Springy Spring Springing Spring!

The wonderful thing (if there could possibly be a wonderful thing) about living in a city where we have long, long winters is that when Spring arrives there is a feeling of absolute joy (and relief) that sort of smacks you hard and you feel like it's been winter for years.  While Spring is upon us that icy wind still sneaks up on us and tricks us into thinking it's much balmier than it really is.  But when you have a day like today, +12 and sunny, it feels so absolutely wonderful.

This week we have enjoyed our beautiful Fish Creek Park twice.  This morning we spent some time with some old and new friends at Bebo Grove throwing rocks, climbing root stumps, cracking and hauling ice, stepping in water under melting ice, and enjoying the company of others.  We have learned a poem about robins and went on a quest to find one the other day!  We saw several ducks and geese, some swans, magpies, woodpeckers, and finally one large robin on our way out of the park.

Spring is here.  But I'm not putting away the toboggans and winter gear yet!

 Three weeks ago......and possibly more in April......don't be fooled!

 A post or two back I talked about the stamina this boy is growing....there it is!

 This shot shows how lovely my boy's teeth are growing in.  Seems like his face is so grown up now.

 Did I mention we have a new nephew / cousin?  Meet Kolt Rylee Brown!  He was born 3 months early on November 27th.  He is a miracle baby, like so many preemies.  Poppy adores him although she has only seen him twice in person.

 Poppy's printing is so awesome I have told her I am bumping her up to Grade One.

 A lovely day at the zoo with two Calgary Hitmen fans!

 Rowan was loving Peggy and asked if I could take a picture for the blog.

 This is how we do Easter crafts at our house.  I look up lots of funky, cool photos on pinterest and other blogs, then take out markers and craft paper and we do something simple.  We ended up with about 20 egg cutouts with various pictures by all of the kids.  I strung them into a garland and hung them in the front window!

 Rowan's egg with the Guardians of Childhood on it.

 Visit #1 to Fish Creek Park.  Eating lunch on the riverbank.

 Gathering sticks to throw in the river or make a fort with.

 Bebo Grove - a group of home schoolers meets there often.  We decided to check it out.  Lots of us there.

Leaving Bebo Grove.  Both Poppy and I took a good fall on the ice in the thick of the forest.  Overall a beautiful week.

April - we're ready for you!

In like a lion.....

We spent another glorious March afternoon at the toboggan hill down the street from our house.  Two days ago we were hit with a pretty significant snow storm which left us with lots of white, fluffy powder to play in!  Rand spent Sunday making a snow fort in the front yard with the kids and another in the back so our dog, Peggy, could have one to run through.  Yesterday's tobogganing adventure reminded me again of why I am so grateful for this homeschooling life - not a soul around, huge hill and field all ours, freshly fallen snow with ours being the first footsteps in it.  So lovely.  Today we met friends there and had lots of fun as well.  I woke up this morning stiff all over from the workout up and down the hill yesterday as well as the many bumps we went over at the bottom of the hill.  We still have two little boys in foster care with us (age 2 and 4 next week) who did a pretty great job for their first time tobogganing!  Rowan was most impressive hauling 2 sleds and Poppy to the hill (I insisted he couldn't do it and was preparing to be annoyed to have to haul that load plus mine).  A huge sign he is growing into a new stage:  stamina and muscle power increase.  My heart was doing backflips watching him, Poppy, and two of their best buddies going up and down the hill with huge grins on their faces.

Also, I have officially bumped Poppy (age 3 and 10 mos) to Grade One.  My basis for this is that she printed out a card for her Auntie Nathalie with both of their names on it.  Her printing is pretty remarkable for her age.  Today I asked her to draw me a surprise picture on our awesome chalkoard painted wall. She drew me a cup of coffee!  Later she drew a picture of a butterfly.

We are expected to get more snow tomorrow.  I am quite happy about it.  Come May I will be feeling differently, but March has always been a snowy month in Calgary.  Looking forward to more fun enjoying snowy activities with my kids!