Spring (Can you tell there's a trend here?)

Spring in my neighborhood and evening canoe trip! :-)

The return of the Farmer's Market!

Mark and I had a wonderful weekend. Highlights include:::

UW Band Concert with Mark's family
Farmer's Market (YAY!)
Bike ride looking for apartments
Trip to School Forest with Mr. Swift (another 2nd grade teacher at Mark's school...he's so cool)
Paddle to Seattle documentary (really good...really funny)
Made Pasta Primavera...Yum!

SPRING!

Walk last night

Ephemerals
Lake Monona and downtown



I'm learning that spring is really just a long transition. The most exciting thing about spring is the continual change outside. Everyday it seems like there are new flowers and buds and leaves on trees. There are tulips and daffodils everywhere, and the FARMER'S MARKET returns this Saturday!!!!!!! Yay!

Yesterday I finally heard that I didn't get the assistantship at UTK, so I'll be staying in Madison next year. Seeing as I love Madison, I am very excited. Mark and I celebrated finally knowing what we're doing next year last night by getting some ice cream and eating it at the park at the end of our street. We also went for a walk at Olin park (which is on the other side of Lake Monona). We saw a chimpmunk, three deer, and three muskrats as well as lots of cool ephemerals peeking their heads out of the ground for a brief stint.

Florida Vacay!

Dying Easter Eggs!
Watching the sunset at the beach with my family


Lunch with Mark's grandparents

Visiting my old elementary school/where my mom works

Riding the Tandem!!

Canoeing on the Hillsborough River with the fam


My parents! :-)
Meet Sandy cousin of our snowman Marshy

Sunset at the Bluffs

Hogtown Creek in Gainesville


We had a whirlwind trip in Florida. Monday we arrived around 1, my parents picked us up from the airport (yay!), and we headed home. We went for a walk at Taylor Park with my parents and then went over to my cousins' house for dinner.

Tuesday stopped by Anona, went to Lighthouse for donuts (mmmmmm), and then met my cousin, Laurel and her son Fisher, for lunch. Tuesday night Mark and I had a picnic of Thai food at the Bluffs.

Wednesday we drove up to Homosassa and had lunch with Mark's grandparents. They were very sweet and lunch was fun. We went down this super windy road to a seafood place called Peck's. Then it was off to Gvlle. We walked around campus some and then went to dinner at Satchel's with Laura, Galo, Roxanne, Jeffrey, Taylor, and Brittany. It was so nice to see everyone. I miss my Gainesville friends. After dinner we went to the Top and then Flaco's for Michael Claytor.

Thursday we went out to breakfast with Laura, went to the Hogtown Creek, met my sis and Galo for Krishna, went for a hike on Paynes Prarie, and then headed home. It was a whirlwind stint in Gainesville and I wish we'd had more time to see people. Thursday night we had dinner with my family and just relaxed and hung out.

Friday we went canoeing on the Hillsborough river! It was a perfect day. It was sunny and warm, but not hot. We saw lots of alligators and it was very peaceful on the river. We had a picnic of Publix subs in the canoes (yum!). Friday night we went and watched the sunset.

Saturday Mark and I rode the tandem bicycle to the beach and hung out and played in the sand. Then we came home and dyed Easter eggs with my sister. Then the Entrekens and Sinciches came over and we made pizza. It was fun seeing everyone and having Mark finally meet all these people!

Sunday was Easter! My parents hid eggs (oh wait...I mean the Easter Bunny) and Easter baskets for my sis, me, and Mark! They gave us the super cute hats featured above and Mark and I have already worn them canoeing once. My Aunt Cheryl came over for brunch and then we all played bocce ball. The rest of the day we kind of just hung around the house. We had dinner and then it was time to pack.

We were sad to fly out early Monday morning, but it was a great trip! We'll be visiting Florida again over the summer so hopefully we'll be able to see everyone more!