May Flowers

It is hard to believe that we survived the Midwestern winter. Locals say this year was "brutal", but I believe the past three winters have been less than kind to us Northwestern transplants.

By February I start looking for signs of spring. I can't help it. I'm use to the Northwest springs that come early. In Peoria, spring literally does not arrive until LATE April (if it's a good year), or May at best. However, this year's winter did produce one great thing -- another baby! We are expecting baby #3 in late November/early December of 2009. We are thrilled. Charlie and the baby will be 18 months apart, keeping me very busy -- but extraordinarily blessed.

Now that spring has sprung...we are enjoying it full-force! Jackson is playing soccer twice a week. Brian is the coach and we are having a blast. Charlie and I get to cheer on the sidelines, while Jackson and his school buddies have fun. In another week, Jackson will start t-ball. I'm anxious to participate in some more cheering.



We decided to buy new patio furniture now that we have a new grill and are looking forward to eating outside. We also bought a fire pit, which Jackson promptly injured himself with the first night we tried it out. I'm sure Jackson will not touch the top of a fire pit again. Some lessons have to be learned the hard way!

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Charlie and I are taking advantage of the warmer weather. Rather than hitting the gym every morning, we're hitting the pavement and taking nice long walks through the neighborhood. It's so nice to get out early before it gets too warm. I love seeing everyone working in their yards and catching up on home improvement projects.

It is hard to believe that there is only a few more weeks left of school! I'm excited for the pool to open up. Charlie seems to have taken to the water like a fish and Jackson loves playing with all his friends at the pool.

We are also excited for a visit from Grandma Marshall! Jackson has to have surgery on his mouth in June. He has two extra upper teeth, which need to be extracted. He will have to be put under for the operation and they will remove his other upper baby tooth. No doubt this will be painful...so we're bringing in the best pain medication known to mankind -- Grandma! With all her pampering, story reading, snuggling and love Jackson will surely make a full recovery in no time flat.

Cheers! Happy Spring!