Our "Warm Summer Day"

Today, Joe said, “Mommy, it’s a warm summer day!” Certainly, the spring thaw has at least started here in Wisconsin. We've had several days in a row with highs above freezing!

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The boys have been having so much fun dragging all of their old toys out of the recesses of the garage. Poor Daddy will have to start parking on the driveway like he did last summer. It takes too long to line everything up just right in the corners and sides of the garage for both cars to fit, so Daddy graciously parks out of the way.

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Joe has gotten much better at basketball this spring - maybe he just grew.

Patrick was getting pretty frustrated with his heavy ball and short stature. Maybe next year, champ!
. Luke found the cones we used to mark the line on the driveway past which they are not allowed to go. He apparently thought it was a birthday hat since he kept saying, "Happy birthday, Mommy" while he was wearing it.

.Patrick and Joe planted a "tree" from a branch that fell in our neighbors yard.

. Joe was delighted to find "Scoop" and the big pile of rocks in our driveway that had been hidden all winter. This kept him busy a full 30 minutes. I would have thought the concrete was a bit too cold, but he toughed it out for the sake of fun.
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One way we've been "helping" the snow to melt is by chipping the ice in shady parts of the patio (still up to 2 inches thick) and tossing it into the sunshine. I like to think of it as our own way of promoting the "calfing" of our mini glaciers. Luke is getting into the action with his tiny shovel.

Luke again, proud as anything trying to ride big brother Joseph's bike.

Back inside for lunch, Patrick said to me, "Mommy, I'm Mary!" with my dishtowl over his head. Kids say the funniest things.