spring?

april is here. the first day of spring has come and gone. so logically speaking we should have packed away our hats and mittens and traded them in for light spring jackets. we should have gotten our first spring pedicure to ready our footsies for the array of sandals that have replaced the clunky boots of winter. we should be prepping the picnic table for the first driveway lunch of the year - wiping off the dirt, not the snow.

but this is minnesota and sometimes the seasons don't come (or go) when they calendar says. regardless of the temperature outside, we are determined to get out and do "springy things" like...
sidewalk chalk

driveway sports

grilling out (step one: shovel off snow...did I mention it's april folks)

twins season opener

the first race of the season

wagon rides

bumps and bruises (a.k.a. fat lip)

yard work

you're jealous of our front yard, right? even more jealous of our backyard? 

not lookin' so springy

in keeping with a true minnesota spring, there have been some glimpses of the season here and there and believe me, we took advantage of them completely. picnics were had, swings were swung, short sleeves were abundant and we all took an extra moment to breathe in the warm air.

we are ready for the spring to poke its way out of the ground, reach up toward the sun, and stay put.

I can't say that I mind winter (in fact, I kinda love it), but spring and fall are my favorites and if spring doesn't show up for good soon, we are going to get bombarded by the sweltering summer heat and humidity before we know it. and I don't know about you, but I need the transition of spring before that happens.

mullet

in keeping with my streak of scholarly consultations from wikipedia, here is the definition of mullet:

The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back.^[1] Often ridiculed as a lowbrow and unappealing hairstyle, the mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s. It continued to be popular until the mid-1990s


the first haircut is always a bittersweet moment for me. it seems odd that such a slight trim can change my baby's whole appearance and, somehow, it takes the "baby-ness" factor down a notch or two. but let's just highlight wikipedia's last line It continued to be popular until the mid-1990s. it is 2011 folks. buggy's mullet had to go.

he sat so still and let auntie blair work her magic.

I was NOT ready to give up his signature spiky 'do, so we just trimmed up the back and the sides. or should I say, the little bit of hair he has on the sides. the worn patches only enhanced his mullet look. remember when it was all the rage to get yourself a few racing strips above your ears? henry would've rocked that look. too bad he wasn't born three decades ago. when his hair eventually decides to lay down, we'll be ready to trim the top. I'm just not there yet.

before and after:

thank you auntie blair...henry loves his non-mullet haircut!

viridian

I began by titling this post all things green, but I found it to be uninspiring. there had to be other ways to say green. so I went where all good scholars go - wikipedia - and found a gaggle of interesting names for the color green: celadon, chartreuse, clover, jade, lime, olive, myrtle, teal, and (my personal fave) viridian. after consulting the color wheel, I found that, although shamrock green would be the most suitable for the holiday at hand, most of the decor came in hooker's green. who knew?

and so, this year's st. patty's day celebration was filled with all things hooker's green:

1. green food

2. green attire

3. green (dare-I-say obnoxious) accessories

4. green decor

5. and little leprechauns galore!

he ain't heavy

the relationship that is blossoming between miles and henry is more precious than I could've imagined. as the old saying goes a picture says a thousand words, so I think I'll let the images speak for themselves.

it's not all smiles and snuggles though. the day henry took his first steps, the game changed. miles was clearly threatened by his baby brother's newfound independence and ability to get around. kyle and I are certainly earning our black and white referee stripes these days. I know that this stage will not be short-lived, but we embrace it along with all of the other stages. my siblings and I fought often, but the good times over shadow those squabbles and we are the best of friends now. I'm sure my parents have some pretty tattered referee shirts hanging in their closet! the beauty is that this special brother-brother relationship will be stronger because of their ability to get-along and to duke it out. it's a strange balance. 

such sweet eyes...

...such a quiet thinker...

...but he's very capable of a good body check...

a common sight these days

our first-born is a fast learner. I came into the kitchen the other day to this sight.

it's strange to hear him sounding out words and pointing out letters on random roadside signs. speaking of signing...our boys are both big signers. miles has a pretty extensive knowledge of many signs, but did not communicate much through this amazing second language. henry, on the other hand, has quickly taken to signing and uses it as a very useful communication tool. I know that it has nearly eliminated any and all toddler tantrums at our house and jump-started the language development of both of our boys. I take very little, if any, credit for their sign language. I gladly divert all acclaim to the phenomenal Signing Time series. if you haven't heard of it...check it out!

as soon as I figure out how to post a longer video - you can watch miles sign the alphabet. he's really into finger spelling these days...it's amazing!

it's late now and I'm clueless as to why I'm not under the covers right now gearing up for a fun anniversary celebration weekend with my husband...but here are just a few other favorites that have been lying around iPhoto. enjoy!

helping "rocket" on little einsteins blast off!

came home to these beauties on a friday afternoon when daddy and the boys were home alone for the day