March Misc.

The snow of early March didn't stick long, and soon we were back out hitting the streets and exploring our neighborhood.

 

 

In the last couple visits, Ben has learned to conquer the big blue chain at the playground.  It is uber-wobbly and taller than me so it's not mama's favorite playground toy.

 

A delicious bloody-mary lunch was the perfect way to break-in the deck for the season.

It was also MeeMee's first time meeting Tante's friend, Brandon.

Papa Ken brought home new Britany puppy, Beckett.  Ben got to hear him cry on the phone on his journey home from Bozeman to Missoula, and was very worried that the puppy was so upset.

I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience seeing Garth Brooks from a suite at the Pepsi Center.

It was the first of 9 Denver shows and when a friend asked at the last minute if I could go, I made sure it would happen.  Friend Betsy's company has a box and another co-worker had extra tickets.  When her husband Blake decided to stay home with their sick baby, the opportunity for me to tag along was born and I crossed this one off my bucket list.

The marble run has been the toy of the month allowing lots of quiet play and chunks of time to get some things done.

Trips to see Skip are never dull and this day the skydivers gave way for hot air balloons.

My adoration for this guy is inexplicable.  While I'm not a horse person, Skip's gentle soul and patience with my son makes me love him so.

March is Madness in the Heimer haus and Ben has learned the only thing on the TV on weekends is basketball.  On this day we headed out for burritos and beer to enjoy with our basketball.  Family lunches out after Skip on Saturdays are a favorite for all of us.

I've enjoyed a couple early morning runs as I prepare for Summer when I can't run during Ben's school day.  The dawn light in Wash Park is breathtaking.  The solitude isn't hard to take either.

MeeMee joined us for a trip to the zoo.

We helped Aunt Christy celebrate her birthday at their country club in Colorado Springs......

Ian is an old pro and very at-home on the golf course.

Ben enjoyed sporting the bag and hitting a few shots with Papa Jim.

We are anxious for the consistency of warm Spring days to come and the outdoor adventures sure to come too.

Springing forward

Well, Winter finally came to Colorado, just for the start of Spring......

 

 As I tired of seeing only white outside my window,  I went out in search of some green to grow INSIDE.  I'd had this finished pallet box Ryan built sitting in the basement and although we really plan to sell them via an Etsy shop, I couldn't resist putting it to use.

 Ben and I took a Spring idea and refresh trip to Ikea and found some planters that fit perfectly.

After a visit to the local nursery and some bonus bucks from my purchases last Spring, I successfully brought some color inside.....

the turquoise planters are also from Ikea.

I am lucky that my closest grocery store continues to buy more flowers than it can sell and have frequent steals on less than fresh blooms.  All these tiny roses and greenery were $6.

Just before St. Patrick's Day, I was inspired to integrate a little lucky green decor for the first time.  It's always seemed hectic to me to decorate all over between Valentine's day and Spring/Easter, but a friend who usually does, made me think I could do the same.

I already had the green on my mantel, so this free printable was just the ticket.

I saw something similar to this from Parents magazine while scrolling Facebook and it occured to me I could knock it out with stuff I already had.  I made my pot larger than theirs and got lucky finding the gold and red glitter paper in my scraps.  I explained to Ben that he might get lucky and a leprechaun might leave a little treat on the night before St. Patty's Day.

Ben awoke to a new copy of an old favorite, The Grouchy Ladybug and a Peanuts Easter book in his pot o' gold.

A few fun updates and activities made our cold and white start to Spring so much more bearable.  We are so blessed to have pretty amazing weather here in D-town, and just as I was complaining about not seeing the sidewalk for a day or two, I noticed people in my Instagram feed posting pics of the first pavement they'd seen since before Christmas.  I'll try to bear that in mind as we get our next few Spring snows and keep my complaining hat tucked away with my gloves.

balancing act

We spent a lot of time at the Lineberry's the past couple weekends helping with finishing touches for their new loft library.  I felt a little responsible as I convinced them they could use Ikea to create a built-in look at a much more affordable price.  Because Amy cried in a corner the first time she went to Ikea, I should have known better.  In the end, it turned out magnificently and they are all very happy to have all their books in one place and a great place for the girls to read, play music, and craft.

the crown molding and library lights take the look to a whole new level

While we were there making the magic happen, Ben had tons of fun in their basement gymnastics area and particularly on the balance beam.  I quickly took to Craigslist in search of one but was unsuccessful.  As new ones are $300+, Amy mentioned her dad had built hers and she was a real-deal gymnast as a kid.  Well, built and DIY = Pinterest, and there I found my answer.  There was a tutorial for a $30, one day DIY balance beam and I sent it to Ryan to get the wheels turning.  I cleared our calendar and sneakily left a car at the Linberry's that Cole just had to bring to us, and we kidnapped him for most of the day.  As with the tutorial, Ryan did a few extra steps and also insured it was built to Olympic specifications.  Although I went to bed thinking it would need a little more time Sunday, I woke up to this gem in our living room................

 The process.....

 

I was at a conference that morning and he even sent me carpet color samples to choose from.  I've done good with that one in 7.5 years.

It really did come in right at $30 and took a day.  The boys even had Ben in tow all morning and still managed to knock it out in a day.  It now resides in the basement hallway and Ben uses it a lot.  His OT at school has given me some great activities to improve balance and core muscles and we start gymnastics in a couple weeks. :)

a very BIG fish

Today, Ben's occupational therapist at school stopped me to chat and hand me a project he had done with her.  They had done activities with a fish/fishing theme and she had set this paper plate down, with only the mouth lines drawn, along with a pair of scissors.  She walked away to assist another kiddo and Ben was nearly done cutting out the mouth, with no direction whatsoever.  She was elated and so was I!!  I realize it's important to wait for and follow directions, but Ben does not enjoy cutting or art and lacks initiative in those departments.  He loved gluing on the scales and was very proud to show me his fish that a very big deal had obviously been made of.  It's now hanging proudly in the kitchen window where it might remain forever.

Alison said Ben LOVED a magnetic fishing game she had made, and upon further looking, the learning options for this game are endless.  Ben is pretty wise to "learning time," and when I get too deep with certain questions he quips, "Mom! It's not learning time."  SO, any opportunity to sneak it in with an active game like this is welcome in the Heimer Haus.