Spring is here

...At least for now.  The weather forecast looks wintery again for this coming week.  Once our snow decided to leave, it went quickly.  From last Sunday to today, we have enjoyed an amazing week of summer-like weather.

April 5: 

April 12, only 7 days later:

Looking forward to getting on a bike.  For our kids, helmets are not optional.

Karl and Clare both like to help with yard work.  It was a little early to rake but things were already pushing their way up and I figured I couldn't do much damage to a yard that is mostly weeds. 

Finding the first crocuses.  It was warm enough for t-shirts (or in Clare's case, a sleeveless dress) but Karl refused to wear anything but his favorite long sleeve shirts.  We'll see how hot it has to get before he agrees to put on a t-shirt. 

In other news, we went to a family fun day at the mall and Karl got to walk through an ambulance (whoo-whoo-whoo) and he got a little plastic hat, paper ambulance and a coloring book.  That made his day.  (He was still carrying all that stuff around at bedtime.)

Clare has been into puzzles.  Not your standard little-kid puzzles, but big-person-500-piece puzzles.  She is very proud of finishing each one.  We've completed two so far and are working on a third.  This last one is driving me crazy because she doesn't want me to help and I'm tired of seeing that same puzzle sitting on the card table every day.  (So far she hasn't noticed if I slip a couple of pieces in every evening.)

This was our favorite one so far.