Not over yet!

Another week of springtime gloriousness.  Or at least, another weekend.  We're just going to ignore the snow that was on the ground on Wednesday and Thursday.

Snow?  What snow?  

  

No snow here!

 It was a busy week for our family, as per norm.  PARCC testing and the ensuing schedule changes made for some long and tiring work days for me.  Ivy was back to school after two weeks of spring break and so she was pretty tired herself.  Which made for some long and tiring evenings for all of us.

Some good times in the midst of a long week...

A visit to Coventry Park...

This dragon sculpture seems so much smaller this year... thanks to my giant boy who can climb it like nothing.  Seems like just yesterday that this playground seemed entirely too big and unsafe for my children... now they are the masters of this place, independent and confident.  What has happened to my babies!

A phenomenal sky over the city during our Tuesday lake walk....

Despite my longing for spring to linger, I was happy to see Friday this week.

So was this girl.

We had a fun and spontaneous outing to Wade Oval on Friday.  Climbing the giant seeds; sneaking up on robins, ninja style; cookies and coffee and wandering at the Art Museum.

We are refusing to let continued chilly temps keep us from enjoying spring. We filled today right up to the brim with outdoor activities.

This morning-- the official start of the 2015 race season for me, with the Hermes Cleveland Ten Miler.  What a great race.  Nothing like starting and ending at the lake.  The first half mile, in sight of the water, easy-pacing with a crowd of 2000, the camaraderie and the glistening water working together to plaster a smile on my face.  And then, mile nine. My favorite.  You're trudging along the edge of traffic on Detroit and West 78th, the least scenic part of the route, exhausted, depleted, no more water stops to look forward to... Then, the mile 9 marker, and a turn, and there! the lake!  a downhill! And instead of feeling empty you are floating and free and all-powerful, full of breath and life and endless reserves of strength.  Of course, that feeling fades in about 10 seconds when that first downhill levels off-- but by then, the end is in sight and you can do anything for a mile...

I think, maybe, that mile nine moment is the whole reason I like to run.

Finished in 131, 47th out of 178 in my age group.   I am feeling pretty good about this.

After soccer (where Ivy played for both teams and the Comets suffered their first loss despite jack playing some killer defense) we decided that the sunshine called for a little Daffodil Hill.

And then the Lagoon at Wade Oval.

Gotta catch those cherry blossoms while we can.

Spring.  It's such a high pressure season, you know?  So many flowers, so little time....

Update:  It's Sunday now.  Turns out a ten mile run, even one that felt pretty great, followed by a non-stop day of flower chasing, and an evening socializing with friends, equals falling asleep while typing the blog at 10:00pm.

Finishing now, after another amazing day.

I think I am really starting to get attached to this spring.

The kids had the best time climbing and jumping off of the giant pile of sand and sticks on the end of the beach...

I rather liked this shark Jack drew...

Today:  a lovely stretched out Sunday.  By completely ignoring household and school related work of any kind, I had time to go swimming at the JCC with the kids, spend 3 hours at a Mama Speakeasy brunch, and still fit in a visit to the lake.  Topped off with dinner swap at our house, this day is leaving me content.  Wishing for more, yes.  But so grateful for all this weekend has given us.  

Spring is not over yet.  I am so glad.