<a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2371785422_972e42b968.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-295" title="2371785422_972e42b968" src="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2371785422_972e42b968.jpg" alt="" width="490" height="392" /></a>
<h5 style="padding-left: 360px;">Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/aidanmorgan/">John-Morgan</a></h5>
Spring has always been my favorite season, if I had to pick just one. I remember as a child keying into <em>exactly</em> how spring made me feel, and loving it more because of that feeling than because of any specific aspect of spring.

As I was walking today, thinking about that very particular way the world smells and I feel right now, I started a little brainstorming project in my head, for fun. Then I thought how much <em>more</em> fun it would be if you added your ideas to mine.

<strong>So here's the assignment: Complete the sentence "It's that time of year, when...." </strong>Share one idea or share a few. Most importantly, have fun!

Keep in mind, I live in Central Illinois. We think 50 degrees is downright balmy, right now. If you live somewhere that allows you to complete the sentence this way: "...I remember what it feels like to fall asleep at the beach and get a sunburn," then I'm not so sure you should participate. It won't really fit in the picture the rest of us are painting. (Plus it will just make everyone jealous. :) You don't want that, do you?)

So. Here's my start to our springtime brainstorm. Go!

<strong>It's that time of year, when...</strong>

you think it's warm enough to eat dinner outside, so you get everything set up, happily fake comfort for about five minutes, then move everything back inside.

you send the kids off to school in the morning in light jackets and then feel like a terrible parent when you hear on the radio it's only 30 degrees out.

you're so excited about the crocuses blooming that you're willing to imagine that every piece of trash in the yard is a flower. (Yes, this actually happened to us.)

suddenly everyone becomes a bird watcher, for about one month. (Then most of them forget about birds until next spring.)

the smaller children can no longer trick her parents into a once-a-week bathing routine—the dirt becomes too obvious.

you brew up your first batch of iced coffee or iced tea, and put it in the fridge.

you think about getting a dog, in part because nothing sounds better than taking lots of walks and playing fetch in the yard.

everyone's dresser drawers are overflowing as cold-weather and warm-weather wardrobes overlap.

you grudgingly realize you're going to have to start tending to your leg hair on a regular basis.

you swear you're going to do whatever it takes throughout the year to make tax time go more smoothly <em>next</em> year. (That lasts for about two months, of course.)

you feel generally disoriented by the time on the clock and the light in the sky, which results in a slightly drugged, aimless, happy-go-lucky buzz that I inextricably tie to spring.
<h4><em>Which of these spring experiences do you particularly relate to? And how do you complete the sentence "It's that time of year when..."?</em></h4>