Experiencing 80-degree weather in mid-March will be a first for me. It's odd, but I have no complaints. Now I just have to dig out some shorts. I think the weather change would be less welcome if the kids and I had not enjoyed ten days of magical winter weather in Indiana the end of February. Temps well below freezing. Freshly fallen snow almost daily. No responsibility to do the shoveling. Breathtaking winter wonderland views out every window. It was the ideal "winter" -beautiful and short with a return to spring weather (aside from the dusting of snow we got here a few days after we returned -a "winter storm" comical in light of my recent Midwest experience.) Nora relished her first playing out in the snow experience as her first winter in VA was mild as was last winter in St. Andrews. We all enjoyed a delightful visit with my family. The kids were thoroughly spoiled with constant attention, parties and dress-up, a trip to the Children's Museum capped off with a night at a hotel with an indoor pool(!), and scrumptious treats. As spoiled as they were, I was more so. No laundry or meal prep or cleaning, the freedom to take a daytime nap, and lots of willing babysitters. Aside from missing my hubby (a lot!) I would have been happy to keep that situation. Turns out Stephen did not have as much fun being a bachelor again and eagerly welcomed us home with a number of surprises including a brilliant lily bouquet that still brightens my dining room. On our way home from the airport, we also stopped off at Chick-fil-a for an "ice cream party," an event Nora and I planned and discussed while still in Indiana to cheer her when she missed her daddy (usually at bedtime when she typically would be cuddling with Stephen). While it was hard to hear her cry for her daddy then, it warmed my heart that they have such a close relationship. Stephen commented to me several times while we were apart that one of the things he missed most was having Nora run and greet him with a hug when he came home from school.
A couple other highlights of the past month:
-Good news of the safe arrival of my nephew: Caleb Stewart Faris!
-A romantic Valentine's date made possible by a babysitting offer from friends KC and
Megan.-Good bargains at a massive children's consignment sale. Clothes for summer: check!
-Joseph comes through another round of teething: all four top teeth at once!
-Began jogging on Wednesday and Friday mornings with a neighbor (this is a welcome, new development aside from the 6:30am bit)
