Fun with Friends, Finished Objects, and Finding Time Outside!

How's that for an alliterated title?  Okay, maybe not impressive, but I tried!

Spring has definitely sprung here.  Crocuses are up.  The daffodils and tulips are making their way up from their winter slumber and stretching up to where they will soon be showing their blossoms.  Buds are breaking out on the trees, creating a very faint green fuzz, that will quickly develop into leaves.

Winter is over!
Drat.

With the nicer weather, it is no surprise that our schedule has included a lot of outdoor activities, and visit from friends.  Everyone wants to be out and about.

My good friend Amy Timmins and her daughter Bekah came out Easter weekend.  It was soooo good to see them!  She left her Dh home to man a birthday party for one of her sons.  She was glad to not have to be up all night with the boys.  While we visited one afternoon, I was making a ruffle scarf from some ribbon yarn.  She liked it so much that I was pleased to give it to her when it was completed.

The day after we left we were blessed to have a IRL visit from the Wardvogel family.  They were passing through, but spending a couple days in our area on the way to visit family in Cleveland.  We were happy to spend a Tuesday evening with them, and were also glad to have them at our mid-week prayer meeting service on Wednesday night.  I've known Heather for several years, and only met her once in person.  They are a wonderful family, and I wish we could have spent more time with them.

I also finished up another chunky cowl.  Just in time for the warmer weather.  *snort*.  I'll put it away for those chilly walks next fall.  I'm working on socks for Jerusha, and a sweater for me.  The sweater will obviously be for next fall as well.  Most likely I'll stop working on it as the weather gets warmer, but for now, it is a pleasant knit out on the porch.

The girls and I have been working on their volleyball skills.  Sometimes we practice with the team up at the school, sometimes at home.  I've also been biking again, and as always, walking and jogging.  We've also been playing dodge ball and monkey in the middle, tag, wrestling... you name it, in the yard.  I've also just started wearing a new pair of sneakers.  I don't know how many miles I put on the old ones, but they were literally falling apart.  Dale suggested I keep a log on how much walking, jogging, biking, etc. I do with this pair.  Yeah, right.

This weekend we have the Talents for Christ competition.  We'll be leaving here around 1:30  and get where we are supposed to be around 5:00pm or so.  We will be home by 7 or 8pm Saturday night.  Then we have to get ready for Sunday, then Monday morning, my mom and I leave for a trip to S.C. to visit my brother and his family.  We will return home by the 21st .  Dale will be home with all the children.  By himself.  Now don't go saying... "what a brave guy" or anything like that, though he is.  Just remember, I've been home by my own bad self many times, many days, and during missions trips he's taken when the kids were MUCH younger and not helpful... sooooo... yes, he can handle it just fine.  Still, some extra prayers on his behalf wouldn't hurt! LOL

I'm off to take Isaac for a walk and then work on some writing here on the porch.  It is gorgeous here, did I mention that?

Have a blessed day!