Spring Fever

We think it's official--SPRING'S HERE!!! 

The first blooming of anything in Mama's opinion = Spring.

So to the outdoors and nursery we went. Mama began to clean away winter's harsh effects on the yard. Elias helped to plant some pansies and a new blueberry bush! 

We have a compost tumbler and framing for a vegetable garden on their way as well as germinating seeds started today indoors. We are looking forward to getting some fresh air to break a very bad case of cabin fever.

Sprouts and Sprees

This weekend, we saw the first signs of spring sprouting from our garden. Not sure what the green shoots are yet, but we are excited nonetheless.  This year we are planning to plant a vegetable, fruit and herb garden as well.

Time to clean out the beds!

We also went off to visit the Scandinavian paradise this weekend to add to the playroom.  Elias enjoyed Swedish Fish and frozen yogurt. We we able to get more train tracks, toy bins, and a new table and chairs.

Also some fun shenanigans this weekend, Elias learned what it is like to walk in in Mama's shoes...literally.

The Need for Speed..make that Spring

We have a bit of cabin fever here in the barrel. We eagerly await for her to grace us with her croces and balmy days. Until then, we'll take anything over 40 degrees after such a long, cold winter. And we celebrated with a little spin around the hood'.

A Girl's Weekend

Mama enjoyed a couple of days away from the Burn Unit to enjoy some time with the girls. It started out with a night out with all the therapy team on the burn unit. We enjoyed the pleasures if Fountain Square--Mexican food followed by Burlesque Bingo. We had a great time...

Then Mama's best friend from the East came in for a long weekend and we had great fun seeing old friends and playing. We got to visit the Fair Oaks Farm with Mrs. K and her boys, see Sesame Street Live, and visit Mrs. M and little E (Elias loved trying to feed him).

A good time was had by all. Elias definitely loved Miss C and we will miss her when she leaves for the East once again.

Celebrating New Friends (to be) and Old

This weekend was very busy in the barrel. Full of little boys (expected and old friends...)

On Saturday we welcomed the soon-to-be arrival of Baby Reed. He's the baby boy of Mama and Daddy's old college friend, so we had a soccer and rockstar themed party for the little guy. We hope that he will be good friends with our little monkey. We expect some soccer teammates in the future :)

Also, Mama's old dancer friends came over with their little boys for a nice evenings of dinner and trains.

"Cheese!" ...the boys actually posed for this shot.

Please Please Bring Spring!

We have been fairly stuffed up inside our barrel this winter except for necessary trips. The Ice Storm Part II brought a total of 1+ inch of ice if you count the layer of sleet. Elias had two days of vomiting with no other signs of sickness, so we had to make a trip to the Children's Hospital to have another CT scan--which thankfully was clear. Today, on our way to soccer class, we were hit with yet another winter weather "episode"---3-4 inches of snow on TOP of the ice! At least we can now walk without falling to our cars and down the front steps.

One day we will find our sidewalks again

Ice art naturally created from sliding sheets from the shed

Not cotton...

The icicles are gaining length

This by far is one of the worst winters in a while and we are eagerly looking forward to the early spring that Punxsutawney Phil predicted.

The Great Winter Storm of 2011

Today we were confined to the warm walls of our little home, only to watch the evil stepbrother of Jack Frost make his way across the Midwest, bringing with him freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow. Mama got called off work and Elias' school was closed. (Daddy had to trek out into the skating rinks of Indianapolis' streets to meet his clients.) So we spent the day watching television and playing choo-choos.

Here are some pictures from last night's storm:

The flag is covered in ice and no longer waving

A layer of ice coats our walkway

The icy graveyard of my geraniums

The Noble Skating Rink

In better news from here in the barrel, Daddy recently won federal case in which put an end to denying unmarried parents a way to designate a child's legal father if one or both parents lack a Social Security number. He was even featured on national Spanish-language news Univision! Congratulations Daddy and score one for families in the United States!

We are currently sitting through part 2 of the worst of the storm. More updates to come if we keep power.