Well, it has been a while since I posted anything. We got back from Key West, and settled back into the winter stupor. Getting up in the dark, heading to school or work, then coming home in the dark. Wearing gloves any time I stepped outside. Sleeping in sweatshirts, even under a comforter and blanket. Ugh.
We tried to keep the memory of Key West alive by going to family swim night at least once a week at the Kalamazoo Valley Orthopedic Pool—a pool designed for people rehabbing from injuries and suffering from arthritis, so it is heated to at least 89 degrees. Let me say this is the only reason we have been swimming so much lately. Its awesome. The last time we tried to go swimming at a non-heated pool, the boys were shivering so bad we didn't even stay half an hour!
The pool also offers swim lessons, cheaper than the YMCA, so we signed the boys up. Since they are old enough to not have me in the pool with them for lessons, I am having the first glimpse of what it will be like to chauffeur kids to all their activities.
We get up on Saturday morning, pack off to swim lessons, and I sit there with all the other parents and wait for a half an hour. Pretty soon this will turn into soccer practice, and T-ball, and climbing camp. I guess my job will be to find the balance between exposing them to lots of activities and having them (and me) be overscheduled. Right now I am just happy to have them go outside and play. We are currently experiencing SUN, something not seen in these parts for a long time. It is also going to hit almost 60 today, practically a heat wave! Rachael went through the house this morning, saying, "It's too dark in here," as she pulled up the blinds on every window. I can't tell you how fabulous it is to able to be in the house and not have to turn on any lights. With the arrival of warmer weather comes the possibilities of spring—all the bike riding, gardening, grilling and playing we can cram into the slowly lengthening days. It's enough to wake up this hibernating mama bear.
