We Marched Right Along

 With March, we enjoyed a lot of good weather days. It was great to be able to let the kids play outside and enjoy some sunshine. Grant LOVES being outside. At the beginning of March he was still crawling a lot instead of walking, so he'd get super dirty crawling over the only semi-dry grass and scuff his knees crawling on the driveway. I banished him to the little toy car and made the kids take turns pushing him around. He loved it and would scream and cry (still does) when it was time to go inside.

 March 10 I went to a book signing at our local Wal-Mart for Cassandra Clare's new book Lady Midnight. I love her books and so shocked and so excited that she made a stop in our small town as part of her book tour.

 Me getting my book signed by Cassandra Clare. Brooke was so worried that someone was writing in a book (something the librarian at her school has told them not to do). I told Brooke it was okay because she the author. Brooke was really impressed that this lady had written all the words in such a big book.

 Brooke and Porter playing school. I love all the little stuffed animals lined up next to Porter as other "students".

 St. Patrick's Day! I didn't get a picture of all the kids in their green, but Porter loved the idea that wearing green kept him from getting pinched.

 I love hearing my kids all laughing and getting along. Porter and Brooke were taking turns giving Grant raspberries on his tummy.

 And Porter, at barely 4 years old, learned how to ride his bike without training wheels! It was a big day for him! Blake and I were both nervous because this is a full year earlier than we did it with Brooke. But Porter had no trouble getting started or stopping. He just wants to keep up with his big sister!

 Brooke LOVES sleeping on the floor. It's her favorite thing to do on weekends.

 Storytime before bed.

 One Sunday afternoon we went for a hike in our area. We randomly selected this trail and after a mile got to this breathtaking overlook. It was a great way to spend the day together as a family enjoying the creations from our Heavenly Father. Porter got a little whiny when he realized that we had to walk the entire way to the car. He thought the car would be waiting for us at the end of the trail! And since we didn't even plan on hiking, we didn't bring the hiking backpack for Grant. Blake and I had to take turns carrying him. But it all worked out!

February Fun

 February was spent staying warm from our frigid temperatures. The kids and I have really enjoyed using our family rec pass we purchased as a family Christmas gift. We use it almost every day. I can go work out while the kids stay in the child care provided and then we either swim during the toddler time hours or go to the indoor playground the staff sets up in the gym. It's been a great way to avoid the feelings of cabin fever I usually get during the winter as well as kept me motivated to stay in shape when usually I take the winters off from running and working out.

February was also my birthday! I turned 32 and even though Blake had to work the night of my birthday he made it special during the day by taking me shopping for new running shoes and purchasing some gift cards to a couple of my favorite stores. He cooked us lobster for dinner and we had a chocolate cake for dessert. Thus ends our birthday season in our family---the next birthday is not until October when Grant turns 2!

These are my new running shoes. My sister sent me a care package for my birthday and in it were some new running socks. She didn't even know these were the shoes I had picked out, and the socks she sent matched perfectly!

Brooke had a "grandparent" day at school. Basically the grandparents came and ate lunch with the kids at school. We're lucky enough to live close by to Blake's parents but unfortunately they were out of town that day! I went in their place and it was really cute. I also helped out at Brooke's Valentine's Day class party. (which reminds me that I'm pretty sure I still have Valentine's Day candy stashed in the house somewhere).

Grant turned 16 months old on February 29. He is still trying to figure out the whole walking process. He can do, but usually drops down and crawls after about 5 or so steps.

 He is so curious about everything and is starting to like to wrestle with daddy just like the bigger kids do.

 There was a library activity and the kids each got balloons. How cute is this picture? I love that my kids enjoy reading.

 Grant was feeling left out and stole the kids' balloons the first chance he got!

 Grant has learned to give kisses and hugs if we ask for them. It's so cute! I will take a sloppy kiss from this guy any day!

 I pride myself on my kids' strict bedtime routines and really got after Blake for rocking Grant to sleep. "You're spoiling him!" I said. I was so afraid that Grant was going to expect being rocked every single night. Well, it's been about a month since I've taken this picture and we still rock him every chance we get. Even I do it now. Yep, Grant is definitely the baby of the family.

 This boy loves his blankie! These are the Aiden+Anais swaddling blankets Grant has had since day 1. It must be the texture or something that he likes...we have 3 of them and he loves them all!

 See his three teeth?

 By the end of February the snow was starting to melt and the kids were able to play outside a little bit. Grant was so jealous he couldn't got outside too!

 Grant has been my worst teether. He gets teeth so slowly and is so grumpy and feverish and gets diarrhea...he also get super clingy where he's only happy if he's being held by me or at least touching me..this was one day when I was trying to fold laundry. He was happy as long as he could touch me with his feet.

 These are from January and I just think its so fun and cute to watch my kids play with toys and see their imaginations at work.

We are SO HAPPY it's March and warmer weather is ahead of us!