It's daylight now from 5:30 am to 10 pm, with that range expanding by the day. The snow is melting at the slowest pace since 2002, but sometime before July it will be gone. In the meantime, the rays of sunlight are trickling through our bedrooms blinds sooner and sooner and Henry knows it. He's rustling a bitter earlier in the morning and itching for more fun outdoors.

He's still in love with dragging his boots out in the evenings, and has now extended that fun to the middle of the day. The first time he gave it a try Becky was quick to chuckle and caution that the boots were for the evening (If we must live with indoor stomping and jumping, let's at least sanction it). He left them at her feet undeterred, and steadfastly headed for his pile of winter clothing. Soon there was a deliberate pile of snow pants, jacket, hat, and gloves, coupled with firm pointing at the baby backpack.

"Hike. Hike."
"Daddy will take you when he gets home."

When I got home I heard all about the B-O-O-T-S and the H-I-K-E and quickly agreed. We've been on a hike through the bog every night lately and Hank loves it. Henry gets to point at birds, the faint outline of the moon, announce "puppy" to every dog that passes, and kick and buck when a plane traces the skyline. Spring and summer are coming.