Today is the Day... or Tomorrow... or the One After

So, um... our back yard finally grows in (although, it's currently stuck in yucky brown dormant stage) and our neighbors' is desert. I talked to New Neighbor (when I learn to spell his name, I'll use it) at length before they closed... about a little bit of everything re: living here. First of all, he knew my name. I figure... no big deal. I'm sure Jamey (our shared builder) told him. No... he didn't know Jamey built my house. Turns out, he's been looking us all up online. He has name, rank, serial number on just about all of us here. I was a little disturbed; but kudos to him for doing his homework, I guess. Anyway, so I end up telling him our back yard FINALLY grew in... after much TLC and finally giving in & installing the sprinkler system. Oh no, he tells me. He doesn't like sprinkler systems. He assures me he'll find a way to make it grow without the much-needed H2O. Okay. Good luck with that. Maybe he will... but given my own personal experience with how hard it is to make grass grow from seed here in our own little corner of the Sahara, I'd shell out the dollar bills for the ready-made oasis. Right Dad? I know you're a DIY'er, but I think you even decided we were right to finally take the plunge into full-yard sprinkler heaven, no?

Yes, so, this might be a pretty picture, huh?... if not for the un-grass that is New Neighbor's backyard.




Meanwhile, my new tree is budding! It's so exciting to have a backyard tree that has lived! I had the kids on a 3-mile hike this afternoon, found myself on the next street over (the one that looks into our backyard), and noticed that there are green baby-leaves on our tree! I was so excited, I ran back home and grabbed my trusty digicam to give my digital macro setting another workout. I couldn't decide between these three... well, actually, I could... but then Jon picked a different one... and I still semi-liked the last one... so I decided to post all three. You have a fave?




The baby-leaves actually look a little large in these pics. They're actually about 2 inches tall. Leave it to digital macro to work its magic and blow them all out of proportion.

Springtime is so pretty. Haley, go write an inspiring post about the wonders of spring. Oh wait... your car is still displaying the snowflake while my thermometer is telling me to wear tank tops and shorts when I walk the hellions.

Anyway... not to make this a long, boring post... but there are several things on which I can update (since it's been a few days since we connected). We booked the trip to State College. Now, if Jon could only tear himself away from Rainbow Six Vegas during his spring break to work on his presentation...! Okay, that's a little over-the-top. He only plays that at night. How excited are those Heels fans among us? Most excellent weekend for b-ball-watching, yes? These crazy dogs... if they run outside of our yard after another dog again...! I ♥ chocolate birthday cake... even when it's no one's birthday. (I can always claim the "Happy Birthday" in frosting is dedicated to one of my many much-loved March-birthday-celebrators... how about little J.R.'s 20-something today?!) Those grocery store bakery cakes don't HAVE to be bought by the birthday boys & girls among us; they can be for celebrating life, spring, weekends, or birthdays. I have been ultra-ultra productive for work. Forgot what it felt like to actually get tons of stuff accomplished! Meanwhile, my Inbox is down to SIXTY messages. Holy cow... I haven't seen that low of a number since I was hired!

I think spring inspires me. What's next?