erhardt/schaff family: Wasn't it just January?

Well, spring is sneaking its way into Orono, ME. True, the calendar says that it's spring but it's a much more subtle than that. We get a few brave crocuses that pop out of the ground on a sunny day, and then the next we can get something like this:

It looks so pretty, but really, by March, we are so darned sick of the snow we can't even enjoy it. Well, I can't. The boys had fun.

I'll pop in a few more photos that still have snow in them and then I promise things start to look a little less like the North Pole.

Noah and I are having so much fun discovering the trails within the Orono Land Trust that surround our house. There's a great video segment about the trails here, too.

There's an entrance to the trail right across the house. We can go right and hike up hills, left to see the porcupine poop tree. I'll have to get a photo of that one next time.

Noah by the Big Old Tree. The Big Old Tree is a symbol of the OLT

I can't wait for warmer days and playing outside without boots.

Eli is quite a conversationalist these days. I am in love with "I lubbu" I lub bu. It's sweet and we've all started saying "I lubbu" to each other instead of the much longer and over used "I love you."

He's started going into an empty room and closing the door when he needs to poop in his diaper. I think that this is a clear signal that it's about time to talk potty training! I don't work during June or July this year (something new and foreign to me! No more 16 hour days with UB students!) so I will have some time for spring projects (aka hanging out with my favorite boys).

Fell asleep in the car last weekend. I put him in the livingroom and he slept for 2 hours. Sweet little guy!


My hiking buddy.

Easter was a beautiful day. We all went to church in the morning (Auntie Lisa and Uncle Mark, too) and then Auntie Denise, Uncle Ernie and Curtis joined us for Easter dinner. We had a baked stuffed haddock recipe that is a keeper, along with salad, asparagus, rice and of course - dessert! Auntie Lisa made yummy carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting.

An Easter Egg Hunt in Maine. Colorful eggs on brown, muddy grass.

What is it with boys and sticks? Even on Easter Sunday????

Noah is reading like crazy. It's so much fun - of course he is finding words EVERYWHERE and feels like he is unlocking one mystery after another. I love that he's reading some of Eli's books to Eli at bedtime.

Noah also continues to love his art class with Valerie. We've got him signed up for a spring soccer league that he's looking forward to: the Easter bunny even brought him some shin guards!

We are crossing our fingers and toes that the house at 10 Old Mill Road sells this spring. You can imagine that paying an extra mortgage and oil bill each month isn't comfortable....so if you have a "sell this house" dance that you do, keep us in mind. We love our new home, but boy! Won't it be nice to only have ONE mortgage payment.

Auntie Lisa and Uncle Mark gave Noah bean a new bike for his birthday! Last weekend he was able to take it for a spin. It has something that he has been dreaming about: hand brakes. "Eat your broccoli so that you can grow big and strong and ride a bike with hand brakes some day." Check out how big he looks!