Loving this weather!

It sure feels like Spring is here! We turned the heat off on the 10th, and haven't had it back on since. We open the windows in the morning, and close them in the evening. Our first daffodil opened yesterday.

It looks like we may not get to mudding and painting the livingroom until next Fall. The weather is too nice to be inside, and it feels so good to get out and work in the yard or ride our bikes. The yard is looking great, especially in the front where James spread 6 cu. yards of double-shredded hardwood mulch. Combined with the woodchips in the paths, the bulbs and a few perennials that survived the winter, it's marvelous.

Liza's mock trial team made "the play-offs", and was supposed to compete this afternoon, but a barge hit the Route 50 bridge over the Severn River and has really messed up traffic, so that's postponed. Having enjoyed mock trial so much, she's decided to enter the poetry recitation contest and audition for MouseTrap (a play based on Agatha Christie's mystery). I don't know how she gets everything done, but she seems to do so excellently. For those of you who might like to plan your entertainment in advance-the recital her viola teacher organizes each Spring will probably be the evening of Saturday, June 3rd. (Planned to work around her Rotary farewell dinner on Sunday-since she'll be playing her senior spotlight piece this year.) Liza and a friend are planning a graduation party in August, since they won't walk the stage for their diplomas. Other than that, did I mention she has an appointment with the Hungarian ambassador next week?

We're looking forward to hearing about Kyle's first Scout camping trip that he went on last weekend. Samuel is working to master front flips at his kung fu studio. Miriam is preparing for the county chorus festival, and working lights for the school talent show later this month. And Torri is juggling work, finding a new job, midterms and trying to organize the Spring theater production. Stage manager has turned out to be quite a project!

I understand better and better why my mother said that the teen years were her favorite part of parenting. These young people are SO much fun!