How am I celebrating spring? That was the question. When I first read about this I was thrilled. I had big plans (that may or may not have centered around me, a bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs and a glass of wine while staring at my tulips). I couldn’t wait to talk about it. Then I walked outside and got snowed on. I closed my computer, stomped around a bit and then came to my senses.

I love spring. I have loved spring since I was little. Easter is my favorite holiday. Not because of the candy (but I will never turn down some free candy), instead it is because I swear that Easter smells different then any other day. No matter what it smells like fresh grass. It smells like egg salad sandwiches for a week. It smells like happy little girls in Easter dresses (what I wouldn’t give to get all decked out in ruffles and bows just one more time). It smells like happy.

I suffer from bi-polar disorder, (and a host of other disorders but lets not go there) and it never fails that spring is the one time of year I can be sure I will come out of the fog. My tulips will bloom, my roses will bud, my lawn will turn green, my fruit trees will sprout flowers. Spring to me is a celebration of the renewal of my life. It is a few months I can be sure that I will be genuinely happy. Nothing can bring me down.

Spring means farmers markets. It means fresh tomatoes and beets bigger then my head and giant salads on the porch. Chalking outside with the kids. Learning how out of shape I am on the trampoline. Going for long runs without wearing 15 shirts and ear muffs.

It means baseball, which means a happy husband (as long as the Giants win). There is nothing bad about this season.

But my favorite thing of all is getting to pull out my dusty Canon Rebel and take photos. Pictures of my roses that I can frame. Pictures of my kids covered head to toe in dirt and grass. PICTURES. I can take pictures again. I have an entire wall that is empty and just waiting for photos of my boys. Family photos. But the best part of photos is when I get to take photos of someone else. I just took pictures for my best friends new baby. Who just happens to be sending out birth announcements. All I can think is, “what better way to kick off spring then with a new addition.” Doesn’t this Easter Flower Blooms Baby Announcements 5×7 photo card scream out SPRING TIME????????

I have been given the pleasure of giving away either two photo books or two sets of 50 Shutterfly announcment cards.  At first I was going to hold a contest.  But then I realized that I don't want to do that.  I know who I want to give one photo book to, and I want to pick one more blogger to choose to receive either photo cards, or a book.  I will announce the winners next week.  No contest.  No silly entries or anything, just two deserving bloggers getting rewards.  The catch is, you will have to come back to see if you are the winner and I won't say what day next week i will announce it.  The cards I would most like to see would be something from this section:

Birth Announcments

I supposed other announcemnts would be fine, but I wuv wittle babies and I wanna see pictures.

Now if you will excuse me, I have some tulips to water and a shiny purple bag of candy coated eggs calling my name!!

Are you a blogger, too? Click here to register for a chance at 50 free announcements! This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.