Though there were days when we thought winter would never end, the beauty surrounding us in shades of green and blossoms of every color convinces onlookers that spring actually has arrived. Don’t waste a minute of this glorious season — get outdoors and smell the flowers, run barefoot in the grass, go for late-evening walks, and fire up the grill for a family picnic. Create some new springtime celebrations for your family to enjoy, or take part in the following April holidays.
    National Pretzel Day — Gather the family for this fun, pretzel-y activity. Stand in a circle with shoulders touching and hands extended in to the middle of the circle in a jumbled, random-like fashion. Take the left hand of someone in the group, but not the person next to you. Then take the right hand of someone in the circle, but not next to you. Once all hands are clasped, attempt to untwist yourselves without breaking hold of anyone’s hand.
    When you’ve untangled your pretzel formation, make pretzel snacks for the family. Smear a layer of spreadable cream cheese on lattice-shaped pretzels, then place a thin slice of strawberry, peach or apple on top. Eat them right away, or chill to enjoy later.
    Eraser Day — Purchase a large pack of colorful pencil-topper erasers to celebrate this day — ironically held each year around income tax day — with some fun eraser games. For the first game, stand the erasers on end, lined up in pyramid fashion like pins for a bowling game. Roll a small bouncy-ball toward the erasers to see how many you can knock down. For another eraser game, number the indentions of an empty egg carton with random numbers from one to five. Toss the erasers into the carton, one at a time, and tally points according to the locations of the erasers.
    License Plate Day — Plan to celebrate this holiday while on a spring break vacation or extended trip in the car. You’ll need a couple of supplies. Locate a large map of the United States with each state labeled, and secure a pack of small stickers, like stars or circles. On a long car trip, watch for license plates along the way. Place stickers on the map for each state you spot on a license plate, and make a list of Georgia counties you spy. Later, use a map of Georgia to locate the counties on your list.
    Hairstyle Appreciation Day — Pull out old photo albums and share a few laughs at how hairstyle changes have occurred in the lives of the adults in the family. As you look at pictures of days gone by, share your own childhood memories and stories, and encourage the kids to reminisce about their “younger days.” After spending time with photos, decide if it’s time for a new hairstyle. Pull out combs and curlers and try a new style for the night.
    National Dance Week — When is the last time you had a family dance night? Play music and dance freestyle, or watch videos to learn how to do the Cotton-Eyed Joe, Macarena, Chicken Dance or Electric Slide.
    Easter — Decorate a set of placemats with springtime flowers to use for an Easter family dinner. Use large sheets of white construction paper or white poster board for the placemats. Dip the bottom of an empty 20-ounce plastic soda bottle in a shallow dish of paint and then press it onto the paper to create blossoms. Stamp several colors of blossoms. When the paint dries, paint on the stems, leaves and vines. When the mats are completely dry, cover them with clear contact paper or laminate them.
    The South offers a magnificent canvas of beauty during the month of April Treasure every blossom, color and fragrance. Enjoy the delightful weather, and dance in April’s puddles. Make beautiful family memories to accompany the beauty that surrounds you this season.
   
    Statesboro native Julie Bland Lavender is married to David Lavender and enjoys celebrating with children Jeremy, Jenifer, Jeb Daniel and Jessica.