March was an eventful and busy month--but, the big events were really only interesting and big for us. For example, we decided that our furnace just wasn't cutting it anymore, and so we got a new one. Goodbye, old furnace. Thanks for keeping us warm and mostly cool for the past almost 6 years:
This is the reason we didn't hire out the painting of the entire house. We love our new furnace. Such a difference!
The first Saturday in March was piano festival. Michael debuted an original composition called "Alien Invasion" that featured a chromatic scale. He must have been nervous because he didn't play as well as he usually did. After his first piece, a classical one, he immediately dropped his shoulders and looked so dejected that the judges let him play it again. He did much better the second time.
I was really proud of him, especially with his original composition.. I helped him a little, but the melody was all him. We're working on putting it for sale since one of the judges asked for it. Hopefully we'll get that up soon.
In March, Gabe was just figuring out how to get into things, and it was still cute.
Brian made this bike rack as part of the ongoing cleaning/organizing the garage project:
Ta ha!
Lumber rack on wheels:
One Sunday, we had dinner at Kirt and Julie's house. Just us and them. It was so nice!
We had a movie night the day Moana came out. Now, we're just a little obsessed, and by we, I mean the kids, and by the kids, I mostly mean Rachel.
Gabe loves going up the stairs, and he's fast! He was still working on going down the stairs though.
Sunday walk:
Gabe wishing he could be outside with the kids.
I had flashbacks to Michael as a baby:
We finally took Gabe to a park where he could try out swings for the first time. The first available one was this disability swing. He's clearly not big enough for it yet.
I must admit, we were disappointed in his first swing session. He didn't giggle like we thought he would.
He seemed to like swinging with me better.
More park pictures. It was so nice to have good weather!
Not sure what this is about:
Sweet Gabe:
We went to Odgen one Saturday to watch Heather perform in her school play. She just thrived up there on that stage.
Gabe is starting to be trouble:
Rachel had her dance pictures taken:
She LOVES dance.
Gabe has the chunkiest thighs. They're so cute!
I thought this plant had died last year. But it made a comeback in March. I love bleeding hearts. I hope it really does thrive where I planted it.
Michael had an art gawk at his school.
And his grade also did an animal "zoo" where they had to do a report on an animal. Guess what Michael picked:
Here he is telling us about squirrel monkeys. When Brian and I first read that he had to do a report on an animal, we weren't sure what to do. My last paper was a technical writing research paper and his was his masters' thesis. We couldn't remember what was required in 1st grade! Thankfully, his teacher sent home an example of what a first grade report looks like.
March was a monumental month because it marked 6 months post surgery and my temporary disability tag expired. It saved me so many times, and I was so grateful to have it, but I am happy to not need it anymore.
Sometimes, we take selfies on the floor after reading scriptures. It's for fun.
I think Rachel sometimes misses sharing a room with Michael:
The kids tried to earn money for our big trip to California, so the night before, I paid them to vacuum and detail the car. They were quite diligent out there. I let them use the stereo in the car, thinking that they wouldn't be our there long enough to drain the battery.
I was wrong. We had to jump the car the next day so we could go on our trip.
Here they are, the eve before the big trip, clean, and excited to go!
Guess what my next blog post will be about?
