It's April, the weather is warming, my crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and my tulips are poking their heads out of the earth.  I'm especially grateful to see my tulips coming up this year, as last year a certain family of deer wandered through the yard and ate all the tops off of every one of my tulips., I was certain they would never bloom again

A wonderful celebration for this month is Earth Day, which falls on April 22.  One way to celebrate Earth Day is to plant a tree.  Given that my husband and I own a tree farm, we think this is a delightful way to celebrate Earth Day.  As part of our spring planting ritual, we'll plant thousands of young trees right here on our farm.  You could plant one or two in your yard.  Another way to celebrate Earth Day and plant a tree is to send a small seedling to someone who has recently had a baby.  They can plant it in their yard and as the child grows they can show them "their very own tree."  Or perhaps you know someone who has lost a loved one; you can send a memorial tree such as a lilac or a flowering plum.

Other great ways to celebrate Earth Day is to grab your kids, your friends, and your dog and head to the local park.  Take a walk, fly a kite, and toss a Frisbee.  Since you're at the park anyway, why not plan the first picnic of the year.  Grill hot dogs, or burgers.  Fix some potato salad, and cole slaw.  Mix up a quick batch of brownies or chocolate chip cookies.  Invite your family and friends and make it a pitch-in

Another way to celebrate Earth Day is to beatify your own yard.  Clean out your flower beds and spread some mulch, trim your bushes.  Get your vegetable garden ready for planting.

If April Showers are keeping you inside, grab a seed catalog or a gardening magazine and see if there is anything new that you want to add to your gardens.  Call your friends over and start talking about what they might be growing in their yards that they might be willing to share. 

If you like candy there are three different candy celebration days in April, according to www.candyusa.org.  April 12^th is National Licorice Day; April 21^st is National Chocolate Covered Cashew Day; and April 22^nd is National Jelly Bean Day.  Personally, I'm a candy-lover from way back, and I think I'll find a way to create a celebration around all three of these days.  I'm going to buy bags of licorice is share with my Dad and my sisters, Chocolate covered Cashews to share with my husband and my father-in-law, and I think I'll buy Jelly Beans to share with everyone.  In fact, I think I could make these "National Day" celebrations last all month.

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2^nd.  Why not gather your children and host a Fairy Tale Marathon.  Instead of movie night, you could make popcorn, and settle in to read aloud your favorite fairy tales.  You could even take turns "acting out" the characters in the story.  See how many different voices you can create for each of the characters.  Grab your pillows and blankets and have a slumber party in the family room.  See who can stay up the latest.

April is also National Poetry Month.  Take your children to the library and have each one pick out a poetry book.  Bring it home and share the rhymes.  If you have children who enjoy writing, give them paper and pencils, let them pick an everyday object such as an apple, or a favorite pet, and let them try their hand a writing their own poem.

And finally, April is National Zoo and Aquarium Month.  What a great excuse to go to the zoo.  My children love to go to the zoo, and I bet yours do too.  Don't have children of your own, why not take your nieces or nephews, or borrow your friends' children.  Any excuse to be able to get to the zoo and act like a kid again.  Ask each child to pick their favorite animal and have them explain why.