And Then There Were...: Spring: The Busiest Time of the Year

Some folks may think the holidays are the busiest, but personally, I feel it's spring. Perhaps it's that my unpaid work with nonprofits always seems busiest then. Lots of meetings and deadlines. Usually, we have a few fundraiser events, three birthdays (plus assorted extended family), I'm trying to figure out the summer schedule, and I'm trying to get outside and whip the yard/garden into shape. Maybe it's just that we've been huddling inside for the past 5 months trying to stay warm.... The lack of activity during the winter makes the flurry of spring seem busier. Pick a theory.

We've been enjoying the nice weather. The girls want to go outside nearly every afternoon and I feel like this may be the year E learns to bicycle. C has a renewed appreciation for the baby seat on my bike and E has been pulling out the scooter and Stryder bike on her own initiative.

P is in Amsterdam this week and it's been nice. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have him here, but no one is sick, I don't have to worry about snow removal, no animals have needed emergency care, and I've been able to stick to my normal routine and talk to enough adults that I don't feel deprived. So, it's been pretty relaxed and I'm not stressing, which is a wonderful way to be.

Ellie has quit gymnastics for the time being. I suspect we'll be back for Cali in a year or so, but E has expressed interest in ballet. And, since she has been taking it at school, I'm inclined to let her play this one out. She's really been enjoying our impromptu dance parties and now claims that she's a really good dancer. They do little dance parties for birthday celebrations at school and at the beginning of the school year she had no self confidence and would just stand and watch. Now, she's in the thick of it and brags about her cool dance moves when she comes home. So, I need to look into that. And swimming lessons. And, figure out if we're going to do a sitter for summer childcare, or do half days at school. I'm running out of time to decide and I can see pros and cons to both sides.

Cali is still a year or so away from organized anything. I think we'll skip swimming lessons until she's old enough to do them without a parent (next summer). I've been through that class about 7 times already and I'm done. Her emphasis will be potty training this summer. Wish us luck. She's a much different child than her sister.

An owl Ellie drew in Drawing Class

Cali has a sixth sense about the camera and is always ready to say cheese.

All dressed up for the OE Gala.

P MCing the Gala.

Mom's salted caramel chocolate cake. It was the best one yet. I'd better get scrambling for P's cake!

Ellie had this surprise ready one day after Quiet Time. "J" and "K" were MIA, but she did pretty well. She's doing word building in school and should be ready to read before we know it.