Spring is so close!

The earth is beginning to show signs of spring in Virginia these past weeks (interspersed with snow of course) and we are trying our best to take advantage of it.  When the temps rise above 50 (and this weekend above 65), we get outside and relish it before the sun starts to sink and the temperatures drop again.  Daylight savings is helping with this as we are most available to get outside in the afternoons and evenings on work days.  

A couple of weeks ago, Heath decided he wanted to be superman, but have his soccor socks showing.   He kept getting frustrated when the legs fell as he ran like a superhero around the yard.  He has started really caring about how he looks these days and wanting his outfits for school to be just so - short sleeves over long sleeves is quite popular and skinny pants - I really dont think this is b/c of the style of skinny jeans but b/c he likes them that way for ease of movement???  not sure.  It was still chilly out for superman so I made him wear a hat - he is also very opposed to wearing winter clothing these days and wants to wear shorts and no jacket whenever possible....which has a been a battle lately so warmer weather is welcomed by all.

Anyway, here he is inspecting the first daffodil in the yard before it had fullly opened.  Now we have lots and even cut some for the table.  [note about woodpile behind Heath's head - it is now all either burned or moved to the back deck to soon be burned - no more woodpile in the front yard!] Yesterday Heath ran up to me with pollen on his nose from smelling one.  So sweet.

When he wants to be, that is....

 Our neighbors rallied a trip to the park on Sunday where the kids flew kites and played hard.  This photo was taken before our walk back home.  We really love our neighbors and enjoy them more and more it seems.  We close on our new house (1 mile away, same general neighborhood) in one week and I really hope that we continue to frequently hang out with these guys even though it wont be as easy as it is now.... to rally for the park on a whim, to stop and chat in a friend's yard when out for a walk, to ask for quick favors when you forget to buy baking powder or to aks for help with cutting down a tree limb, etc. etc.  This is what community is all about and it feels good to be a part of one like this.

 Here are the boys lounging on the back deck on Sunday afternoon after playing so hard.  The sun was so bright and warm that the boys were uncomfortable so we set up a blanket to shade them and they looked at books for quite awhile.  So relaxing to feel the warm sun and the cool air on the skin.

Alder continues to love to draw and this is one of his most recent creations (I cant figure out how to turn it - sorry).  It is a bald eagle with different country flags (top is US, and I am not sure about the others).  They are studying Thialand and all things Asia at school but I am not sure which ones these are...he is in bed or I would ask.

The boys woke up a couple of weeks ago wanting their faces painted like a red fox (Heath) and a cheetah (Alder).  Jason was sweet enough to do it and they kept it on all day (including church).  Predators of all kinds are still a topic of daily conversations.

Lastly, Alder went to his good friend Chloe's birthday party last weekend at Pump it Up (big bouncy castle extravagaza).  Chloe is the one with the hat on in the back.  Heath started to take a nap about an hour before we needed to leave for the party and he was so zonked out that he could not be roused for the party....  Alder had a blast and now wants to have his birthday party there.  He has also requested bread dipped in olive oil and pepper as his birthday dinner...Janet's bread of course.  His birthday is still more than two months away, but he is getting excited.  He has a tooth about to come out (his first) so he is pretty much turning into a super big  kid before our eyes.

So, things are going well here.  Big changes ahead as we move into the new house next week....pictures to follow of that big day soon.