Happy April Fools Day! April 1st was a very nice spring day. Sun peaking in and out of the clouds, a lovely low 70s temp, the smell of things just beginning to turn green...Earth under dust. Elizabeth is constantly at the sliding door requesting "side!" to go outside, and Emily and Addie also love to be outside.
In the backyard, they become bug detectives, looking in the wood chips and under rocks for rollie pollies, ants, tiny bugs of any kind. We've already had a couple of new short-lived pets this year. A rollie pollie from Emily, and a ladybug from Addie. Emily spotted the first butterfly of the season, a white one flying around our bushes. She was so excited to point it out, and has seen a handful more since then, always making sure that everyone else also witnesses the beauty.
In the frontyard, Elizabeth is obsessed with a morning dove who has decided to take over an old robin's nest that was leftover under the eve of our garage. Each time we head out there, she insists on seeing the "bid." I think she may be a bit worried about the bird's diet, because she always follows "bid" with "eat." The big girls have recently acquired real big girl bikes - 10" two-wheelers with training wheels. They've picked up riding quickly and we're hoping for some longer rides this summer. Emily told me I ought to get a trailer for my bike so Elizabeth can catch a ride while we all go together. Right now I'm pushing the stroller (at an excruciatingly slow speed) behind the girls as they pedal pedal pedal break, stop for some dandelion picking, pedal pedal pedal, ask for a push over the big crack in the sidewalk, pedal pedal pedal, pedal pedal pedal. These times are precious, and I'm trying to soak it all up.
Yesterday we went for a bike ride, and made it all the way to the big green space in the middle of our neighborhood, where Elizabeth insisted on getting out of the stroller because she wanted to run down the hill. We played with cat tails, looked at birds, and ran around a bit. The sun went permanently behind a cloud and it looked like rain by the time we got back up to the bikes, and then the ride home was a little less rosy, but I will choose to remember the ride there. :)
So on April 1st, Elizabeth, Emily and I headed out to the backyard while Addie worked on her projects inside with a hurting nose.
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| Slide fun! |
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| Let. Me. Just. Get. Myself. Turned. Around. |
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| This sweet smile is on her face often |
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| Belly! |
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| Emily found a little house |
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| Those Eyes!! |
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| Projects projects projects (with Vaseline all around her nose to help with the pain) |
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| Why are you taking my picture? |
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| My trick for getting her to smile? Tell her she gets to go to school on Friday and then snap away! |
