April ski and bike day

So after a morning of warm spring skiing with Kyle, I decided I would see how far up Big Cottonwood I could get on my bike. Well, with how stubborn I am, after getting 4 miles of the 12 up the mountain (nevermind the 4 or 6 it took to get to the base from home), I decided I was going to make it to the top. Afterall, the first 6 miles of the climb up Cottonwood seemed to be the steepest and most difficult. Trouble is, it was mid-60s when I left the house, but at the top it was freezing. I was dressed for 60s. On the descent, my arms and fingers went numb. Thankfully there was a little lodge restaurant on the way down. Cheese fries with fry sauce never tasted so good. The fireplace was helpful as well. They didn't have any warmer clothes I could buy, but had a lost and found with someone's discarded fleece that I happily put on to try and get warm. Thankfully I made it home in one piece having made it to the top.

Emily's Arbor Day poem

Emily is having an excellent school year. Not only did her science team win 1st place in the nation for the Lexus Eco Challenge, she was chosen to read her poem out loud for the city and mayor at the Arbor Day celebrations. Congratulations Emily!!

Duke gardens

It was a beautiful spring day here in Raleigh and we had not been up to Duke in a while. Also, on Jeff's NC bucket list was Vietnamese Saturday lunch at Bahn's. So up we went! 

The gardens were pretty spectacular. The blooms, the scents, the warm sun. It was excellent. 

Apparently Kyle has been teaching Aaron to meditate. 

We are still looking for our tree from college, though we both grant that it is likely covered over by more bark - after all it's been about 20 years - and plenty of other foliage around it. 

Springtime in Raleigh

Spring has arrived in Raleigh. 

Aaron's school had their jog-a-thon preschool style. 

Kyle and Aaron having a fun water gun fight in the yard. 

Aaron driving the digger

Emily driving the digger