2023, March 20-26

Just when we thought winter was done, it came roaring back (Who are we kidding? This is Utah!). 

On the first day of spring, Monday, Mike was busy at work all day, and Hallie was busy helping Eliza with school and running errands in the afternoon. 

On Tuesday, Hallie got her nails done in preparation for her Disneyland trip. At the place she goes, they have a cute dog. Penny is a Cavi Poo who is so fun to pet and play with. Eliza came with to the appointment and played with all three dogs. They love the attention. Hallie wants a Cavi Poo, and Eliza wants a Husky.

Later, E went to TKD.

Here are Hallie's fun nails.

Eliza did art at BUH. Unfortunately, she rarely brings home her works of art. We are glad she makes it on the BUH Mapleton Instagram stories so Hallie can catch a bit of what happens.

Ferg showed off a blep.

Overnight Thursday, Eliza sneaked into Mom and Dad's room. She still looks so innocent in slumber. 

Mike decided to jazz up his office with some Mexican tiles. Only these aren't tiles (duh), they're decals. 

Friday morning started off snowing. 

Then it turned sunny (stayed cold). 

With his class, Mike attended part of the university's Pow Wow. 

By the time they left, it started snowing again. 

Sunday morning, Fergus and Eliza trapped Dad on the couch. 

We got snow again! The snowpack here has reached record levels. Lets hope for a slow thaw. 

Mike took Eliza to Michael's for the craft class. They made wreaths. Somehow, instead of putting Mike's wreath in the bag, we managed to leave it in the store. Sad! 

Eliza really likes to get out and do things. We are glad we have the time to spend with her to give her the enrichment she needs.

Hallie spent most of Saturday and Sunday preparing for Teacher Appreciation Week, which starts on Monday: breakfast on Monday for up to 100, lunch on Wednesday for closer to 100, and gift bags for all of these great people who work at the junior high where Landon attends.

Hallie really likes the quotation at the grocery store she saw this week. Friday the kids forgot their medicine before school, the 2nd period preschool teacher didn't show up, and she put a lot of work into Teacher Appreciation. Hallie is grateful this last Friday will never have to happen again.

2023, March 13-19

Winter's last gasp may arrive in the next few weeks, but we know for sure that the calendar tells us that spring starts tomorrow. 

Mike and other family members kept working on the A-Frame this week. 

Look carefully below, and you'll see a deer saying hello from BUH. 

The tulips keep sprouting. More photos to follow. 

Eliza seems to be a natural at TKD. 

Ferg got caught blepping mid-bath.

This week, Eliza had field trip days for Yates Place. On Wednesday, Mike managed to take her up to the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake. But before we could go, he had to take her to the urgent care for an ear ache that she suddenly got the night before. 

(One of us, who didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, just might have dozed a bit during the planetarium show.)

The new Orem temple looked a bit ominous in the rain we drove through on the trip back. 

Every so often Ferg will choose Hallie. 

Here is Aspen, E's trainer from BUH. 

Eliza came to help Hallie out at work on Thursday. It was still a bit chilly but the fact that the snow was gone and it wasn't muddy was a definitely a good reason to head to recess!

She also had another day of TKD. 

The tulips also grew some more. 

The cabin also got more complete. 

Mike continued honing his drawing skills. Here we see his arms "deep faked" into some medieval art. 

By Friday, the cabin was complete! 

As a last hurrah for Yates Place, Eliza participated in a party and bonfire. 

Landon has gotten into boxing after reading a biography on Muhammed Ali. He's watched a couple of the Rocky movies, and Mike bought him some training equipment this week while Landon was at TKD. The boy seems very enthusiastic about his newfound interest, enlisting whoever is willing to spar with him. He's a bit stronger than he might realize. 

Hello, kitty. Landon was quite intrigued with Fergus under his parents bed. 

Saturday turned into a delightful early spring day. 

Eliza and Dad drew sidewalk chalk art on the driveway.

In the afternoon, Eliza, Lexi, and Mom went to learn how to decorate cakes, thanks to Big Mike's Cakes. The girls had a lot of fun! 

On Sunday morning, Eliza, Dad, and Fergus went on a walk around the neighborhood. Ferg was so enthusiastic, he jumped up a tree. Mike almost caught him up there before the kitty jumped back down. 

Here the A-Frame sits in its new home. 

We did one last drawing on Sunday morning. 

Spring arrives tomorrow, and we look forward to (somewhat) warmer days ahead. We're in no rush for summer heat.