Couches and Turtles and Such

Our March weather was ridiculously warm. We had a number of days where we were hitting 80 degrees. And then Spring Break arrived ... and it turned cold and drizzly. We even got snow. And of course, we need rain and snow. We are in a terrible drought. Still ... I might have preferred those unseasonably warm days to have hit when the kids were out of school and wanting adventure. 

As it was, we still managed a bit of out doorsyness. Zootah for example.

And! We finally have a couch for the reading nook! Mike found us a great deal on a super nice used one on ksl. I really ought to have waited 'til morning for a picture of it (the morning light is lovely in that room), but everyone was excited about it the minute Mike and the boys carried it in.

Starling could not stop crawl-leaping back and forth from one end to the other.

Outside view of the house.

The kids were up late every night of Spring Break. I found Hans in his room one afternoon like this:

Mike and I were driving to IFA for animal feed with some of the younger kids one evening when the car overheated. While he went in search of some water, Mette and I enjoyed our view of the temple.

The older kids all had adventures in March. Abe and Kenya went to Arches, Goldie and Wyatt went to Idaho Falls, and Daisy went with her whole cohort to St. George. (Though she failed to send me even the smallest proof by picture.)

The laundry room taking shape. It's all function and very little aesthetic, but it's wonderful!

My sister-in-law Debbie sent me housewarming wind chimes! What a perfect gift! I love Debbie so so much--perhaps mostly because she always makes me feel so special and loved.

Abe occasionally changes the name of our family group text. It always makes me laugh. Prior to "The Family Where Jesse Delays Artemis" (Jesse was super excited about the Artemis II launch, but I was super eager about the chore I'd tasked him with getting done that day) we were "The Family Where a Bird is in the Chimney" or something close to that. 

Look!!! In our pond! Where did it come from? How did it get there? 

My first theory: spontaneous generation. (Abe told me he thought they'd closed the books on that one, but I've always believed, mostly due to fruit flies, that perhaps they closed it prematurely.) 

Second theory: someone released their pet into our pond. (A rather boring theory, but possible.) 

Final theory: it escaped from Zootah and made it several miles to our pond in a Watership Down sort of adventure. 

Whatever the answer. I hope it is pregnant (or, I guess, has laid fertilized eggs???) because I want more turtle sightings!

Speaking of couches: we now have one for the main room! We had some of our carpet left over from the upstairs bound into a rug as well, so, slowly, the house is getting more inviting and cozier. 

The living room is perhaps a bit too brown at present (but a green couch is coming and eventually there will be throw pillows to add a bit more color, I imagine).

Summer working on our Easter tree:

The house all lit up at night. I wish our house would only ever be approached from the north at night!