After what has been the longest, coolest, most comfortable and least sticky spring in the history of my life in Chestertown, it’s finally that time of year again – the peonies in front of the barn have bloomed!

We mark this time of year with a photo of the kids in front of the gigantic, beautiful blooms. Its a fun little marker of the time going by.

This year, 2013:

August’s first year in the mix, 2012:

Alden and Kato, 2011:

Kato’s debut, 2010:

Alden was in KC when the peonies bloomed, no photo, 2009. (In retrospect, this makes me so sad! No more spring trips, I guess.)

Alden’s first year, 2008:

If having kids has done nothing else for us, it has reminded us to stop at least once a year to smell the flowers.