In like a lion!

You know the saying, "In like a lion out like a lamb?"

It stands true every year!

This was March 1…and I was so over it!

Todd was just getting started snow blowing the drive.

He had a 

l o n g 

way to go!

Ugh!

Poor guy!

But, two hours in to it he had this part of the drive finished.

Going around in circles...

…and he was finally finished almost three hours later.

As you can see by the tree it was a heavy wet snow and we got close to 10 inches.

March 23 was our LAST snow!!!!!!

I decided to paint one of the main floor baths since it was so crummy out. 

I have been quite lazy with painting and decorating this past winter.

I had so many plans to do so much more than I did!

I guess I just needed a break.

AND,

I can't seem to stay away from this little cutie patootie!

Look at those pretty new pearly whites!

Oh that sweet grin and eyelashes!!

Vera has grown up so much this month.

She's been painting!

Using her large motor skills to help her...

…climb the steps!!

All of that hard work has given her a big girl appetite!

This was the first time eating eggs :)

And, spaghetti!!!

Is that precious or what!!

She also loves to "help" her Momma around the house!

Here she is just sorting her laundry...

…and cleaning up her books!

(Yes, Kiely she was cleaning ;))

 And getting her Momma some hot pads…she's so smart!

I think that she has been watching her Daddy

because she loves her hammer!

And then of course she smiles...

…and smiles,

and smiles!!!

She is such a joy and ray of sunshine in my life :)

Now you can see why I can't get anything done!

Speaking of ray of sunshine,

Graham went to Orlando for Spring break with the tennis team.

Indiana boys, 

they will always find a basketball goal no matter where they go.

Graham is the one wearing the red hat.

Here they are getting ready for a match.

Graham is in the back with the headband on.

Graham serving during a doubles match.

Todd and I kept up to date by watching the Wabash tennis team twitter feed!

The team did great! 

They played five teams and only lost once!

After Graham got home 

then it was Me, Todd, Evan, Ashley and the dogs turn to head south!

But first,

they had to be groomed 

so a play date with Greyson and Vera 

was inevitable!

They really play well together!

We headed out the next day to Amelia Island, FL.

This poor girl slept all the way down! 

She was definitely in need of a vacation!

We rented a home on the beach.

It was just what we all needed.

Hotels and condos on the beach are great, but 

we like to stay in homes.

They are usually more private and have a lot more room.

We like to rent through VRBO vacation rentals.

We have never been sorry!

I walked out and this was our view for the week…PRICELESS!

Our next vacation home will definitely be ON the beach!

At night the sound of the ocean just lulls one to sleep and 

nothing compares to God's alarm clock…the sun rising over the Ocean!

Bear with me 

as I document the fifty thousand pictures of the first sunrise of the week!

I just couldn't stop taking pictures! ha!

I was on the first floor of the house for the first pictures

but then moved to the Master BR balcony.

Chad texted me at this point and said, "What do you think of the sunrise?!"

My response, "Wow!"

I then wanted to walk to the beach and take some pictures.

When I got to this point I got a text from Becky.

She texted, "I hope you are seeing this!"

I told her that I was headed to the beach and sent her this picture!

I was heading back to the house at this point.

I couldn't help it but I had to keep turning around to take more pictures.

I didn't want to stay in

so…

Todd and I took the furry boys to the beach!

Vladimir is already taking off before Todd has even thrown the ball!

They loved it!

We ended that beautiful day on the other side of the Island

to see the sunset over the marsh.

THAT was a beautiful day!

Another thing that made it so  

was getting to see Chad and having dinner with him!

He was deployed and in the Mediterranean when he broke his ankle on the ship.

When the ship ported in Portugal, Spain, 

a week after he broke it, 

he had surgery and 

was sent home to heal.

He will join his squadron once again as soon as he is healed.

The following day we took a ferry from Amelia Island over to 

May Port…Chad's base.

He met us and jumped in our car and gave us a quick tour of the base.

It was really interesting!

After that we went to Jacksonville 

while we waited on Chad and Becky to finish at work/school

because we were going over to their house for dinner.

Jacksonville was very pretty but boring!

There was nothing to do down by the waterfront.

So, 

we took a selfie and went to Chad and Becky's!

We had THE best ribs, asparagus, and sweet potatoes.

Oh, and angel food cake and berry trifle! 

Thank you so much, Becky! 

I know that you were so busy with school. 

You were so sweet to fit us in to your schedule!

The next day Todd and I went to St. Augustine, FL.

We didn't allow enough time to see everything so 

we will go back one day!

I highly recommend visiting this quaint part of the US. 

We ate at Harry's down by the water.

Best shrimp scampi ever!

We headed over the bridge, on the left, to see the pirate ship.

 While on the bridge we hear a man's voice over the speaker say,

"Those on the bridge please take caution."

And,

up went the drawbridge right there beside me! 

Todd is taking a picture of the ship going through the drawbridge opening.

Next was the fort!

I wish time would've had time to go through it.

Next time!

 We will be back someday.

When we got back to the beach house I took some pictures

of Ashley for her blog.

She got a text while she was there saying that 

Dottie, where she works, wanted her to go to FL in April to style 

the shoot for the spring/summer catalogue! 

She is so excited!

I captured this when we finished up.

We saw a lot of helicopters while on the beach.

They are from Chad's base.

This is like the helicopter that Chad flies.

Our last day there we saw fog all day and into the night.

We went to the Marina at Amelia Island to meet Chad and Becky for dinner.

You can see the fog just hanging in the background.

It was so good to see them one last time.

And, to celebrate Evan's birthday!

 Great view, food, and company!

This was as we were walking to our cars…fog was unbelievable!

 I sure didn't want to leave this!

One more last look!

Good-bye warmth :(

March was definitely the month for birthdays!

It started out March 1st with Todd's cousin Sandy.

 I've known her for almost 30 years! 

She ALWAYS makes me laugh!! 

I just love her and being around her :)

And then Evan's 22nd birthday.

(man I feel old!)

Graham was next!

He was celebrating being 20!

We celebrated with him when we got home from FL 

at 

Geist Marina.

Graham was reminiscing by going through the 

"toy box" in the garage.

He pulled out his scooter, 

then the football he played with on recess in 6th grade, 

and then the ball and glove. 

Even though they are all grown up, 

I still see my little boys at play :)

Then the next birthday was celebrated a little early.

Gretchen turns 50 on April 6!

She is an "outlaw" like me!

She married Todd's cousin Monte.

Some people might think that this cake is too bright and cheery for a 50th bday cake…

BUT,

this girl deserves cheery after the year she has had! 

The three of us never stop laughing and smiling when we are together!

Love you, Gretchen!

And then my dear friend Amy had a birthday on the 31!

 I cannot wait to see where God uses her nursing talents this year after 

she graduates in May!

She's always by my side when I need her,

and even though she's engulfed in nursing school 

she always makes time for our friendship…

that means the world to me :)

Love you, sweetie!  

Another person who is busy but always makes room for me in her life is Julie.

This picture was taken when her and her precious girls went 

to FL for Steve's mom's funeral.

Julie and I met in Kokomo at Olive Garden to get caught up on 

what went on over the winter.

I am showing you the new Olive Garden sign because Julie and I 

kept passing it and each other while trying to find it

all while talking to each other on the phone!

The laughs started before we even got out of the car!

I always leave her feeling happy, encouraged, and ready to take on the world!

I'm so blessed to have such good friends in my life. 

I never want to take that for granted! 

That goes for my family too.

We had an impromptu Easter party one Friday afternoon.

Mom and Dad are gone over Easter and Alan and Kiely 

will be celebrating Vera's first Easter with his family.

She grabbed the tissue paper right away :)

Reading Grammy's card ;)

The sweet outfit mom got her.

The bib to match…but who cares about that when you have a 

hanger to chew on!

Mom got the outfit and bib at Cracker Barrel Restaurant.

They really do have the cutest baby things there!

The book from Grammy.

Next, my gift…but first,

let's play with the grass!!

Some much needed summer pj's for this big girl!

Graham picked out these jean shorts!

And a summer top to match!

Oh no Vera, never look at the price.

If you like it and it fits 

buy it! ha!

The grass was a hit!

And so was Pappy and the poodles!!

It was such a fun afternoon :)

And speaking of fun,

I got to babysit Vera a couple times this month.

The one night Alan and Kiely had to go to a Pacers game for Alan's work 

and Graham stopped by on his way 

back to Wabash. 

One morning I went to sit with her and

she was playing with the new Boomer doll

Mommy and Daddy had gotten her at the Pacer game!

Ahhhh…

she is just so precious!

I love her hair accessories :)

Speaking of which...

…this crazy girl is rocking her hair business!

She has several proms and weddings booked for spring and summer!

Evan is about to finish up his first year at Law School 

and

 is busy interviewing for internships for the summer.

 Graham is balancing school, fraternity responsibilities and tennis.

His tennis team is doing really well and is going for a school record for the 

most wins in a season!

So thankful that March went out like a lamb!

 I am so ready for 

April showers to bring May flowers!