Our Family Journal: March- the family and friends edition

That saying about time flying when you are having fun couldn't be more true for our month of March. It was just so full of family and friends and unpacking and house projects and Kent being gone for two weeks that it literally whirred past!

We were flooded by family and we LOVED it!! This is our first dinner in Utah with the Murrays and Derek and Raycelan, which I'm sure there will be many more of =o]. It was her birthday, and they got engaged in the wee hours of the morning that night!

Right off the bat we got to start seeing a lot of our cousin Raegan too. She plays with each of the kids depending on the day and at different times so that is fun =o]

Here is another dinner at the Murray's house, well more accurately this is the dessert- our lemon bars! (We ended up making three pans this year lol!)

Melissa came and surprised us with a visit! She had an interview for her summer job in Provo and got to spend some happy hours with us. We just LOVE her!!

We got to eat dinner and spend the evening with some of my favorite relatives- the Hansens in Orem. I just love the flavor of their family if that makes sense. Always a great conversation and a good spirit about them!

Cal came to help us settle in and did countless projects! I am so grateful for his service and generosity! Here he is congenially taking the kids for a walk around the new neighborhood.

There is a field next door to our house and the cousins love it as much as our kids do!

We didn't know a mailbox wasn't part of the house package lol!

The Murrays came to see us one of the days Kent was gone. Did I mention that the toy room in the basement is ALWAYS a disaster? Well it is. At least I can just close the basement door! =o]

We went with the MacKays to see some old friends and got to play at the park for a long time while Kent and his parents caught up. Seth went down this slide literally 50 times. One of Kent's cousins also brought us dinner while the MacKays were visiting, and though I didn't get a picture I'm sure we will be see her again!

One of the nights Kent was gone the MacKays took us out to Olive Garden (Raegan is hiding under the table). Seriously, we went out to eat more this month than all the years of our marriage combined. Okay, that is exaggerating. But it sure felt like it having to wrestle with my kids so often!!

Kathy's favorite treat are these chocolate doughnuts from this certain bakery, so the day before she arrived Cal took us there to pick up some. So thoughtful! And delicious!

We also got St. Patrick's Day cookies there. I used to think this was a useless holiday that didn't really apply to me, but now after everything we learned this year thanks to library books and school blogs I couldn't be more excited to start some awesome traditions for our family! Did you know that St Patrick's Day was originally about missionary work, and forgiveness, and miracles? I didn't. But I do now! And you can bet your bottom dollar I'm doing somethin about it!!

Cal also picked up some Irish Soda Bread which we made into french toast for dinner. Fun!

We got to meet Raegan's bunny Strawberry, and her countless unnamed fish =o]

We had a picnic at the park with Kathy.

And then she took us out for ice cream afterwards at the BYU Creamery! The kids couldn't have been more thrilled! And it was amazing to see how much the campus continues to evolve.

Kathy brought these cute Easter decorations for the kids to make.

And of course she played tons of games and read plenty of books before heading back home! =o]

We have SO MANY friends in Utah! It has been so fun to reconnect with people I love- and there are still so many more! I am regretting not taking pictures of me with my friends, instead of just pictures of our kids, or none at all. I guess I feel silly taking selfies??? I just need to get over it because I'm sad I can't add them in here!

Reunited with Will! At least for a while until his family moves again, this time to Georgia!