"Winter has released its taloned grip..."

... is what I meant to entitle this post (without the quotes, aye?). I then intended to forth noting the signs of spring, the melting, the roads clearing and the warmer temperatures, etc.

Well, I just glanced outside AS I was entitling La Post, to find it snowing.

[Sigh] I like snow. I love snow. I feel like a kid who is going to get a snow day when I see the flakes falling outside, but right now a week from April... well, I'm ready to play a different tune.

Moving on...

We are all well and sassy. Redbeard was a few minutes late to work today because he couldn't stop sassin' me while we were laying in bed. Monkey not only is climbing (as monkeys do) but has a newfound fascination with dragging all the pots and pans out of the cupboard and into various places in the house.

He also has learned how to play the crowd when he falls down or bumps his head- though he usually grabs his hand (whether "hurt" or not) and holds it out while wailing heartbrokenly. It's pretty funny.

My MIL came to stay for 10 days early this month; she is a very nice lady and had a wonderful time with Monkey. Those two are like peas and carrots; I felt a bit abandoned, truth be told!

My mom called to say she and my nephew will be visiting in June, so that will be nice to look forward to. Redbeard said he thought it was time to teach my nephew to take his own fish off the hook, hehe.

Redbeard is back to work these days and is going to be very busy, which is wonderful. He had some times at the other office where he had to do makework and he would usually just take one-leave and come home instead. He's NOT a busy-work kind of fella. Fortunately, they seem to recognize that more easily here, and the biologist he's working under is very communicative and cool but professional and focused. A very good match for Redbeard.

I am still being everything to everyone, and making all go smoothly in every direction-- except when I say to hell with it, and all ye bend to my will and make me happy. There's been more of the latter these last couple of months than the former, I must confess. Ne'ertheless, my boys seem to still adore me, so it can't be all bad serving The Queen, lol...

I have started paying close attention to my diet- as in what I eat, not denial of food to lose weight. I am really trying to make sure I get in all my recommended servings and watch the serving sizes. Also, now that winter is abat(ing), I'm trying to get out to walk as much as sensibly possible. Even driving to town is more exercise (sic) than I've had over much of the winter. We could have snowshoed more, but Monkey wasn't all that keen on being out too long (with the whole fresh air = Baby Benedryl thing). So, I'll work on it more this spring. Spring! Yea!

Well, I'd better feed my spawn and get started on that laundry I've slacked on for, oh... about a WEEK! Yikes! All three baskets are full; oh, the glory of being a domestic engineer! ;)