Flurry of Activity

Springtime always brings a flurry of activity. We are able to be outside a lot more and frequently picnic at the park for lunch (an attempt to run the energy out of Rowan & Holland). The weekdays are filled with school, school activities, t-ball games, birthday parties. In addition to those normal activites we had a carnival at church, a field trip to the strawberry patch with Rowan's class, a fancy night out at the art museum's annual gala for John and I, a sister-in-law who moved to Columbia (yay!), and of course work.
Next week is the last week of school. (imagine the tears welling up in my eyes). The last week Rowan will be at "pre-school" (more tears). This time in his life has come to a close and it's time to start a new chapter. I just really can't believe it's actually going to happen. Didn't I just bring him home from the hospital? Didn't we just watch him take his first steps? I know every mom goes through this and it's always hardest with the first child. Still, it doesn't make it any easier. Thank goodness we have some time to enjoy and relax before that chapter begins.
The funny thing about the flurry of activity is that it is much like a tornado. It touches down, does the damage, and moves along at just as swift a pace. With 3 little ones life is always hectic, but I love the calm that arrives almost immediately after school ends. SUMMER. ahhhhhh. No rushing out in the mornings. No rushing to make it to pick-up in time. No saying "we don't have time to play with that right now". No saying "so and so is in all day school, so we can't play with him/her". We LOVE summer at the Barnes house.