We thought spring was coming

But then it snowed today. Actually, it started off pouring this morning and switched to snowing in the afternoon. So now, once again, the sandbox is now a skating rink with toys frozen in it. It's like the movie The Day After Tomorrow, everything is frozen in the ground and covered with snow. At least we enjoyed the few days of warmth by playing outside with the neighbors.

Rowan's talking more and more every day, and it's fun to hear new things he says. Yesterday he dumped his applesauce all over his tray (his favorite thing to do) and I said to him "That is not nice" in a firm voice while wagging my finger at him. So he sticks up his chubby little finger and says "Not nice." Of course I couldn't hold back the laughter, which probably wasn't the best move. But he really is the sweetest boy. Although he enjoys swiping Ellie's toys sometimes, if I can get her to calm down long enough to ask him nicely to give it back, he'll hand it right over. Tonight he got into some Christmas candy and ran away laughing with it, but he gave it up willingly when I asked for it.

Ellie is loving school as usual and has been having more friends over to the house. She loves to ask if she can have a play date with a friend. She's so funny, because she loves the phrase "play date" and uses it all the time in different variations. Like "lunch date" if they stay for lunch or "outside date" if they play outside. She has grown quite close to one of the girls who lives in our building. In fact, I often hear them plotting something they want to keep secret from the adults. The little girl told me they were planning a "stay date," but Ellie shushed her and swore her to secrecy. I'm pretty sure their "stay date" entails one of them hiding in the closet of the other's room and staying there forever.

I'm not looking forward to this summer, when that little girl's family and the other family we are close to in this building both move on to different universities in other states. But, that means new families in the building for us to meet. I'm rooting for more families with preschoolers!