I've spent the last couple days feeling downright euphoric. Finally, finally, Spring is arriving in the Midwest. I can assure you that this was the most miserable winter I've experienced, evah, with gray day after gray day, snow and clouds. Did I mention the clouds? And snow? And how glad I am to see the damn sun?
So yesterday when we finally reached the forty-three degree marker, Jack and I dropped KJ off at school and headed out to snap some shots of the morning sun. Then later that afternoon, once I'd spent more time than I'd care to admit to, cleaning up four months worth of dog poop, we raced to the back yard.
As Jack pointed out, barely remembering last summer, "Is not snowy, Mommy. Is all grassy."
And WHAT is that, KJ?
Holy crap, Jack - it's a ball of fire in the sky!
Ahem, that's the sun.
(And actually, it's an airplane they're admiring. Did I mention our new back yard sits below Midway Airport's flight path? Talk about the perfect house for our kids.)
So by this afternoon the kids were really getting into the multitude of sports that were available in our new big back yard, and it was then that KJ gave Jack his first lesson in Playing Baseball With An Older Brother.
This game, when played with a puppy, is also known as fetch.
Okay Jack, the ball will spring up from here, and I have the joy of whacking it across the yard with my bat. Then your job is to run all the way to the fence, pick up the ball and bring it back to me so I can hit it all the way over there again, okay?
Oh KJ this is going to be so much fun, especially if you can keep from breaking my nose.
Alright Jack, I'll even give you a running start. Here it comes!
That's right! Keep going! Go get it and bring it back to me.
And I'll just get this next ball ready for when you return.
Except the only problem, when training playing with a toddler, is that by the time he nears the ball and reaches the fence, he has become so focused on how he allowed his mother to put a jacket on him in the first place that he forgets all about his job as ball retriever and moves on to removing said jacket in spite of protests from both brother and mother.
He ignores his mother, who is requesting the jacket be returned to his currently healthy body, and he ignores his brother, who has realized that baseball is not quite as much fun when you function both as the batter and the outfielder.
And then he plays on the slide for a while.
Three cheers for Spring!
Posted by: Hilary | 13 March 2008 at 03:38 PM
Yeah! I thought I might have to go and beg for some Prozac, before all the greyness was over. We have had some sunny days and man does it feel good. Jack seriously cracks me up. KJ seems to relish his role as big brother.
Posted by: Erica | 13 March 2008 at 04:42 PM
I am so jealous! We had SNOW yesterday. Snow!
BUT - I did burn something on the stove today and had to open the window and THAT? Was WONDERFUL!! I think spring is on the horizon!
Your pictures are wonderful, too! Or should I say Fantastic?!
Posted by: Michelle Z | 13 March 2008 at 09:01 PM
Ahh, I used to pull that old dodge with my brother. He cottoned on to it pretty quick too.
I must agree that any sign of spring here is welcome...and troubling.
Welcome because of the hope that the 93 inches of snow we got this winter will perhaps be at an end. Also because I was beginning to realize why the Scandanavian countries have the highest rates of suicide in the world.
Troubling because lots of work and deadlines plus nice weather equals Will getting lazy. I will try to keep disciplined with my history ninja skills, but who knows?
I think I agree with Jack...heck with chasing stuff; I'm going to play on the slide for a while.
Posted by: Alexander Pavlovich Romanov, Autocrat of All the Russias | 14 March 2008 at 03:13 AM
I enjoyed my 'spring time' while it lasted. I woke up this morning to snow.
I think I'm going to go crawl back in bed now and cry....
So glad that the weather has perked up for you! I know I need it too.
Posted by: SJ | 14 March 2008 at 08:16 AM
Nice try, KJ, nice try. Toddlers aren't so much into being trained.
Yay for Spring!
Posted by: Rachel | 14 March 2008 at 01:15 PM
Holy cow you've got a HUGE new yard! Must be heaven for those little boys and will be even better when it gets warmer. And it will. I promise.
Posted by: BetteJo | 15 March 2008 at 06:58 PM
What is it with kids and jackets? Audrey will not keep hers on, no matter how much chocolate I promise her.
Posted by: Amy W | 17 March 2008 at 07:53 AM
Looks like they had a great time. Hooray for big yards!
Posted by: Frema | 17 March 2008 at 10:17 AM
Wai...wai...wait, what's this "sun" you speak of?
Posted by: autumn dahlia | 01 April 2008 at 02:07 PM