Signs of Spring

In light of the weather warm-up yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we have taken full advantage and tried to be outside as much as the kids' touch of a cold will allow.  Being outside without full winter gear is a welcome change and a sure sign of spring.  Other signs?  Well, the time changes tonight.  Spring training is in full swing.  In our exploration of the yard yesterday, we discovered several trees with buds and our tulips starting to poke up from the ground.  And, lastly, I finally got about 1/3 of our Christmas lights down (I know, I know...much longer and I could have just left them up until this Christmas).

Ben's first time in the jogging stroller

(hoping not to have to push him often, because...well, he's already really heavy)

shoveling the last of the snow

another Ben first...first time in his new swing on the swingset!

Funny story about that swing.  Ben received a gift card for Christmas, which we used to buy him this swing.  I thought, no problem, I can put this swing up by myself and today took it out with both kids in tow.  It was already assembled (yay!) so all I had to do was bring a ladder and hook it up to the hooks that already existed on the swingset (yay again!).  Once it was hanging and I took a step back I realized that I should have bought some additional chain because the swing is probably 4.5 feet off the ground.  I left it, and Ben sat in it, and we look super classy until we can get the appropriate chain to hang it from.  I guess some jobs are just better left to Dada.

Nat and Ben look so cute swinging side by side.  

These pictures were the best I could do.  Who knew it was so hard to photograph kids on a swing...