The Branicks: The Great Outdoors

This weather we are having is amazing. Our trees are budding and little leaves have just sprouted. We are loving life outside again! Spring is definitely a favorite season of mine. The kids love to watch the birds eat from our bird feeders and listen for wood peckers and various bird songs. Life is pretty wonderful right now. I am trying to soak it all up.

My hubby is getting busier at work so the kids and I have a little more time on our own, but we really can't complain, because we can run around at the park, take a walk, ride bikes, draw with chalk, meet up with cousins and friends, and the list goes on. I don't know about you, but the fresh air makes me so happy that it is hard to be upset about anything when I'm outside enjoying my kids and the lovely weather.

Today we loaded up the kids, dog and a picnic and drove to Shawnee Mission Park to run around and enjoy nature. We played at the playground and then took a hike in the giant hills that abound there. ;) It was actually really great and the kids and Piper had a lot of fun.

Our picnic meal was a little lacking, but that's what we get when we are spontaneous fun-loving people (and forget the cheese in the fridge). Next time, I'm going to try to do what my mom did when I was a kid and make potato salad and baked beans and grill out. I have the fondest memories of our entire family meeting up at Cico or City Park in Manhattan. My Dad would grill hamburgers and hotdogs while we played and goofed around for hours. I always adored having a big family and at times like that, it was really awesome. We had so many people to laugh and play with. I really cherish those moments. I love you Swan siblings!