If we gotta rake and bag all these leaves, we may as well take advantage of the seasonal photo op they provide first!

March in Maryland is always fickle.  Short sleeves one day and winter coats the next.

You always know when the first “jacket less” day arrives, that it is just a tease.  And try as you may to simply embrace and enjoy it, the next day when you have to scramble for your winter coat and hat, it is always a bit disappointing.

Having lived in Maryland for most of my life, I know this and expect it.  I don’t put away the winter clothes till the end of May.  And our drawers bulge for the month of April with both sweatshirts and shorts.

But, this year, this year seems worse somehow. 

This year I find myself yearning for spring more than ever.   I am so tired of having to worry about coats and hats on top of shin guards and cleats.   It is March…. the end of March…. I want flip flops people!!   And yet today I read this forecast .  “Light snow is expected to arrive late Saturday night, with snow continuing through early Sunday afternoon. With warm ground temperatures, snow will have a difficult time sticking to the ground. High temperatures Sunday are only expected to reach the mid to upper 30s” 

Yea… so much for flip flops… looks like my girls are going to be wearing winter coats and hats for their first soccer game. 

Cruel, I tell ya cruel….

You know warm days are once again upon us, when you stumble across your bathroom sink looking like this.

Probably had something to do with the hours my kids spent digging in the dirt in our backyard this afternoon.

While they didn’t quite make it to China, they were thrilled to dig down to clay. 

I love spring… even with the rings round my tub and the dirt deposits left in my sinks.

Guess what the kids and I spotted outside this afternoon?    Crocuses!!!   Oh, how I love those little purple blooms… they are the signal to me that spring is around the corner!  And as much as I have loved, (and truly, I know I whined that one day, but really, I have loved this record breaking snowy winter), but I am excited for spring.

And I am really excited… I am looking forward to taking walks with the kids in the evenings.  And I can’t wait to go to the playground and have picnics at the park.  My son is hoping to catch a “keeper” this year and just can’t wait for the first day of fishing season.  My 4 yr is playing soccer for the first time and practice starts next week.  My son’s baseball practice’s start at the end of the month.  I know I’ll be racing around like a crazy mom with shin guards, mitts, water bottles, and snacks, but I love being a little league mom.   I do… I love watching them run around on the field and screaming for them during games!  I love peeking through the window at my daughter in gymnastics and watching the kids swim around in the pool for swim lessons.  I don’t mind being a Taxi driver, it’s totally worth it when I get there and watch them practice and improve and succeed.  I thoroughly enjoy it!  Did you see that Olympic commercial by PG for moms?  Oh, it gave me goose bumps and a lump in my throat. 

I told Scott… I think they are right… as awesome as it was for the Olympians, I bet it was 10x better for their moms!!

But, umm, back to spring…

Last night as my son and I were driving to evening church, I noticed it was 5:45 and the sun had not set. And in less than 2 weeks we get to spring ahead an hour!  Yippee for longer days! 

Spring really is coming folks!!!  2o more days!!  (mark your calendars now… Free Rita’s Italian ice on the first day of spring… a circus fam tradition)!

What are you most looking forward to about this spring?