Gratitude and Highlights Each Day in March

 March was a pretty cold and blustery month but we had a few warm and sunny days mixed in so we know spring is on its way! We made the most of our month and with the two younger boys having 2 different weeks off for spring break we had a couple of fun outings too. 

1. So grateful that Alec didn't seem upset we couldn't file his taxes at all this year. Spent the day working on taxes, paying bills, and getting frustrated when both boys tax forms were rejected several times... Ian's finally went through but Alec's never did. We finally gave up after a couple of hours since he doesn't HAVE to file and was only getting $30 back. 4,552 steps. 

The only photo I took the whole day was of my lunch!

2. So thankful for a delicious evening with the WHOLE family! Started the morning grocery shopping, did a quick once over cleaning of most of the house since Alec's friend was coming over for the day and the two spent their time painting. My mother in law came over for dinner and we ended our night playing cards. 7,862 steps. 

Alec made a really incredible and delicious vegetable stir-fry with zoodles for him and I (and my mother in law) to share.

3. I'm thankful that Evan willingly drove himself to and from his friend's house (he usually only drives to school and back). I started my day at the gym then made a quiche, cleaned the rest of the house, did some more laundry and worked on scrapbooking all afternoon while Evan went to his friends' house. 7,689 steps. 

vegetable stir-fry with eggplant over whole wheat pasta

4. Grateful that both boys are so flexible when it comes to working out who's got the car for the day. Since Alec and Evan both needed the car at the same time I offered to skip my yoga class and take Evan to school that way Alec could take as long as he liked to hang out at his old high school and meeting up with more friends and his past teachers. I ran errands while Evan was at class and squeezed in a home workout after lunch. 6,097 steps. 

5. So thankful I had nowhere to be on this very, very windy day! Gym, food prep, Evan had a friend over and Alec went out to lunch with my mother in law while Ian went to work after putting together his new shelving unit. 9,002 steps.

by noon I had added the scarf and sweater to try and keep warm!

Ian's new shelf matches his crafting desk so well

6. So thankful that while it was still gray and drizzly and windy it warmed up so much today. Gym, went with Alec to meet his friend while him and his friend got caught up I went to the bank, walked around town and finished up my latest book. 11,098 steps.

These fun murals are in front of The Boxcar Children Museum

fresh fish with lots of veggies for dinner

7. So thankful for a fabulous afternoon with friends! Gym, Alec went to breakfast with his friends while I worked on the blog; it was so windy our power blinked off a time or two and the front door blew open. We started reconsidering our plans for a hike when it began flurrying but persevered and had the best time hiking with our "old" friends whom we hadn't seen in months and months. 14,142 steps. 

lime rock preserve

8. So thankful for all the beauty of the Orchids! Another super windy day but after Alec got back from his breakfast, Evan, Alec and I went to the botanical gardens for their orchid show (because of the wind we only toured the inside so it was quick) then I ended my afternoon grocery shopping. 7,054 steps.

9. So thankful that we had no real plans for the day since the time change wiped me out. Dropped Alec off at school in the morning, worked on some blogging and ended up falling asleep for over an hour after lunch!  3,848 steps.

10. We had the most beautiful weather and I was so thankful to not wear a coat! Gym, hiking with Evan, we ran a few errands (library, post office, got gas, stopped by Michael's), I cleaned the inside of my car, washed all my bedding, cleaned the whole upstairs and went for a short walk before dinner. 16,824 steps. 

old furnace state park

Only a tiny bit of ice left on the water

11. I am so thankful for the sweetest ladies at the gym; they are all so kind! I went to yoga while Evan was at school then tackled household things like making a salad, washing Ian's bedding, paying bills, etc. When Evan was done school and we had both had lunch we headed out hiking for over an hour. 12,776 steps.

cedar swamp trail

coffeehouse loop trail

12.So grateful I got to see a beautiful sunrise on my way to the gym. Gym, school with Evan, another beautiful hour long hike, then I spent my afternoon cleaning all the bathrooms and reading my latest book. 13,577 steps.

Thompson dam

13.Thankful for great books that keep me entertained. Cleaned the entire downstairs and washed all of Evan's bedding while he was at school then I finished my book and went for a walk. 9,278 steps.

14. So thankful for wonderful friends! Gym, hiking with friends, errands, Evan went home with our hiking friends and I had to go pick him up then after dinner my husband and I went to pick up Alec at school-- I think I was home for maybe 3 hours all day long! 13,784 steps. 

natchaug state forest

15.So very thankful for a wonderful afternoon watching some very talented performers. I spent my morning grocery shopping and scrapbooking then we left around 12:30 to go to Hartford to see OVO (a Cirque Du Soleil show) and stopped for dinner at Joey Garlic on the way home. 6,853 steps.

16. So thankful some light yoga helped my back start to feel so much better; I hurt it sleeping Friday night. We had to bring Alec back to school in the afternoon but it was mostly a quiet day at home. 4,129 steps.

17. So thankful we made it out for a good 45 minute walk between rainstorms. Gym, spent the rainy day cooking-- I made copycat Cheez-It's, Wheat Thins, 2 kinds of granola bars, a salad, and dinner then the rain stopped long enough for Evan and I to go for a walk. 12,250.

This part of the trail was completely flooded!

we only walked 1/2 of the trail that stuck to higher ground at George Washington Campground

18. So thankful for a beautiful sunset. I went for yoga at the gym then Evan and I decided to walk one of the airline trails then we swung by Staples for some returns. 12,173 steps.

 

19. So thankful for a lovely morning at the aquarium with Evan. Gym first then Evan and I headed to the aquarium, we were home for a late lunch and I spent my afternoon getting caught up on blogging. 11,723 steps. 

20. So thankful for the desire to sit and create-- both a card and starting a new painting. Our morning rain gave way to a really warm and sunny afternoon; so I talked Evan in a nice long hike at a nearby park. 11,089 steps.

Hawkins pond

 

21. So thankful the snow in the forecast today turned to rain instead. A blustery day but after my time at the gym we still met up with our homeschool hiking group for a good hour long hike. 13,291 steps.

leadmine trails; there was still some ice on the pond

22. Thankful for a lovely date night with my husband. A quiet Saturday at home working on the blog and spending time with family followed by a lovely date night out to the Publick house. I hit 5,000 steps as I was blow drying my hair for date night then I took off my step counter for some fancier jewelry.

my husband, Ian, and I went for a short walk in the woods with my mother in law

all ready for date night

I even splurged with a turtle cheesecake dessert

the historic inn looks so pretty lit up with twinkle lights at night

 23.Thankful for a mostly quiet day at home. Slept in, went to the grocery store, just sort of puttered around the house for most of the morning before helping my husband clean up the trail in the woods; it's a 2 for 1 deal where we get a clear trail to ride again and also more fire wood without having to cut trees down. 10,696 steps.

24. So thankful that the rain/snow/ice turned to just rain and we had zero accumulation! I started my day at the gym then spent the rainy/icy day inside cooking up some more granola bars and trying to rest; I had hurt my back so I was taking it easy yet again. 6,596 steps.

25. So thankful for full rivers and the sound of running water on our hike. My back was still hurting so I skipped the gym and yoga today; I spent my morning working on making some almond milk and used 1/2 of it to make a smoothie of sorts to turn into freezer pops. After his school was done Evan and I headed out on a hike. 12,843 steps.

all the rain made for some nice, full, flowing rivers

 

 

26. So thankful the whole house functions just fine without my input! I spent the day in bed fighting off a GI bug. 

27. So thankful to be feeling better today. Feeling better I hit the ground running, I cleaned all the bathrooms in the house, cleaned the upstairs, made a salad, made a soup for dinner, baked up some bread, made some baked oatmeal.  8,546 steps.

28. So thankful we waited until after lunch to hike since it was near 60! I went to the gym, then Evan and I went hiking after lunch. 14,802 steps.

Ridge Trail; Douglas

29. So grateful we were home when my bother in law stopped by this time! A quiet day at home working on my nails. reading, doing laundry, etc. and my brother in law that lives in North Carolina popped in unexpectedly in the afternoon for a little visit. 6.765 steps.

30. So thankful for my husband's help grocery shopping; we've nearly got it down to a science! I started a new puzzle, made some cards, went grocery shopping, made some granola and a salad. 6,476 steps.

 31.So thankful the rain held off while we went hiking today! 3rd rainy day in a row I headed off to the gym and since the rain let up by the time I had breakfast Evan and I decided to go hiking at Purgatory Chasm. 11,480 steps.

There was still some ice in the chasm!

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