March Winds

In March the wind blows down the door and spills my soup upon the floor.
It laps it up and roars for more.
Roaring once, roaring twice, roaring chicken soup with rice.
                                                  --Maurice Sendak

Dude. March.  It has been all sorts of cray cray around here recently.  Things have been so busy I have barely been able to catch my breath.  There have been doctor appointments, meetings, subbing, karate, swim, and dance classes, therapy for Robin, and birthday parties, and that's just the usual stuff.  Dave has been working a lot--extra long days and all weekend.

Linus was bemoaning the fact that Grandma Gail always "gets" to host the monthly gathering.  Now that we live someplace more conducive to larger amounts of people, I offered to host.  It is no easy task.  Currently,  several family members are on very restrictive diets and I wanted everyone to feel included.  It was fun to comb through recipes, assembling a menu.  In the end, I made all my pinterest dreams come true.

The same weekend I was hosting Dave's family, my sister, Beth, and her two kids came to visit for five days.  We had a great time.  The kids got along great.  My niece and nephew seemed to enjoy all their family by marriage relations.  Dylan loved playing with all the big boys and Gwen took an instant like to Grandpa Larry.

The same weekend I was hosting Dave's family and my family,  Robin decided to take his first steps!!!!  On Pi Day, the day of the gathering, we were relaxing after swim lessons and Robin decided to let go of the coffee table unexpectedly and walked towards me.  I squealed, Beth cried, and Robin cheered for himself.  Earlier in the week, Robin had stood up for the first time.  He still can't really balance or stand, and only attempts walking by himself about once a day, usually about two steps.  Still.  This is so huge. 

This big cheesy grin is for Aunt Beth.

During all of this, Dave and I have been wrestling with several big decisions (all good,  just requiring lots of thought).  Oh, did I mention I start leading a newborn PEPs group tomorrow night?  And that I agreed to teach science one afternoon a week to both kindergarten classes at my kids' school?

March!!! What are you trying to do to me?  Life really is good, just incredibly full and busy right now.  A vacation would feel nice.  Somehow though I don't think Spring Break is going to bring me the vacation I'm talking about.

And now.  March in pictures because we really have been having a lot of fun.

Lots of playing outside since it's a warm winter.

The kids love the piano, especially Robin.  He will ask you to follow him and then crawl to the piano and ask you to let him play.

Cousin besties.  There is so much love between these two.  They can often be found snuggled up close together, giggling.

Ballard day with the kiddos--the Locks, Farmers Market, and Cupcake Royale.  Dave missed out.  Sometimes I just need to get out of the house to keep my sanity.

Muggin'.  Gwen is not impressed.

Eileen is so good at playing with the babies.  She thought Gwen needed to be included in playing dress-up.  Luckily, Gwen agreed and wore it all morning.

I took a moment to reflect on St. Patrick's day before preparing a traditional Irish feast, Kraft mac n cheese and pear slices.

 I had the kids all bathed and in bed by 7:10 pm.  #irishblessings

Now that we are safely into the second half of the month, I am wondering if things are going to slow down a wee bit.