Spring, Sprung

 I just wanted to say hello this Friday. We are in the thick of spring break, and in the thick of spring.

I'm grateful for both: the spring, and the break.  From what I gather reading some favorite blogs, spring is really dragging its heels in many parts of the country. It's cold, it's damp, and there is excitement when the thermometer climbs to 50.

Dude.

Spring, or California spring, is here. I can tell by my filthy, filthy car that receives a daily dusting of chartreuse pollen. Mix that in with the early morning dew, and ugh. Time to wash the car.

I can tell by all the sneezing and red eyes here in the house. These lovely trees, pictured above, are all over our neighborhood, and there's a ton at the school. They have a not-quite-pleasant scent and shed their tiny blooms like snow in the slightest breeze. Anyway, their blooming seemed to have triggered allergies in both my kids, in varying degrees. Plus, the pollen dusting.

We've been lazy in the mornings, busy in our afternoons. I've not been able to get any writing done, or even edit the photos from last weekend's hike, as promised. Ah well.

I took this phone shot last week at Lily's soccer practice. It was around 6:30 in the evening, and I was so cold. It felt even colder after it got dark. I had my parka, a lap blanket, and shivered so much in the steady breeze that when we got home, I worried that maybe I had a fever.

It was something like 58, 59 degrees. Context, people. I only know what I've ever known. And I know that tonight, I'm sitting in the car (like the other moms) instead of sucking it up for 90 minutes in the freezing cold.

Hope this Friday finds you warm. Whatever that feels like to you. :)