backyard visitors.

We heard them for the first time last night. The official evening sound (at least around these parts) signaling that summer is on its way. The music wasn't too strong, as if only one pair had made their return so far. By the middle of June, however, we'll be hearing an entire symphony.

Tree frogs.

They're only about three or four inches long, yet they make a gigantically loud noise. Especially when all their brothers and sisters and friends are singing with them. We may not actually see as many as we did last year since our pool is history, but they'll be around, thanks to the trees on our neighbors' properties. Welcome back, little visitors. Our kids will grow up falling asleep to your summer music.

Our little "tree frog". Nicknamed as such by her daddy because of the way she used to fall asleep on our chests. I'm sure one summer evening she'll be outside catching lightning bugs and she'll ask us what that "noise" is. And we'll tell her, and say that mommy and daddy and grandma used to call her a tree frog. She'll say "ewww!" (or possibly "cool!" if she continues to have her daddy's personality).