Spring Is Here! Spring Is Here! Spring Is Here!

It's about darn time. For the first time since what feels like about 4 years ago, the temperatures reached the high-60s today AND it was sunny AND there were not gale force winds blowing about. All of this added together meant that today was the first test run of our new (used) bike trailer with Bry as the passenger, rather than Steve's bowling ball, as had been the case when we bought it last fall.

Amazingly, Bry did not protest his bike helmet. Perhaps it's because we spent the hour before we went outside telling Bry that he would get to wear a special HAT! with DUCKS! on it and the HAT! is called a HELMET! isn't that cool, Bry? He humored us through the ceremonial family placing of the helmets: Look Bry, daddy's putting on his helmet! And look! Now mama's putting on her helmet! Oh boy, it's Bry's turn to put on his helmet!

Are you really making me wear a helmet with ducks on it?

Yes. Because children's helmets apparently only come with ducks or dinosaurs. And your head was too big for the dinosaur helmet, so there you go.

Sometimes I wonder if Bry finds his parents to be a little on the deranged side, given the enthusiasm we put into what ultimately turn out to be pretty mundane events. I like to think that tasks such as getting Bry to wear a bike helmet are so mundane because of our slightly maniacal approach to informing Bry what to expect. Right.

We had initially planned to tow Bry around Lake Nokomis. But several blocks in, I looked over and Bry was slouched down in his seat in the Burley. His helmet appeared to have nearly slipped over his eyes. Although he wasn't protesting out loud, Bry didn't appear exactly thrilled about this turn of events. So we adjusted his helmet and made a detour for McRae park instead.

We went down the slide:

Are you sure you know what you're doing, daddy?

More!

We also went on the swings:

He really did smile some of the time when he was swinging.

No, really.

Just not when he was being photographed.

And perhaps most exciting of all, we played in the sand. A lot.

Hmm, better investigate the properties of this crunchy, dusty substance.

Mama, it's sticking to my fingers again.

Even though Bry managed to take a 3.5 hour nap before we went out this afternoon (I'd say because he was up from 11 pm to 2 am last night), he was out cold by his regular bedtime this evening. It's about time fresh air started contributing to the entertainment of Bry. Because there's only so much time I can devote to frying up wooden fish in a pan (Bry's favorite activity of oh, the last 6 weeks).

Needs more pepper.