Spring is here!

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March has been beautiful and warm.  Spring is finally here!  The kids are getting outside nearly every day, soaking in the vitamin D.  Everybody is happy. 

 These nice sunny days make me wish I had a fenced in yard.  The problem isn't getting the kiddos outside, it's trying to get them to come back in at a decent hour so I can start dinner or make lunch.  It sure would be nice to send them outside without the worry they might wonder off alone. 

Just a few weeks ago I cut Molly's hair.  She was sporting a mullet so I finally decided to give her a new look.  I think it looks nice, considering I've never cut girls hair before and I wasn't sure what to do.    Molly is becoming more and more creative through play and personality.  She is still very independent and curious about new things.  I've noticed that she likes to be a bully when she is surrounded by kids younger than her.  I'm not sure why, but she does not like lifesize babies.  Just today she went up to a little baby (8 months old) who was sitting happily and playing with toys and for no reason just pushed the baby over.  WHO DOES THAT!?!?!  She is a little stinker, not to mention a huge tease.  Her favorite game is taking Jakob's best pal doggie and running away with it as fast as she can--with Jakob chasing after her.    She does this on several occasions throughout the day.  

Molly is learning about pretend play and how to cook soup in her kitchen.  She likes to think that the soup is too spicy and will redo it until it is just right.  Luckily she has Jakob to taste all of her soup combinations.

Jakob is enjoying preschool more and more and is learning how to regulate his (temper) feelings.  He loves coming home and talking about what we learned.  He typically asks "are we are going to preschool tomorrow?" 

 His new phrase is "last night"(even if last night means 5 days ago).  For example, last night we played at the park and had a picnic.  It's fun to see him recognize past tense and how it all works in our language.  He is also working very hard to articulate words and sound out words for reading.  He has always struggled verbally, so I am loving that he is initiating an interest to speak clearly/correctly.  

Jakob also enjoys riding his bike to the goose pond.  I take Molly in the stroller while he rides his bike.   He knows how to use his brakes and stop at appropriate stopping points, like at a stop sign or a major driveway.  I don't have to worry about him riding off too far because he always stops and waits for me to catch up.  The kids love throwing rocks into the water and tricking the geese to think it's bread.  Without fail, the geese mistake the rocks for food and the kids get a good laugh out of it.

Jakob and Molly are having fun playing in the dirt.  While it's not my first choice of outdoor entertainment, they certainly love getting their hands dirty.  Jakob loves using his dump truck and bulldozer to move the dirt around and mix it with water.  Molly just loves getting dirty.  We really just need a sandbox, instead of the front garden area, because the dirt becomes mud and it makes a huge mess.  Why do kids love mud so much?

Jakob and Molly have officially been introduced to the trampoline. All of their friends have one so they have been having a grand ol' time bouncing and jumping and getting their socks dirty.  It's not my favorite.  I grew up having a trampoline so I know the risks involved.  

I love this time of year.  The birds sing, the days are longer, I can open the windows; everything comes alive!  I have certainly been looking for a change of pace and this is just the thing for me (us).  I am really looking forward to the next few months of beautiful Spring weather.