Spring - FINALLY!

We are so excited to finally be experiencing some beautiful spring weather. Yesterday it was only about 70 degrees and people were wearing shorts and flip flops. Yes, it's been a long, long Maine winter and everyone's ready for some nice warm weather! I guess that means I need to start shaving more than once a week - a tradeoff I'll have to live with.

So, the past week or so has been extremely busy, so I wasn't able to keep up with my weekly minimum blogging schedule. The next week looks less busy so I'll be back at it again soon, hopefully. The week was busy mainly due to work. So, with extra hours it was really hard to fit in my exercise goals, but better luck next week. I did get out for a fun, muddy run on the trails Thursday - in shorts, no less!

Payson has started to get really interested in shoes. Check out this cute picture of her in her little red crocks!

Our weekend (4/12-4/13) was fun - Saturday we started out the day by attending a multi-family consignment sale in Wells, and then we hung out with the Smiths at our house. It was supposed to rain all day, but luckily the meterologists have been wrong more lately than ever! It was gorgeous, and we spent a lot of time outside - Alison taught Payson how to puddle stomp, and we took them for a walk in the wagon at the local Moutain Division Trail. The girls even enjoyed an alfresco snack on the deck!

We discovered Alison & Payson have learned how to hug each other. It is the cutest thing I have ever witnessed.

Sunday we went to Windham High School to celebrate Owen's third birthday. Owen is the son of our daycare provider, Nikki, and she hosted a soccer party complete with custom made t-shirts for all the kiddos! Payson and Alison wore their shin guards we found at the Wells consignment sale the day before. Pretty funny! Payson had a great time running around, although I was a little concerned she'd get bonked in the head with a soccer ball. A couple close calls, but my fears weren't realized. Will I always be such a worry wart? (In my defense, she was the littlest, newest, wobbliest walker there...)

All the kiddos lined up for a picture (Payson kept running out of it!). Owen's holding the soccer ball.

Here's a couple more cute pictures from our week:

On Monday I took Payson to our local library, not really thinking there'd be much for us to read or do. I was wrong! They had an entire board book section, toys, easels... and we happened upon a story time! It was geared towards older kids but we were told we could join anyways. Payson did pretty well; she was mesmerized by the other kids. I wish there were more activities for kids her age on Mondays; they have a 6-24 mo. story time on Tuesdays, but I'm working then. I'm surprised at the lack of stuff to do on Mondays, in general, around here. You'd think that there'd be lots to do as most moms who don't work full time probably take Mondays or Fridays off. There's lots on Fridays, and hardly anything on Mondays! Oh well. We always manage to find something to do!

We spent lots of time outside Monday, too - here, Payson encourages the daffodils to come out to welcome spring!

As for other news, I was notified about a week and a half ago that I am the recipient of an Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Merit Award! This is a once in a lifetime award that I, along with several other longstanding committee members, am receiving for my eight year involvement as an organizing committee member on the Southern Maine Children's Water Festival. I am so honored and humbled by the recognition, and Matt and I will be heading down to Faneuil Hall in Boston on Earth Day (April 22) for the awards ceremony. I'll let you know how it goes!