happy st. patty's day...spring is almost here!

It's beginning to feel like spring here in Utah.  Although we did wake up to snow just this past Saturday, today the sun is shining, birds are singing & it's about 60 degrees out.  (I'm blogging from the backyard in a tee shirt & flip flops!)  While 60 degress may not seem warm to some people, I'm just loving this teaser of a spring day.

This morning we went to story-time at the Main Library in downtown Salt Lake City where we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar by listening to a number of Eric Carle stories & making a hungry caterpillar of our very own.  It's neat that Cassidy is finally to the age where she can attend things like this & actually participate, learn & have fun.  (Admittedly, I also enjoy the chance to get out of the house & have conversations with people that are more than two feet tall as well.)

After story-time, we stopped at home to pick up Aunt Jenny & headed to the dentist.  Our dentist doesn't see children for real appointments until they are 3 years old, but offered to have Cassidy come along for one of our appointments just to check it out before the real deal.  I wondered just how I would manage to sit in the chair for a cleaning (or worse!) & keep her occupied & happy.  Fortunately Jenny was kind enough to let us invade her appointment.  We got to watch as the dentist "got the sugar monsters out" of her mouth & then Cassidy had a chance to hop in the chair to get her teeth counted by the hygienist. She did a great job - no crying or being scared.  Perhaps the glove balloon & promise of a new toothbrush helped!

Leaving the dentist we did have a two year old meltdown. Yes, she is an angel & a beauty & wonderful & sweet most of the time, but I'm here to affirm that she does have a bit of a stubborn streak in her. To put it mildly.  (Did I mention I'm reading a book called Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent & Energetic?) Genius Mommy managed to snap her, mostly, out of it with the tantalizing promise of a picnic in the back yard.  We got home & whipped up a leftover surprise muffin tin meal & headed out to the back yard. Cassidy had a great time eating & playing, watering the flowers (or, rather the empty garden boxes!) & chasing the cats. Kalea giggled at her sister & got to roll around on the play mat for a little while before heading in for a nap. I wish the weather would stay like this forever!