This Thing Called Spring

It really has been that unexpected sort of spring weather you hear about around here. One minute there's a sudden downpour that reminds you of Alice in Wonderland's big, blobby tears that create a flood, and then a few minutes later you're being teased with signs of summer. This makes quite the eventful day when you are a driver education teacher!

 It's funny because here in the Pacific Northwest we take pride in our sun. If it's out, so are the bikes, skateboards, sidewalk chalk, shovels, slurpees. Everyone looks more friendly and seems to be more friendly. We get a little vitamin D and go crazy like a kitten on catnip. Now that the weather is nicer, Baelor is finally old enough to be venturing outside. He would stay out ALL DAY if I let him. He gets a thrill at all the outdoor sounds like airplanes, and likes the different textures of dirt, rocks and plants. 

 A cute picture of the kids with Mummi. We'll just assume Mummi's eyes are closed because she's laughing. She takes such amazing care of our children. It is because of her that I can be at ease when I am working knowing that they are getting the best.

I was picking up the kids after work one day and found him with this hat on! Apparently his much older cousin wore it as a baby. It's so corn-doggy it's cute. The little girl in the background is Hadley. That's Baelor's buddy. She is a smart and independent little girl.

I sure wish my complexion looked as dewy as his. Seriously, isn't he cute?

I found some fun alphabet letters and numbers at Goodwill for $6 and knew Reina would have fun putting them together.

Baelor had fun pulling them apart...

 These kind of days deserve time at the park! Often the kids get hours of fun at the park across the street. You can see Mummi's yellow house in the background. Reina loves when assistant Elayne winds her up in the swing.

Sometimes I get to join in on the fun as well!

 Apparently Reina's thing that day was to make funny faces for the camera.

Reina was showing everyone how she looks like a horse (can you see her mouthing "nay"?) She's so fun.

So is he.

 I am a proud owner of my first Red Flyer tricycle. This one is a classic and room for two! Gotta love a good second-hand find!

Baelor is becoming so confident. He is out of the "baby" stage and realizes he can ride cars like the big boys and throw balls quite well and catch them. He mimicks throwing paper airplanes and playing hide-and-go-seek just like the others. 

He was a little too confident one day and got his first major owie. We're not quite sure how it happened exactly but he fell on the brick fireplace (flat part) and it hit just right to cause major breakage and blood. I had to rush him to the urgent care clinic as it appeared severe enough for stitches. Luckily, expensive super glue did the job. The crazy thing about this is the fact that he is not clumsy. Both of our children are very careful. They don't just make sudden movements without thinking it through. We believe it had something to do with a plastic ball that either got caught under his foot  or while retrieving the ball, it suddenly moved. Our only evidence was a plastic ball in the spot where he fell. Since then we have blocked off the fireplace completely at Mummi's house. 

Here's our little guy with his battle wounds.

 Here are two "Get Well" cards that were written by Elizabeth and Emily. You have to read how sweet they are.

Whenever Paul makes a green smoothie, Baelor thinks he has to drink it just like Daddy, cup and all. It doesn't matter how full he is, he gulps that stuff down! One day he drank half of Paul's drink!

 

Reina is sending a letter to her first missionary, Ben. He and his brother Porter did a little babysitting for Reina when she was a baby. She adores them and they adore her. He has been waiting for a letter from her. 

Paul was yelling how amazingly vibrant this rainbow was. It happened so fast I barely snapped a picture of the tail end of it. We've enjoyed some amazing spring views in our home!