Weather

Unless you have been living under a rock... or unless you live somewhere other than PA... you know that this week's weather has been uncharacteristically GORGEOUS.

It's February.
Normally... we are trudging through ice, snow, cold and wind.
It's ugly. And awful. And my least favorite thing about PA!

Don't get me wrong... I love living in a state with 4 seasons. But... snow is really only enjoyable from November until December 25th (maybe the 26th depending on my schedule) but after that... I'm ready to move on to warmer, milder, nicer, more-pleasant weather. February through March are usually the worst months of the year thanks to the never-ending winters we normally have. 

Of course just a week or so ago that pesky groundhog poked his head out of his hole in the ground, saw his shadow and doomed us with 6 more weeks of brutal, cold, miserable winter.

Well... in case there was any doubt: that groundhog is a dirty liar and should be fired for lack of efficiency in his job. I mean really...he has ONE job... and this week showed him for the deceiver that he is!



We have enjoyed record temperatures from the 50s then to the 60s and yesterday it was in the 70s!
IN FEBRUARY!

We were outside... in short-sleeves. No coats. No jackets. No boots. No scarves... I mean... are you getting the picture?

GLORIOUS.

And really, I would be quite content to have that weather from now until Summer, truthfully. If I can wear a long-sleeve shirt and flip flops, that is my jam!

It reminds me of "Miss Congeniality" Where the contestant is asked to describe the perfect date... and she picks April 25th (or something) because all you need is a light jacket. That girl and I... we're tracking each other. I completely agree; not too hot, no too cold, perfection.

Anyway - today broke the sunny record and the dark clouds rolled in and the rain poured down, pretty heavy at times too! And I sat in my house. I should add, this is the first time I have been in my house and been able to enjoy, from my sofa, spring-like weather. I just basked in the dark light that the over-cast sky poured through my window.

I like this too.
no.
I love this too.

It was so great.

Then of course there is Lucy, who of course has been thrilled to break out of the prison that is our house which she is sadly confined to because her mom refuses to be cold. And upon that sweet release she was all but Julia-Andrews style spinning in our yard! She wanted to push, pull, ride, slide, swing, run, dig, throw and on and on. Hours were spent outside and she couldn't have been happier.

That made my mommy heart happy.
And today's rainy weather was no different. 

This girl likes to put blankets on the floor and pretend they are puddles and then jump on them. If it rained slightly and there is a small, pathetic, barely-even-categorized-due-to-lack-of-water-content puddle she is jumping in it with her full force as if it were the ocean! She LOVES to puddle jump... and she's never really done it... for real!

Today, we changed that.

 

It was 2:00 and normally long past time to be down for a nap... but she begged, I conceded, and out we went into the mild-temperatured but dark and stormy day. The rivers and puddles that filled the street in front of our house were calling Lucy's name and she darted right for them! (I mean... she stopped for a minute on the dinky little ones in our drive way until she realized what awaited her at the end of the driveway!) She jumped in those puddles like a champ. She was thrilled to see the water just splash up around her. She marveled at the magic of it all! :)

Of course it started to rain in the midst of all the playing, but she was not deterred one bit.

I on the other hand ran to get an umbrella... 'cause mama doesn't need to be all wet! 

She doesn't own rain boots... so we used her snow boots... which really are not very good for puddle jumping and remaining dry!

Thankfully as the thunder started to roll I was able to drag her back on the porch.... just in time to miss the dime-sized hail that then started to fall.

Whew!

But to see her enjoying herself; doing something she knew she loved but had never gotten to try: that was so fun. These are the moments people who have been parents tell you about before you become a parent. Seeing things anew through your children is just such a miraculous and almost supernatural thing.

I'm so glad we delayed nap time to splash in some puddles.

I'm also so glad that she still then took a nap and that I now have a chance to dry off and enjoy the rain from my living room window! :)