Spring, Sprung? Kinda, Sorta

It is hard to believe it is almost April already, as they say where I grew up, "It'll soon be Christmas!!!!!" Work has been a bear since last summer, working through a major project which went live in the New Year. We have spent the last couple months under the gun, and whilst we are not 100% done, we are certainly feeling more comfortable now, and the pressure has eased considerably.



Home life wise, it's been a pretty quiet few months, as we get through the end of Winter and look forward to Spring, with the golf & baseball seasons starting again. The weather is changeable as Spring always is, with one day in the 70s and the next in the 40s. We had a good amount of snow this winter, although not as much as previous years, certainly not as much as last year. It is gone now though and the golf course have re-opened, I still suck Charlie (107 last weekend).

I did manage to squeeze in a whistlestop trip to Vegas for a buddy's 40th birthday and for the entire 4 day trip, spent less than $500 including flights and accommodation, thanks to a rather fortunate time or two at the craps tables. It's always nice to beat Vegas, even if it is just a little.

I don't know how people who have blogs manage to find something interesting to talk about every day or week, maybe I am just dull and boring (no confirmation necessary thanks!) But now that we are fully acclimatised to life here in the US, it really is very much a "New Life; Same As The Old Life".

So far we have been lucky job wise..ie I still have one, and we are able to maintain a decent lifestyle. I have, however, been consciously controlling the "fun" spending a little more, keeping the credit cards under control and ensuring that if the worst does happen we should be OK for several months at least. We have been thinking about another baby, especially as just about every other person we know is having one, or in some cases two, right about now. Of course this prompted thoughts about getting a bigger car, a new toy, but having reviewed the deals around, we decided to wait until we actually have another baby on the way at least!

We are still going to have fun this year of course, and in fact we have a number of trips planned or on the table. New York in May to meet Tim & Sara, Lorraine is going to the UK thru May & June, Jan is coming over here in July and sometime in the mix of all of that we have to fit in a trip to Florida too. So it should be a busy summer, especially when you factor in golf, and Cubs games too.

AJ is changing daily although the changes are less physical and more mental right now, or at least that's my opinion. She is 18 months now, and whilst small according to the "charts" she is running around like a crazy person and chatting away to anyone who will listen. Obviously spending all day with Lorraine is rubbing off on her!! Her vocabulary is huge and, I believe, (for what do I know really) very advanced for her age. She will of course repeat anything you say, but also is very good at using words and even phrases in context. She loves her books and drives us crazy reading the same ones over and over again.

This weekend, assuming the storms are not too bad, we are going to hook up the little bike trailer thingy we have for AJ and take some time to cycle down into town and along the lake front. If the weather is decent I might even take some pictures. In the meantime here are some that Lorraine took with Addy running around in the garden during a recent warmer spell.