Some kind of Spring we’re having! Like much of the country, it seems, the first week of Spring meant snow for us. It was quite humorous, really, because we have been promised snow several times. The federal government and local schools have even closed in anticipation, but all we’ve really seen is a few flakes that soon turned to rain. This time, we got some real, wet, messy snow – and everything was open! We stayed home anyway, and used the weather as an excuse to drink hot chocolate and take it easy. Of course we had to get out a bit, and Annabelle thoroughly enjoyed playing in (and eating) the snow! We took advantage of the warmest day, even if it was still chilly, and did some walking in the city in hopes of spying some cherry blossoms. There’s not much to see yet, but Annabelle was happy for the chance to run around on the mall and look on as people flew kites. She took a break and removed her shoes to do some yoga beside the reflecting pool.  Continue reading →

Early yesterday morning, I heard Annabelle rustling around in her room upstairs. I walked to the bottom of the stairs where she could hear me and called up to her, “Good morning!” She called down in return, “Is it Spring!?” Yes, babe, yes it is! We celebrated at school by painting wooden eggs during outside time and Annabelle and I painted many, many more in the afternoon, which she’s excited to turn into a wreath. Of course we read the Spring-themed poems in her beloved book of seasonal poetry before bedtime, at which point it hit me that this is the only section we had yet to read in a book that arrived shortly after we moved here. We’re closing in on a year in the DC area and once again, I’m struck by how swiftly the time passes. In any case, I’m thrilled beyond measure to be closing out our first year with the Cherry Blossom Festival. Continue reading →