It takes special people....

...to purchase a pedal/paddle boat in the middle of winter...while it is snowing....and our lake is frozen solid!

We are the excited new owners of a 2010 Pelican pedal boat! On Friday, my new across-the-street neighbor, Pam took me to Costco in her big truck so we could get our new toys. I am so thankful Brian came home a little early and stayed home to wait for Connor to wake up from his nap. This outing could have been much more difficult with a munchkin in tow. Anyway, we got SO MANY crazy comments as we wheeled the purchases out of the store (with help). I think my favorite was that one lady basically ran up to me and said she liked my positive thinking...maybe the snow would be gone by the time I got home?! Countless other people said that if winter never ends, it could make a pretty cool sled. :)

However, we got almost as many comments on the other purchase made at the same time. Forgive the crazy cheesy name, but get ready for the "Relaxation Station"!!This thing is HUGE. I have no idea where we are going to store it when it is inflated during the summer. As the picture states...it is 10' x 10'. It has a ladder, cupholders and a "mesh floor for cooling feet"! I am so excited about this stinkin' float! Of course Connor will have a lifejacket on, but I think it will be so fun for him to be able to play out in the middle of the water on the "mesh floor" and he won't be able to get too far away!!!

Was it really necessary to buy this now?? Couldn't it wait until the snow was at least gone? Well, I've learned that at Costco, you gotta buy it when you see it (or very shortly after) or you risk missing out entirely. We only saw 4 of the boats when we were there on Wednesday, so I didn't want to drag our feet....there are LOTS of lakes around here (even more than Minnesota....they just marketed it well). And after looking on Craigslist for a pedal/paddle boat last year for a used one, I knew this was a great deal. And the price I just found while looking for an internet image confirms we got a GREAT deal on both the toys we purchased!)

So, we are officially ready....bring on the warmer weather! (as I look out at a blanket of white)

We have really enjoyed our mild winter, and have had a bunch of fun playing in the snow....a big snow tunnel and a snowman yesterday...pictures to come. But today is the first day of March. I can't wait for the snow to melt, and to see little buds and blossoms start to appear. I planted a bunch of tulip bulbs last year for the first time, and I am so anxious to see if they actually come up! I don't know why they wouldn't but the fact that you can just put something in the ground and it will grow still amazes me at age 29. Since we didn't have landscaping at this point last year, we will see our flowering trees (3 Purple Prince Crabapples, 1 northern Magnolia) bloom and blossom for the first time this spring. I have also never been more excited for all the nurseries and greenhouses (we have a TON up here) open up and sell plants and flowers. I know I want to get some "Rhodies" this year...not sure how many. We still have some space along the sides of the house and a really big bed that is just calling for a tree and some shrubs in a weird cutout.

Oh, and don't get me started on wanting to go to a farmer's market or to pick fruit again! I'm not going to miss out on picking blueberries this year....that will be in July. :)