Friday Night Leftovers (the Tommy edition)

Hi Friday.  Hey Peeps. 

• It is absolutely crazy how fast the snow is melting here.  Highs have been in the mid-to-upper 40s.  I venture to say that we only have about 1.5 of snow (if that) in our yard now [which is down from the 4 feet this winter].  Streets and sidewalks are clear.  Virtually no ice anywhere.  Hello springtime... its about damn time!
• We never had planned on Thomas having a nickname.  We just prefer to call him "Thomas."  Matter of fact, everyone calls him Thomas.  That is, except one person.  Abby has not been able to say his name at all.  Instead she has called him simply "boy." That is until recently.  She finally has mastered the name "Tommy."  And it is music to all of our ears.
• We are saying another goodbye to Brian today as he makes his third and final trek to Thailand & Laos for about 3 weeks as part of a team completing a humanitarian mission.  Once this project is done... we get him home for good!
• Marilyn has taken several first steps all by herself.  When she isn't doing that, she seems to be lunging from wall to furniture to anybody near her to hold on to.  She is a brave little girl.  She is also mighty fast be it cruising upright or crawling down low. 
• Marilyn is also quite the social butterfly.  She loves to wave hello and goodbye... it is especially adorable when Brian comes home for lunch each day.  The kids hear him come through the front door and everyone starts to say their hellos as he is coming up the steps.  Where ever Marilyn is, she begins waving frantically with a big smile across her face.  It is precious.  And so are her open-mouthed, very wet kisses that she loves to give out to her Mommy & Daddy.  She is such a sweetie-pie.
• It has become very apparent that Thomas is ready for a bigger bike.  And a bigger helmet.  I think this summer we will see how he does on a bigger bike and whether this summer he will say goodbye to training wheels or not.  Only time will tell.
• Abby, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with riding her like pink bike or riding the big wheels.  Nothing.
• My last M.Ed course has officially begun.  In 8-weeks I will be done.  Now all I need to do is figure out a school to do my internship at and I will be golden.  Thank the Lord that the end is near(er).
• We are up to 14.5 hours of daylight now each day.  That translates to gaining almost 6 minutes of sunlight daily.  As of this weekend, sunrise is at 6:40 am and sunset is at 9:20 pm.  Crazy.  I am so looking forward to the summer.  I'm also looking forward to early morning runs on some days and night runs on the other days.  Bring it on!

OK all...have a great weekend.