't make me come in there! |
There were quite a few opportunities we had to even get in some water fun as the temps really started to rise.
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| Making good use of their Easter presents! |
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| Reid: How do you work this thing? |
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| Wading might be fun to try... |
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| If you can't beat 'em.... |
The baby pool we'd been using was a bit of a tight squeeze last year and I'd been thinking about getting a bigger pool for a long time now, so finally we did it. Even before Memorial Day, they'd taken a few good dips and set to wearing out that little plastic sliding board. :)
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| Reid was a little dangerous so we had to keep a close eye on him. |
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| Big boy |
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| Caleb didn't want much to do with the pool. He just wanted that nozzle. |
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| Fight that fire, Buddy! |
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| Caleb wasn't the only one who loved the nozzle. |
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| I love to see him smiling. |
Haley and Reid got another special treat - hiking with Daddy! One day when I was feeling poorly and Caleb was at school, Dave braved a hiking trail in the National Park with these two, who he ended up having to carry a good portion of the way...He's a braver parent than I am!
Some days it was rainy, others too hot, and sometimes we just didn't feel like getting ready to go out, so we spent plenty of time in the house too even on those beautiful days. From playing dress-up...
...to cousin playdates at Granny's...
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| Granny usually gives the kids a spoon to help get the ice cream out of the cones since they don't always like to eat them. I think Reid got too big of a spoon this time! |
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| Reid loves Daniel. Hadley and Anabella always run to hug each other as soon as they see one another and now Reid is following their lead, running straight for his cousin Dan. |
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| We know who spoils these boogers. |
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| Yep, SPOILED! |
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| We even got a couple play dates in with Peyton, who we didn't get to see much over the winter. |
...to going out to breakfast with NaNa...
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| Poor Caleb was at school and missed out on the piggy pancake at L'Dee's. |
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| Almost too cute to eat. |
...or playing with the toys at her house, there wasn't any reason to be bored!
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| Reid loves to clean, so mom bought the kids a play set of dusters, brooms, brushes, etc. |
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| Hadley got a little confused...That's not a toothbrush, honey! |
The spring also brought birthdays! Our cousins Peyton, Ryan, Haley, and Blake all have spring birthdays just like my kids do, so there seems to be a party or two every weekend. Grandma Swan, Granddaddy Eddie, Aunt Amy, Aunt Courtney, and Uncle Brandon are in the mix too....and don't for get about me!
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| With my handsome man on my 31st. |
More special than my birthday though, one of my favorite holidays comes in the spring - Mother's Day! Once again, the ladies in my family went out for a special brunch. This year at Joe's Steakhouse.
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| One day when Caleb was with NaNa, he picked out this special flower for Mommy. He was so proud of his selection and I think he made a beautiful choice. |
It seemed to fly by quickly, but I'm excited that March, April, and May were just the introduction the beautiful weather we have to look forward to the next few months...As those sweltering days are upon us, I sometimes look back and yearn for more temperate ones, but each season has its perks and I'm so thankful we live in a region where we get to experience them all, keeping us grateful for blessings unique to each time of year.
