SPRING!

Finally it appears Spring has arrived in Calgary! We didn't get our usual tease of Spring (unless this is it!) throughout March - it has been winter for far too long! My Grandma said her mom always called it "Lambing Weather" when the wet snow blows on the cloudy Spring days and we've had plenty of those this year! But yesterday we finally had a lovely warm, sunny day so Rowan, Poppy, and I went to the park and for a long walk in search of signs of Spring. Rowan spotted a Robin and we saw several sparrows, magpies, and seagulls. Poppy was all ready for puddles in her rain pants and rubber boots but Rowan insisted on runners so he could run fast - which made it a bit tricky when we did have to walk on the ice and through melting snow but he didn't get very wet. In our neighbourhood there is a large pond that we walked along and we found tiny bits of green clover growing through the dead grass. It was very exciting. It is so amazing how it feels to wake up after a long, cold winter.

Hibernating....

It seems like it's been a LONG winter....probably because it has! Lots of cold days and lots of snow. Not the fun snowy winter days where you want to play outside a lot but the bitter cold days with icy wind where you want to run back inside and sit in front of the fireplace. Which is probably why Rowan has started reading and both kids are playing lego all the time.
Rowan and Poppy both took swimming lessons - Poppy was in Parent and Tot and Rowan in his first ever unparented class. It was exciting for him and he wants to take more swimming classes so is signed up again starting next week. He is also learning some circus arts stuff in his gymnastics class which he has had mixed feelings about - it conflicts with the time of his absolute favorite show, The Wild Kratt's. His love for and interest in animals continues to grow - he is currently planning a trip to Africa to rescue animals. I am not invited on the trip as a cost reduction measure - he will get there faster if I don't go. He recently wrote Chris and Martin Kratt a letter telling them how much he adores them and invited them to our home - I was able to help him with the wording to encourage a meeting of sorts but not necessarily in our house! Rowan took a Martial Arts class last week and loved it as well but I had mixed feelings about that one. We'll try a few more and see how it goes. Music is getting tricky - two hands playing together is much, much harder than it looks! So we're going for an extra class each week to catch up - Rowan insists he loves it and wants to continue even though practicing each week isn't happening much. Finally - Beavers! Dad and Rowan went for a sleepover to the Tyrell Museum with their Beavers group - Rand looked pretty tired but Rowan said it was great! I remember going for the Kindergarten Camp out with my Dad at age 5 and it was probably the first night away from my Mom as well other than when my brothers were born - it was a lot of fun! A highlight for my brothers and I as they went on the camp outs as well with my Dad at the same age.
We had out first Valentine's Day Party at Let's Play with lots of homeschool friends - Rowan is now planning his birthday party there. We also spent Family Day long weekend in Kananskis - lots of good food, swimming, Laser Tagging, relaxing, and skating.
Hopefully with Spring around the bend I will blog a little more often - I feel like I have been under the blankets for a few months although reading the list of activities, we've been doing lots!