The kids... they think I'm crazy.

I looked up when the HOA's pool opens... April 11th!  Whoa, that's only 2.5 weeks away. 

We have a solar heater for the pool, which just means that some of the water gets pumped up to the roof and goes through pipes and these thin black flat bags to absorb some sun heat.  It is generally recommended to start this a month before you want to go swimming, and it extends the swim season at least a month in each direction (seems to be about May-Sept, instead of June-Aug).  Combined with those plastic bubble covers, it can raise the pool temperature up to 10 degrees, which REALLY matters to me in spring and at night.

So I'm a week and a half late to catch the start of swim season, I guess.  I turned the heater on and went on the roof (my first time up there) to check the contraption for leaks.  No leaks, but the kids down the street saw me up there and looked at me like I was a crazy person.  I'm not crazy, exactly... just enthusiastic about mermaidhood. 

Summertime, HERE I COME!!! 

The lupine is out

This is another photo of the holiday hike... it gives me all sorts of feels to see him exploring and enjoying nature.

Picking flowers.

There was a yellow flower in his pocket at the knee, and he held the purple one for the whole walk.  I pressed those flowers when we got home.

Blueberry Pi Day

I always make a pie for Pi Day, because I love excuses to make and eat pie.

Ryan's parents were over and his dad was craving blueberries, so I decided to try my hand at my first berry pie!  I also half-assed my first lattice by using bits from a previously-broken pie shell.

I figure that a late pie is better than none... especially since this year was "Rounded Pi Day" as 3/14/16, so it doesn't have to be exact.  Happy belated Pi Day!

A St. Patrick's Day Hike.

We took Torin on a hike for the day, and once we reached the top of the hill he wanted to do some walking!  It was the first time he's done a serious amount of walking out in nature, so I'd consider this his first real hike.

A wee leprechaun leading us to his gold.

Normally he doesn't want to hold my hand, but that hill is far more steep than it looks.  :)

From now on, St. Patrick's Day will have to be a family hiking day... not just a shamrock-shaped meatloaf and green mashed potatoes day.