Spring?

Clare during our April 17 snowstorm.

A week before, it was warm enough to be out without mittens or hats:

Playing with gravel.  When the yard is full of snow, it's nice to have a driveway that is also a chunky "sand"box.

April 9 - Not quite warm enough for a t-shirt.  She had to put a sweatshirt on a few minutes later.

Molly loves when it's nice enough for all of us to be outside.

Return to winter... After all that nice weather the second week of April, we suddenly got dumped on with another 8-10 inches.  Karl didn't care; he was begging to go outside.  He likes to grab his shoes and stand by the door and fuss until we go out. 

Karl's at that stage where he hates wearing mittens because he can't do anything with them on.  It would be nice for his sake to say goodbye to this winter for good.  With all the new snow, it really should have been mitten weather but Karl ripped his mittens off in order to hold his shovel.  He played outside for at least 20 minutes before I forced him and his mittenless hands back indoors.  He bawled the whole way, wanting to be back outside.  I can see that I'll have to plan my summer days carefully - giving Karl enough time to play outside before I have to take him in to make dinner.  A good reason to get these last few sewing projects finished up before the weather gets nice.  I'm still waiting for the weather to be warm enough to spray-baste my quilt - I'll want to open some windows for ventilation. 

Clare's favorite winter activity: eating snow. 

 If we keep the truck another winter, we'll have to invest in some new tires.  It slid and got stuck coming down our driveway in the wet, sloppy snow and Matt had to get the snowblower out just to get it back in its spot. 

With the winter continuing like it is, it feels like spring will never actually get here... But at the same time, I know that I'll be complaining about the heat in mid-July.  Maybe this winter will help me enjoy the summer heat a little more.