Pajama Pandemonium

A Beauteous Day

I STILL feel it.  Spring.  It really is coming.  My crocuses are poking their little heads up through the snow.  We got a fresh dusting of the white stuff yesterday, but today we're in melting mode.  AAAAHHHH.    The boys had an outdoor sledding birthday party, which gave them the mother of all sugar-highs  made them really happy.  When we got home, all three kids played outside for hours.  The boys without shoes.  It's nice out, but 40 degrees is still shoe-weather in my book.  Oh well.  Warm showers all around when they came back inside, because mud season (as spring is affectionately called in these parts) is in full swing. 

A Special Lunch

Today is St. Patrick's day, and true to our Heinz 57 roots (Finnish, German, English, Czech and just a hint o' the Irish) we had green shamrock pancakes for breakfast.  It's also Colby's special "Star of the Week" day, so the lil' gal and I joined grandma and grandpa in the cafeteria for lunch.  Quite the experience, eating in an elementary cafeteria with a bunch of 1st graders.  Brings back memories.

This isn't the greatest picture, but my hands were full of lunch boxes and half eaten granola bars.  The boys walked Reagan back through the halls after lunch.  It was really cute.  I just didn't capture it so well.

Signs of Spring

GORGEOUS day today.  Rob asked me to come outside and sit with him on the bench on our back porch.
Rob: "What does this scene remind you of?"
Me: "UHHHH... I have no idea."
Rob: "A scene from your favorite movie of all time."
Me: "Star Wars????"
Rob: "Good grief, no."
Me: "Gone With the Wind?"
Rob: "No.  Your FAVORITE movie.  That was also a book. By Chesterton."
Me: "OOOOHHH.  Lewis.  Narnia?"
Rob: "Yeah. Narnia."
Me: "You're talking about when Aslan came back to Narnia, and the eternal winter of the White Witch was disappearing into Spring."
Rob: "That's the one.  Doesn't it feel just like that????"

Yes. It does. Clear blue skies, patches of grass, 40 degrees. I looked long and hard for crocuses. None yet, but I can FEEL that they're coming. Spring. It's in the air. I can't wait!!!

The men-folk and their weekly sauna.

Morgan and Sammy - finally buddies.  The sunshine must've put Morgan in a good mood, because she actually tolerated being around that over-exuberant pup.

Date Night

Three short months after our LAST date, Rob and I got to spend the evening "kid-less".  It. was. heavenly.  Not that I don't love and miss my kids.  But really.  So nice to go to a restaurant and actually TALK to one another, and be leisurely, without having to look under the table to see what we've left behind, or apologize for the mess we made.   AAAAAAHHHH.  Our original plan was to play tennis after dinner, but we changed our minds and went to a Michigan Tech basketball game.  The girls' team are in the top 16 in the country, playing for regional finals the day after tomorrow,  before moving on the Big 8.  Way to go, girls!  Great game.  And a special shout goes out to our sponsors for the evening... Grandma and Grandpa Aho, who also took all three kids for the night.  That is a first for everyone concerned.  Here's hoping you all survive and are smiling in the morning!!! The only remote downer to the evening was when Rob noted that Daylight Savings Time starts tonight, which means our kid-free night is exactly one hour less than any other night of the year.  Figures.  We'll savor the minutes we have, though!!!

Junior Bear Chase

I SUPPOSE having the kids participate in a ski race while not quite recuperated from recent illness may not have been the wisest choice.  Besides the fact that both boys are getting over the gunk, we really only have one pair of decent skis.  Which means that the boys have to alternate who gets to use the good set.  But see, this was a RACE, and not just an average ski day.   There would be a WINNER, and where there are WINNERS, there are also LOSERS.  The good skis make or break a race.   It was Colby's turn with the good skis.  (sigh).   Rob reported that Quinn was sobbing at the starting line.  He didn't finish.  Colby finished, but started crying soon afterwards because he wanted juice.  Fun times.  Fun times.  There are moments when I regret the things I miss when I am at work.  This wasn't one of them ;).

Rustlin' Quinn

Wild West Days at school for Reading Month.  Quinn told me that "Lone Rangers never show their face".  Who WAS that masked man???

Ski Tigers Continue

Our weekend is usually filled with cross country skiing....

And for you observant people out there, yes... the boys are both on one ski.  That's on purpose for a game, and not because we are cheap and make them share one set of skis ;).