It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I knew it was supposed to be warm today, I just didn't realize how warm!  Let's face it, we haven't had much of a winter this year.  Normally this would sadden me.  I've always liked snow, at least up through February, but I just don't handle the cold as well as I used to.  It seeps into my bones and I feel like I can never get warm.  But, it is nonetheless still winter, so I couldn't believe it when I looked at my thermometer and saw that it read 69 degrees!  "Holy Cow!  What am I doing inside?" I thought. 

So, I grabbed my tennis shoes and Grace's and said, "How about we go for a walk?"  "Yay, Mommy! A walk!" said Grace.  I grabbed the moby wrap (lent to me by my good friend, Sarah), tucked Norah inside, and off we went.  I couldn't believe how beautiful it was outside!  Ok, the ground was soggy, the grass was brown, but the sun was warm and the breeze felt and smelled so good!  I hadn't realized how much I had been longing to be outside.  One of the worst aspects of winter is being cooped up in the house. Grace must have felt the same way because the second we got outside she took off running and jumping down the sidewalk.  "C'mon, Mommy!" she kept yelling...I couldn't quite keep up with her while toting Norah. 

And, speaking of Norah, her reaction was probably the most beautiful part of our journey outside.  She was looking around like she'd never seen the world outside before...and, I guess, essentially she hadn't.  She was born in October, and although we've been on several walks since then, she's always been bundled up and shut inside the stroller without much of a view.  Today, though, she was taking it all in.  Every time we walked under a tree she would just stare up at it with her big blue eyes.  And, every time the wind blew, she would gasp and then give a huge drooly grin.  It was priceless! 

I had such a wonderful time outside with my girls.  Thank you, Jesus, for days like today.  I'd be totally okay if spring was here to stay :)