Spring Has Sprung

If you’ve ever lived on a college campus (in a place where you have four seasons)  you might be familiar with this scene:

It’s the first beautiful, warm, sunny day of spring.  After spending months and months cooped up in what feels like 4×4 dorm rooms and breathing the air filled with a mix heater fumes, perfume, musty towels, dirty laundry, shoes, hair products and sweat, students can’t get outside fast enough.  On the first day of warm spring weather the normally over-crowded dorm appears more like a vacant building where voices echo in the silence.  A glance out the window, however, reveals the flurry of activity.  Groups playing ultimate Frisbee, doubles playing tennis, love birds nestled on a blanket and the most popular scene–groups of girlfriends laying on blankets exposing their cotton white skin to the harsh glow of the sun.    The whole day everyone walks around with smiles and excitement and layers of winter-depression are shed right along with layers of clothing.  It’s such a happy scene until, that is, the crowds gather in the dining hall for dinner.  A look in any direction will nearly blind you with a bright red hue.  A sea of red skinned young men and women sit in agony as they experience the consequences of the suns harsh UV rays. 
Those are such happy memories.  So much so, I’ve recreated them.  As I type this I am being warmed by the heat given off by my own red skin.  I should know better, I know.  It’s 2013, right?  My skin should have been bathed in SPF 600 sunscreen.  I couldn’t help it. . . Spring has sprung and we are soaking it up. . .

Truth is, I’m giddy with excitement.  As soon as May hit my countdown began–as of today, only 21 days until school is out for the summer.  I must tell you that I am beyond ready to more of my boy.

Charlie brings an entirely new dynamic to our interactions.  A sense of adventure, a sense of fun, and a sense of exhaustion because slowing down is against his rules. 

Something about this weather, though, makes me ready.  Ready for whatever my boy has for me.  I’m anticipating morning hikes, afternoon baseball, day trips to the zoo, and picnics in the backyard.  I’m anticipating dirty footprints littering my kitchen floor and happy screams of little ones filling the glorious evening light.  I’m excited to see the bond of three grow this summer as our days become less structured and more spontaneous. 

I can not claim credit for this outfit–she picked it out herself and directed the placement of the legwarmers.

These last few days have given us a wonderful taste of the days to come and, like a kid, I can barely contain my excitement.  As much as I loathe the winter days dragging on and on and on, it certainly gives us a great appreciation for the inching upward of the thermometer.  It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy and rainy–if it’s warm, we will be outside.

We especially love it when weekend days allow for the involvement of our most daring family member. . .

Ummmm. . . don’t try this at home, okay?

We bring in these spring days just a little bit different than we did when we were college kids, but still, the feeling is the same.  Spring brings a sense of renewal, energy, joy and excitement. . .

I hope you are able to take it in and enjoy it, too!

Have a fantastic weekend!