Snow. Boo.

We have been thoroughly enjoying the excitement of watching our new yard come to life over the past several weeks. We knew we had some nice bushes in back, but we had no idea they were pretty much all flowering bushes. The scent of the air drifting through the open windows in the evenings has been simply heavenly.

So here are some shots from around the yard, as it looked heading into the weekend.

two weeks ago, before weeding, budding, and grotto-building

interim grotto

these smell absolutely amazing

I was thrilled to discover we have lilacs

and cherries!

the front flower bed coming alive with allium

And then here's my view of the yard today:

I was able to rescue the allium that had already started to bloom as the snow started yesterday

No bueno :( I keep trying to find comfort in the fact that the grass will be ridiculously green when all this snow melts... but I'm not sure the trees will recover as easily.

I also had a visit from these little guys this morning:

I was doing dishes when I heard something and saw some movement outside our back door. I was startled--Alex wasn't due to be home for another several hours, and no one else had any business on our back patio. But then I realized it was a bird trying to fly into the garage through the window of the closed door. He sat and shivered on the doorstep for a minute and I was momentarily tempted to let him in, but then I came to my senses and realized that Michael and Liam provide more than enough chaos without introducing actual wild animals into the mix. As far as I could tell, they were American tree sparrows (you can't tell in this picture, but they had white breasts and red heads). Not as impressive as some of the rest of the family's Big Year entries, but I don't think anyone else has reported a bird literally knocking on their door to be let in yet.

Come back, spring! We miss you!

Spring... Almost!

Ignoring the 50% chance of snow on Thursday, it looks like spring is almost here. Actually, the snow is totally typical spring weather, but I am so done with snow. Not that Colorado cares.

We closed out Alex's spring break with a family trip to the park the other afternoon.  We had the playground to ourselves and the two mobile boys took full advantage of it. JP took full advantage of the coziness of my new Boba and slept the entire time. 

Our not-so-little climber is very brave. A little too brave, in fact.

frolicking

Alex: You didn't smile. Take another one.
Ash: I did smile. Besides, selfies are supposed
to be dramatic or brooding or something.
Alex: No. Emo is dead.

We love having such a fantastic park just a few minutes from our house. Now for the real spring weather and more regular park adventures!

Theme Thursday: Bright

A bright summer's afternoon here in Colorful Colorado (at least that's what all of the signs on the state borders say--but outside of the well-watered lawn and the park behind the house the colors tend to range toward brown tones...)

sunlight through the lindens... isn't there just so elven about lindens?

splashes of color in the yard

fountain

flowers

a bright summer cocktail: vodka tonic with lemon

Go brighten up your day (see what I did there?) with Cari and the gang!

Snow and stir-fry

This is what it looked like outside today:

(Yes, those sad little green things at the bottom are Thursday's tulips.)

And this is how I feel about it*:

Die, winter, die

*Even after I remind myself to be grateful for the moisture, regardless of the state in which it arrives, and to be grateful I don't live in North Dakota.

On a yummier note, I was feeling kind of left out reading about the delicious meals in Dubuque and Lincoln, so I decided to jump in with tonight's dinner: my take on Pampered Chef's 30 minute Korean Beef Bowl:

The beef is sliced very thin and marinated in oil, vinegar, soy sauce, pepper,sliced green onions, and garlic powder, then stir-fried with broccoli, carrots, and bean sprouts.  Serve over chow mein noodles (or rice noodles, or soba noodles, or rice, or nothing) and enjoy!

'Tis the Season...

...For thunderstorms!  We have been enjoying a week and a half of daily thunderstorms.  The cooler weather that comes with the rain is a welcome relief from the hot weather we had in June, and Alex and I have been enjoying a nightly ritual of standing out on our balcony watching the lightning.  Michael has been enjoying the storms as well.  He is fascinated watching the rain fall, and he doesn't mind the thunder whatsoever.  Mama and Daddy are very proud of their boy!  He doesn't even startle at thunderclaps loud enough to set off car alarms.  This laid-back attitude toward flashes and loud noises came in very handy on the 4th of July as well.

Here are some pictures of the little storm-lover sitting and watching the rain fall: