Thank you, Seattle

We have been blessed with some beautiful April days here in Seattle, and if you live in a place that sees gray most of the year you don't take these days for granted. You soak them up for everything they are worth, and use those memories to stay warm when waking up to a downpour the next morning.

I try very hard to not complain about the weather here. I do find myself wishing for more sunny days, and Jeff and I toy with the idea of moving every once in a while, but there is no use complaining. Complaining breeds negativity and doesn't fix anything.

I know that rain has its good points, but I'd love to get outside with my kids more (if you have ever been couped up for days on end with two young kids, you know that this is kind of a big deal). I'll go outside in rain, but freezing cold + rain is not worth it to me; I'm a wimp. Kudos to those who don't let it stop them!

I also despise the treadmill, which means that I either brave the elements or take too much time off from running. I used to use the gym in the winter, but since having kids this isn't an option in my mind, as it takes too much time away with the commute. This is one of the first years when, after a brief pep talk with myself about sucking it up, I've run almost year round: Rain, shine, snow, or freezing. That's all well and good (actually, it's not - I'll do it, but I don't have to like it), but please cross your fingers for no downpours during my 13.1 miles next Sunday. :)

So anyway...thank you, Seattle, for delivering some beautiful play-outside weather this month. We have dulled our sidewalk chalk, put miles on trikes and running shoes, broken in the neighborhood parks, and drained bubble containers.

I was trying to get Austen to smile, and this little face shows up right in front of my lens. "I'll smile for you, Mama!"

I'll post any picture with me in it, since there are so few. The neighbor took this, and both the girls are obviously skeptical!

Kaitlyn was teaching Austen how to blow bubbles. We went through two containers this day:

Different week, same sunshine and chalk. My dad came over to help Jeff fix our wall. Remember the leaky pipe incident? It's all fixed now. :)

She likes to "check the mail"

Yesterday also turned into garage spring cleaning. A long time coming!

Adventure girl...

Kaitlyn was really into her fishing pole yesterday. Practicing her casting and patiently sitting to work on her pole.

Grammie came by at the end of the boys' work for a bit

Thanks, Seattle. :)

Sidenote: I was quite happy with Blogger's last update. This latest one? Not so much. They sucked the user-friendly right out of it. Sigh...