"An Early Spring"

The warm weather is finally here... at least for the next couple days. Maybe the groundhog was right when he said that spring would come early. Horray! Notice: No coats! We have had such a great day outside. Of course, all the snow is melting, which leaves nothing but soggy grass and mud everywhere else, but we are happy to be outside! Even Emily got to hang out outside for a while. It was just so beautiful with the sun shining and our prize 50-60 degree weather! I am learning to not be such a control freak about getting mud everywhere, and let my kids enjoy their childhood. So... we have gone through 3 outfits today and had 2 baths. Who knows... at least Brad is having a blast! Brad also wore his new "barn" boots we got in Nevada. He loves them, and I love that at least his socks are protected from getting muddy! (In the pictures, he is actually wearing his snow boots... the "barn" boots got all muddy from the morning mud stomp, and they were drying out. Lucky he has two pairs of boots!)

Just so you can appreciate our excitement even more... here are a couple of BEFORE / AFTER pictures of our yard!

BEFORE:

Snow blizzard on Feb. 2, 2011 (Irronically enough... Groundhog Day!) 

AFTER:

TODAY!!

Brad and his friend Mariah... in the "community" wagon!

Poor Brad was stomping in the mud and totally fell down. I ran to help him up, but there was so much mud all over that I couldn't get to him in my tennis shoes, so I cheered him on to stand up on his own and walk out of the mud puddle... of course... I snapped a picture first! Love you buddy!

This happy face is after falling in the mud, and we talked about how it is okay because we are getting dirty today! He realized that maybe it is not too bad and he kept on playing! Oh... I can't say it enough, I am so ready for spring!