March

In the past I have considered March a lull month. Pretty routine with not much going on. A good month to catch up, get organized, clean out a few closets. Not this year. March has started off with the roar it is famous for and shows no sign of ending like a lamb. Okay, the weather has followed the adage, and it is certainly wonderful to see hints of green among the melting piles of snow, but the pace of life has been moving along at a fast clip.

We started out the month celebrating 17 years of marriage. Seems like yesterday but we have the gray hair and the trail of kids to prove that it really has been that long. The good news is that we still like each other. Always a happy moment to hit another year and still feel that way.

I need a drumroll for this next tidbit. You'll have to roll one in your head because I can't figure out how to embed the one I found. Is the drum rolling? We have finally gotten the office floor finished! Yes, this is the one that was installed back in November. It has been sanded and sealed and it is beautiful. Here is a picture of Ralph putting on the first coat. Pretty isn't it? We stare at it sometimes because it has been a long time in the making. Now on to desks, bookcases and cupboards. It should only take another year to get it all functioning as an office. Meanwhile, we can stare at the beautiful floor.

Moving on, Lauren has gotten her drivers permit. Happy day! She has been practicing as much as she can and has logged mostly nighttime driving hours. She drives to seminary each morning and to the church a few times. She tends to be too busy during the day to get much time behind the wheel. So far, so good. She gets better every time she drives. I am enjoying having a child old enough to do that.

We got haircuts all around last week. Steven and William were shaggy and needed to be trimmed up. Lauren was ready for a new look. She cut off about a foot of hair and is now sporting a cute bob. Sarah trimmed off a few inches and added some long layers. Everyone looks cute and fresh for the new season.

Lauren, before and after.

Sarah sporting her new do.

So what else has kept us busy this month? Well, mulch sales are on. The fundraiser for scout camp and girls camp is to sell mulch. The kids have gone out a few times to distribute flyers around the neighborhood and will spend this Friday and Saturday making deliveries. Then there is the normal school, homework, music practice, mutual, etc. That all kind of fills in the edges.

The kids are getting bigger and busier. I think I will be lucky if I have any time over the next few years that I can consider a lull. It is fun to see them all happy and involved in their activities but I have some closets that could use attention.