Though last weekend's weather might have made you think otherwise, spring truly is in the air and it's inevitable that youngsters turn their attention to one thing and one thing only - playing outside.

And so, with playground kickballs firmly on the minds of the Murrysville Star staff, we asked fourth-graders at Sloan Middle School to share their thoughts on their favorite spring activity.

Here's what they had to say about what they would rather be doing outdoors on a fine spring day.

• Olivia Kichi: My favorite thing to do in spring is hiking. The good thing about hiking is it's in the woods. It's quiet in the woods. In the spring it's usually sunny. You don't get too hot because of the trees.
  
  
  
  
• Nick Helsley: My favorite spring sport is football. I like it because the weather is nice. I also invite my friends over and we either play on the street or in my backyard. Sometimes we even go to the FRAA football field. When we play I like getting all sweaty and then jumping in my pool.
  

  
  

• Sheri Sheffel: My favorite spring sport is softball. I started playing last year and that's when I found out how much fun softball is. It's fun because you can steal and get so dirty. You can also meet new people and become good friends.
  

  
  

• Nick Andromalos: My favorite thing to do in spring is to swim. I like to swim at Meadowink. I like swimming because it's fun. I like to throw the ball around in the pool with my brothers.
  

  
  

• Jessica Jaszcar: My favorite spring game is going on the trampoline because you can play any game you want. You can play 1, 2, 3 and Show Your Stuff. 1, 2, 3 is you count to 3 and on 3 do a seadrop. Show Your Stuff is you pick who goes first and just do your favorite moves. I made up Show Your Stuff. There are more stuff you can try.
  

  
  

• Rebecca Drakulic: My favorite spring game is to explore the wonders of the world. I get to see the gleaming flowers, the sparkling butterflies, the little animals and much more wonders I can't name. I can also see my log again that I haven't seen for what seems forever and it feels like a shining light on my life after the long cold, harsh winter.
  

  
  

• Brandon Herrington: My favorite spring game is sword fighting with my friend. I like this because it is a challenge not to let him hit me. I also like it when we play in the back yard with more than one person. Sometimes we use light sabers instead of swords. Even through we fight each other with swords we're still best friends.
  

  
  

• Michelle Montgomery: My favorite spring game is soccer because I get fresh air and it is fun. You can get down and dirty also. I hope it gets me into a good college.
  

  
  

• Kevin Mechlenburg: I like to play basketball because it is fun to try to get it in the hoop. You can play it anywhere there is a hoop and a ball. I also like it because there are lots of different games to play.
  

  
  

• Justin Watt: My favorite game is baseball. I like it because it is a challenge. It is also fun because you can slide. That's why I like baseball.
  

  
  

• Ali Farrell: My favorite spring game is kickball. I like to play it with my old neighbors, the Saulsburys. We liked to play it when it gets dark. It's my favorite game because I get to hang out with my friends and it's fun.
  

  
  

• Kyle O'Rourke: My favorite spring game is basketball. I like it because it's fast paced. The person who invented basketball is a genius.
  

  
  

• Chris Kiefer: My favorite spring game is baseball. I like the sport because a game can go on forever. I also like it because it is fun to play and watch. That's why I like basketball.
  

  
  

• MaKenna Plonsky: My favorite spring game is having squirt gun fights. That is my favorite because you get wet when it's hot.
  

  
  

• Amanda Sobczak: My favorite game to play in spring is kickball. It is fun to play and I do it with my family. In spring there is daylight-saving time so we can play outside after dinner and it is still light!
  

  
  

• Lauren Drew: My favorite spring game is tag and hide-and-seek because I can run fast. I also know good hiding spots and I always get found last. I like just playing outside and riding my bike. I also love playing baseball with my family.
  

  
  

• Kaitlyn Ruffing: My favorite spring game is soccer. I like soccer because it is challenging and fun. I also like riding bikes with my friends and playing with my dog outside. These are my favorite spring games!
  

  
  

• Nicholos Lodovico: My favorite spring game is baseball. It is my favorite spring game because you are outside and you can get dirty. Baseball is really fun to play. You could play on a team like I do or you can play with some kids your age. Baseball is the best spring games.