WARM WEATHER!!

Joey is now a champ at the park...whether it's freaking out on the swing, eating the dirt, or petting the dogs (with Mommy's help) - he's loving it.  4/13 was his first day to go outside at school; and he stayed out of the dirt and trouble there.  When we went to the park earlier this week, he met a dog that he really wanted to check out.  He got closer to it, and then totally freaked out - head against my legs, which I LOVE, since he has just started "cuddling" with me again.  Then, I held him, and he let me pet him and smiled big - he loved being close to the dog.  He has never been around dogs since his sister is such a freak show around them that we avoid them at all costs.  He loved the swing when he was just hanging...then when it started to swing, he literally started shaking.  And screaming.  I remember Melanie taking a while to warm up to this as well.  We had to leave the park one day, because Melanie was being a bit too brave, and I couldn't keep up with both of them by myself.  The trip home was spent with Melanie pedaling her tricycle, thumb in one mouth, crying for Daddy.

Melanie has gained so much confidence on the playground, due in large part to her trip to Natalie & Abby's house.  At one point, Rick looked out and saw Mel hanging from the monkey bars, and ran out to catch her, since she was "stuck" with nowhere to go.  She would go up and turn on & off the bouncy house, and, at one point when I told her she couldn't hang upside down, she cried "but, MOMMY, the BIGGER KIDS ARE DOING IT!!!"  (yes, she said this in all caps.)

Every night when we come home, it's like herding cats to get the kids inside.  Mel wants to be on her bike, Joey wants to be out and about.  Of course, we want to be outside too; but a quick trip inside is usually necessary to change out of work clothes, drop off all the school "stuff," etc.

We love spring!!