annual ritual

spring is officially marked by two madison events for our family: first trip to the terrace, first farmer's market on the square. last weekend, both of these things finally happened, despite the gloomy cloudy chilly air. with our first weekend at home in what seems like ages, we did the things we've been longing for.

ramona and i headed to the children's museum on the capitol square on saturday morning, and from the windows we saw the annual fundraising run "crazylegs". without fail, every year, this run is cold and rainy. that is why we never do it. that, and we feel that there are more important things to donate our money and time to than fundraising for the uw athletic department. as if they're having a hard time making ends meet.....please.

there they go, past the window, looking cold.


we ran across the street to the farmer's market, after the runners had passed, to buy some hot house tomatoes at $4/pound, making our first (and very extravagant) farmer's market purchase of the year.

the next day, we took a family trip down to the memorial union terrace.


a giant inflatable bucky badger was there (and the real bucky was there, too, but he was far too terror-inducing for a certain 2 year old to get any photos with him), and we parked ramona on one of the fancy new "monona blue" terrace chairs for scale.


speaking of these blue chairs, one can be yours at the end of the season for a $1000 donation to the new terrace renovation project.


james' first terrace oberon observation. james, there will be more afternoons like this. get ready.


of course, it should also be noted that, for the last 3 years, spring has also been marked (marred?) by final exams for david. this year was no exception, and david spent some time in the glorious law library. apparently he's the only one studying this year.