March--ing with boxes everywhere!

March started out like a normal month.   Like usual, we relished in Landon's cuteness...

and Lucy provided her usual entertainment.  Here she is rocking her cuddled stuffed animal...

and eating her new favorite food--baby food!  I am pretty sure she ate as many or more of those packets than Landon did. :) 

Lucy and Landon also did their usual playtime.  This day was one of my favorites.  Landon was on the floor having fun getting the steps down to crawling.  He would lay on his stomach and lift up his arms and legs off the floor, come back down, and repeat.  I have tried to do something similar in a Pilates class and let me tell you, it's not easy doing that over and over.  You have to have some strong core muscles! 

Lucy caught on quick that this was something new to try. She plopped right down on the floor across from him and gave it a whirl. 

Landon loved seeing Lucy during this time and thought she was so funny.  Many times when he saw her a big smile came to his face and often he would just start laughing.  When Lucy started copying him, they both ended up cracking up with laughter on the floor together. There are few sounds I love more than hearing my kids laugh at the same time!

The middle of March came quickly and it was time to move.  Unfortunately, I had to do a lot of the packing because Mark got strep throat! There I was "marching" around the house as fast as I could trying to get everything packed. That was the second time in our moving history that I have been on my own.  The first time it happened when we lived at the U and Mark's back went out.  Luckily this move was our sixth move in our seven years of marriage and I felt like I had the moving process down and I had a buddy this time!  Lucy!!!  This time she was old enough that she wasn't trying to pull everything out that I packed, which I appreciated. She just wanted to do the taping and writing on the boxes.  We had some very pretty pictures for the movers to look at as they carried out boxes. 

Having the awesome family like I do, I was not left alone without more moving helpers.  Once again, I had help from my Dad, Mom, and sister Angelee.  Out of those six moves, my parents have been there for four of them and Ang for three.  I could never thank them enough for their timeless hours of help. I think they have sacrificed a couple years of their lives because of how much physical labor they provide for me. I felt like this move was especially wearing for them.  We had a lot of furniture my Dad helped move and a lot of cleaning in the Cedar City and the St. George houses that my Mom and Ang helped with. On top of that, they helped me take care of two kids!  My love for them goes deep from that move alone! 

Here we are at our Cedar house for the last time together.  Cedar was a great spot in our lives. We loved that stop!  

While Mark was at work the next week, we tried to unpack as much as we could but we also took some nice breaks since the stressful part of moving was over!  Lucy and Landon discovered the fun of having an extra large and extra slippery floor. 

We also tried out the new park behind our house.  It was a very nice break.  We left Cedar in sweaters and long pants and ended up in shorts and t-shirts a couple days later.  How could I not be excited about this new place in the sunshine!?

Landon thought it was the funniest thing to watch Lucy on the swing. He laughed and laughed watching her go back and forth. 

The Saturday after we moved in, it was Mark's birthday.  We were a little worn out from the move but we still tried to live up the celebration.  He did get some great presents that I think made his birthday wishes come true.  This new comfy office chair at a bargain price was one...

and I like to think that this homemade yellow cake with no frosting on it by his request was another one. 

Mark also got a State Park's annual pass so we headed over to Snow Canyon State Park for its first use that afternoon. 

Shouldn't I be on a Finesse commercial for that hair?!  Come on--you know it's true! :) 

It was a little cold and windy so we didn't hike too long but it was still fun to go together on his special day.

It was such a special time for us with the move that month that I think Mark's birthday was one of his better ones.  I felt like getting to move into my dream house in St. George was an early birthday present for me too!  Happy Birthday to us!