pretty things

Pretty things around my home make me happy.

Yesterday God provided an opportunity for me to offer a "happy birthday!" to a friend and these pretty things made me smile.

I love the opportunity to get out my pretty tea cups.

My mom gave my sister and me a different matching cup and saucer, every Christmas, for 12 years in a row.

Another favorite pretty thing is in my bedroom.  I love to walk by and see my bed made with the pretty pillows on top.

I'm inspired to make my bed in the morning because this is what I look at during my quiet time before starting school. . .

The smaller pillow in the middle was my favorite find and an inspiration for the curtains which my mom kindly and painstakingly made for us last summer.

But there are a few practical items lying or hanging around the house.

Such as these. . .

One is in the family room,  

 

and one is even in the bedroom. . .

Can you guess? 

They are not streamers!

Can you say FLY TRAP?

Yes, if you stop for a visit watch your head or it may become permanently affixed to the hanging fly trap paper strategically placed throughout our home due to the unusual invasion of a vast amount of flies outside which find their way INside and have been driving. me. crazy.!

Spring around here has been welcomed with open arms but the flies. . . not so much!

Happy Thursday!

lookin' for the light

So it's Friday, late afternoon.

Mr. E. and Z-man are away turkey hunting.

What to do.  What to do.

After staring at each other for awhile, C-man lamenting his boredom, and others throwing out their ideas, momma bear makes a few decisions. . .

We're not going swimming, we're heading to the library, then to the park, then for ice cream and. . . I'm bringing the camera cause I'm looking for the light.

Anyone want to throw on a "nice" shirt and model for me?

Pleeeeease?

C-man, with his sensitive heart and knowing how much mom loves taking pictures, acquiesces while informing me how much he really doesn't feel like it.

And we're off. . .

While at the library we get a call from Daddy on the cell phone announcing that both he and Z-man each shot a turkey today.  WOW!  We're all stunned since such luck rarely befriends us and give a hip-hip-hooray!!

. . . The weather is perfect for fun at the park. 

It's dusk and I read from many photographers that this is a grand time of day to find the glorious light.  I'm still trying to figure this all out so I was happy to have a few moments of practice.

The sun was behind me.  I was trying to be careful of shadows on the face.

The sun is not as intense as in the middle of the day so the shadows I was dealing with were a bit more forgiving.

. . . Back in the car and the next stop is 49 cent cones from McDonalds.

C-man requests an Oreo McFlurry since he has been such an accommodating model.

Momma bear acquiesces this time while the others suddenly become interested models.

Sorry boys, only c-man. 

. . . I decide to take the long way home as I continue lookin' for the light.

Then I found it! 

"C-man please, quick, drop the McFlurry, out of the car!"

I didn't touch up those rosy red lips one little bit.

All natural.

Lucky kid.

     

What a handsome dude!

 

It was exciting for me to find these backdrops because they are so different than the typical woodsy landscape I find around our home.

Plus, they are facing west which was perfect for this time of day.

I know the lighting is good when I need to do very little in post editing.

Unless of course I want to, as in the last two edits.

. . .Alas, we find ourselves back at home and it's time to pick up the yard.

. . . Pizza and popcorn for dinner since momma is trying to please everyone tonight.

Oh. . .  and in case you ever wonder if it's ok to leave the cardboard under the frozen pizza while you bake it. . . .it's perfectly fine. ;)

. . . An episode of Bonanza follows and then lights out boys and girl.

Happy Friday,

P.S.  The title for this post reminded me of this verse. . .

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NASB)
1 John 1:6-7

Monday happenings

After a busier than normal weekend, Monday came fast.

I wasn't completely ready for the week to begin.

But ready or not here we go!

• Noontime brought a walk/bike down to the lake.

The boys love to skip stones.

 

Little A jumps into all the action with her brothers. 

She must have felt right at home as she wanted her clothes off.

Her brothers reprimanded me for complying because "we could get arrested!"

All went well and no arrests were made.

• We enjoyed this book about Galileo during table time today. 

• Today in history. . . John J. McDermott of New York won the first Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10.  Fifteen runners started the race but only 10 made it to the finish line.

The marathon's distance was changed in 1908 in accordance with Olympic standards to its current length of 26 miles 385 yards.

The Boston Marathon was originally held on Patriot's Day, April 19, a regional holiday that commemorates the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In years when the 19th fell on a Sunday, the race was held the following Monday. In 1969, Patriots Day was officially moved to the third Monday in April and the race has been held on that Monday ever since.

Although I'll never be ready to tackle a marathon, I would like to walk in a 5K sometime.

 

• My car made an automatic stop at the McDonalds drive thru on the way to the library. "Seven 49cent cones, please."

 

• Chicken noodle soup is simmering for dinner. Yum!

 

Here's hoping I'm ready to tackle Tuesday with a bit more energy.

Happy Monday!

Simple Woman's Daybook

 

For today April 14

Outside my window..... the sun is shining and it's 70 degrees outside!

I am thinking.... of creating a more organized weekly meal planning schedule.  (Hopefully the thinking will turn into doing)

I am thankful.... for this early spring we are experiencing.  It's really been a treat!

I am wearing...... my black sport pants and a tank top.  I started the day out with a long sleeve top and a fleece vest and then it warmed up and I was way overdressed.

I am hearing......my 6 year old working on a puzzle behind me and the jingling of Lucy cat's collar.

I am creating.....a mental list of projects I'd like to accomplish this summer.

I am going.....to give all the boys haircuts.  And Z-man wants a mohawk for his basketball game tomorrow night.

I am reading.....the latest issue of EVERY DAY with Rachel Ray magazine.

I am praying.....for courage and strength for a friend going through a difficult time.

I am remembering.....today in history, 1865, President Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. (I just read that)

I am hoping.....with all the time the boys are spending in the woods, that our "tick checks" each night are enough to keep those nasty critters from doing any harm.

On my mind.....what sports the boys will and will not be involved in next year.

From the learning rooms....picked up about 30 new books from the library today.  I love new books in the house.

Noticing that....the daffodils have broken through.

Pondering these words. . . "What you are becoming is more important than what you are accomplishing."

From the kitchen.....beef stew tonight, slow cooking in the oven since noon.

Around the house....spring has sprung so I guess I should be spring cleaning, huh?  It's a good thought. :)

One of my favorite things.....watching the three older boys play in the basketball league together, on the same team.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....home school sports club, basketball game, helping with soccer registration, yard cleaning-blowing-raking.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you. . .

So the thought would be. . . "What kind of parent allows this sort of nonsense?!"

I guess that kind of parent would be, ME! 

Momma says, "Only for the next 24 hours."

Z-man says, "DEAL!"

 
Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Wednesday!

procrastination

I have a small creative task which needs to be completed by tomorrow.

I'm procrastinating.

Notice the new blog header?

That's what I've had fun doing while putting off what I SHOULD be doing.

I guess I better heed this advice. . .

The best way to get something done is to begin.  ~Author Unknown

I hope you are having a more energized and motivated day than I am.

Happy Friday,

 

 

Highs and lows

I had a few moments in the car today as I made a run to the library.

I enjoyed listening to Anita Lustrea from Midday Connection on our Christian radio station.

Today she had people sharing about their highs and lows for the day. . .

• "It’s Open Forum on Midday Connection and we’re going to take a look at a spiritual   practice called The Examen. We want you to answer this question: "What’s the high point and low point of your day?" What has been the most life giving or life draining moment so far in your day? If we pay attention, this is often where we see the work of God."

It was interesting to hear how in a given day we all have something that brings a smile to our faces. . .  and at the same time we have something going on in life which causes a more negative emotion.

Anita had a great suggestion.  She has been journaling with her son every night for the last few years on both her high and low for the day and his high and low for the day. 

Wouldn't that be fun to look back upon? 

To fondly remember the highs and see how God's hand has brought you through the lows.

How 'bout today?

Hmmm. . .   My highs would be the sunshine outside and the quiet alone time I was able to have today.

Lows?  Two of the boys have mysterious bug bites which left the Dr. wondering and mommy trying not to panic.  Fleas?  Bed bugs?  Ticks?  Yikes! Suddenly I'm starting to itch all over!

Happy Wednesday!

Heather

He has risen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering an event which placed my beloved in CICU four years ago.

On Easter Sunday he awakened from the drug induced coma.

We will always remember and always be thankful for God's healing and the prayers of many.

Happy Easter! He has risen indeed!

Heather

 

Fire Drill!

Homeschooling, as with everything in life, has its pros and cons.

This homeschool lifestyle is working well for our family in many ways.

One sacrifice which I weekly must come to peace with is that the house is simply not going to be the picture of neat and clean.  And the entire house is never clutter-free and clean all at the same time. 

That's just the way it is.

Also, I need everyone's help to keep the home in order.

So this morning before everyone left for their activities I had the family gather for a fire drill.

Fire drill?  It's when we set the timer for 20 minutes, or even 10 minutes, and I give everyone a simple chore.  Yes, daddy and I help too and we check that the kids chores were done correctly.

The saying is so true. . . Many hands make light work.

In 20 minutes many chores were completed:  vacuuming, clothes folded, mud room picked up, garbage out, floors mopped, bedrooms picked up. 

It was a great way to start the day.

How about a fire drill at your home today?

Ready. . .Set. . . GO!!

Happy Saturday,

Heather

Welcome April!

Not only are we welcoming a new month today but we're a bit giddy over these 70 degree temperatures.

This is unheard of in our neck of the woods.

I can remember ice fishermen still on the lakes on Mother's Day one year!

Little A has discovered the sandbox!

She spent hours out there today.

This sandbox time is serious business. 

I think I was able to have her look up at me for an obligatory smile, twice.

It was especially fun for me to see her brothers in the sandbox playing with her!

I remember a friend commenting that her daughters spent HOURS at a time in their sandbox.

I kept waiting for such an experience with the boys.

The boys had their moments in the sand but it usually lasted only till someone caught a  glimpse of a chipmunk at which time they grabbed their stick bows and arrows and took off for the woods.

Of course the warmer weather brings ticks. . .we've already snatched one off of Little A's head.

April also brings the spring basketball league which means mom makes one dinner before the game

and another after!

And look who lost his last front tooth!

We're remembering this Maundy Thursday and the upcoming celebration of Easter.

I couldn't recall what the word Maundy stood for.

This is what I found. . .

The name of the Thursday of Holy Week – Maundy – is derived from the Latin word mandatum, or command. Hence, the English word “mandate,” or commandment. The idea in “Maundy” is based on the command Jesus gave his disciples at the last evening meal of his earthly ministry, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). In Latin “a new commandment  I give you” is Mandatum novum do vobis. And that is why the celebration day is called “Maundy Thursday” – or “Holy Thursday,” as it is known outside English-speaking nations. Footwashing, included in some Maundy Thursday services, is simply one illustration of how Christians are to love and humbly serve one another. 

It was a Maundy Thursday evening many years ago, after a Jews for Jesus seder dinner, that I dedicated my life to Christ. 

I'm thankful that God spoke to my heart at a young age and that He continues to speak through the joys, trials, mistakes and triumphs of my life.

Happy Thursday,

Heather

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today March 30

Outside my window.....the sun is shining, the skies are blue, and I think the temp. may have reached 60 today!

I am thinking....about a family who lost a special loved one this week.

I am thankful.....for Easter traditions the kids always look forward to celebrating.

I am wearing.....black pants, white turtleneck and a brown fleece vest.

I am hearing.....the kids playing outside.

I am creating.....thank you notes with pictures from Mr. A's birthday.

I am going.....to need a boost of energy to finish this day strong.

I am reading.....the book of John.

I am praying.....for friends who just left for a cross country road trip out west.

I am remembering.....shopping for that special new Easter dress when I was young.

I am hoping.....this warmer weather keeps a comin'.

On my mind.....the frustration of our yahoo e-mail being eliminated and the new transition not going smoothly.  Grrrrr!

From the learning rooms....State capitals, place value, a 2nd grader learning division, and the end of our Caddie Woodlawn story.

Noticing that....the snow is gone and the kids come in the house covered in dead grass as they play football and baseball on our yet to be, green lawn.

Pondering these words....."There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.  By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world."  Robert Louis Stevenson

From the kitchen.....Spaghetti for dinner and a messy kitchen to clean up after 11 kids ate 7 pizzas and a batch of cookies for lunch!

Around the house....two Christmas wreaths still hang in my kitchen windows.  Time to take them down, don'tcha think?

One of my favorite things.....oatmeal cookies and a glass of milk.  Yes, I did indulge so the numbers on the scale did not decrease this week.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....basketball league has started for 3 boys, Good Friday church service, Easter breakfast at church, washing winter gear (do I dare?).

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

H-man playing on one of the last remaining snow piles.

Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Tuesday!

Heather

Friday favorites

This week went by in a blink of the eye!

A few favorites which come to my mind immediately. . .

• A warm smile from a complete stranger as I was running errands in the car.

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."

-Mother Teresa of Calcutta

• A  welcome full night's sleep from a daughter who has been sooo uncomfortable from the chicken pox.  I think the brown malt vinegar baths (1/2 c to lukewarm bathwater), which I read would lessen the irritation and help heal the lesions, did help her.

 

• The warmth of the sunshine and the kids playing on the swings.

 

• Reconnecting with an old friend and knowing now how to pray for her family and the challenges they are currently facing.

 

• A new geography website the kids have loved this week.  The fourth graders are learning their states and capitals.  They love the competition and even my second grader scored 100% by the end of the week.  Check it out HERE.

 

• A new quick lunch favorite everyone enjoyed and the older ones can make themselves:   Whole wheat English muffin (toasted), topped with pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and mushrooms.  Bake at 425 until cheese is melted.

 

Hope you had a few favorites this week too!

Happy Friday,

Heather

bumps

So this morning I change Little A's diaper and, oh dear! what do I see?

Lots of little bumps on her bum and tummy!

Last week we said good-bye to Lucy-cat as she'd (temporarily) gone mad. . .

Now this week the chicken pox have descended upon our family pad!

So far a low grade fever and a little itching on the head,

I wonder what I'll see in the morning when she calls me from her bed?

We're rollin' with the punches as we say hello to spring,

Thankful for the sunshine and playin' on the swing.

Happy Tuesday!

Heather

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today March 19

Outside my window.....The skies are dark as it's just before 8:00 pm.

I am thinking....I'm behind on blogging this week due to a few unforeseen happenings this week.

I am thankful.....that it's Friday!

I am wearing.....black sport pants, pumpkin colored t-shirt and a taupe sweater.

I am hearing.....NCAA basketball playing on the television.

I am creating.....a logo and letterhead for a small company we are establishing.

I am going.....to box up clothes the little ones have grown out of and simplify those closets.

I am reading.....Caddie Woodlawn to the kids.

I am praying.....for peace and direction concerning family decisions.

I am remembering.....the fun I had with the home school mom's basketball team playing against the kids on Thursday.  The kids were even surprised how well the moms did!  It was great exercise, and my teammates kindly encouraged this out of shape player with very limited knowledge of the sport.

I am hoping.....Lucy, our cat, continues to recuperate from a week which included a two night stay at the animal hospital after hallucinations, fear, and extreme aggressiveness forced us to "commit her".  It is assumed that the bizarre behavior occurred after she ate "fish bait" used for trapping.  I even brought the kids to the vet to "say good-bye" to Lucy when it was looking as if she'd be "put down". . .  thankfully God had other plans for her.

On my mind.....my comment to Mr. E. last night, "We've come a long way baby!  You're fixin' toilets and I'm playin' basketball!! It really is funny considering our lack of talent in those areas!

Noticing that....most of the snow is gone!  In March?  We'll probably get dumped on again but we're heading into spring!

Pondering these words....."We are to hate sin in ourselves and in all men, but never undervalue the man in whom the sin is found."  A.W. Tozer

From the kitchen.....Crepes for dinner tonight.  A family favorite.

Around the house....Piles of clean and dirty laundry to be dealt with tomorrow.

One of my favorite things.....A happy, purring cat in my arms.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....The week is almost done and the weekend plans are few which feels wonderful to me.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

We're glad to have you back home Lucy!

Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Friday!

And may you sleep as well as Lucy on this end-of-a-long-week night.

Heather

 

Laughter

We watched a movie this weekend which had us all giggling.

What makes me laugh even more is watching the kids laugh!

H-man is the one who expresses his laughter in a most contagious way.

And it always brings a smile to my face.

Laughter is an instant vacation.
-- Milton Berle

After a day of pondering difficult family decisions, watching a movie which caused me to laugh till I cried was without a doubt, an instant vacation!

May this Monday bring moments of laughter your way!

Heather

Friday Favorites

It's Friday afternoon and I'm just coming up for air after a week which left little time for blogging.

• We now have a six year old in the family!  Yesterday we celebrated Mr. A's birthday.  Everything from making his cake, eating his cake, opening his presents, and playing Yahtzee was a moment of celebrating for him. 

• Did you know?

  Court says 'under God' constitutional (OneNewsNow.com)

  SAN FRANCISCO – A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld the use of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency, rejecting arguments on Thursday that the phrases violate the separation of church and state.

  It's hard to believe this was appealed in our country.  May this victory always be upheld.

   

• And how about this news?  I've joined the mom's basketball team for our homeschool group.  Yep. . . Never played basketball, ever.  Why not start in my overweight, out of shape, 40's huh?  This has been a source of wonderment and laughter for my family.  But hey, I'm gettin' some exercise and I even enjoyed our first practice last night.  Mr. E. claims he'll be taking off of work to come watch the game next Thursday and take video.  Maybe I'll post a few pictures, depending upon how good, or bad, I look.

Enjoy the weekend and don't forget to turn your clocks BACK, oops I mean AHEAD, Saturday night.

Heather

I Heart Faces

JUMP!

 

GO HERE to I Heart Faces and view lots of other JUMP! photos this week.

These sisters can jump, huh??

Happy Monday,

Heather

 

hiccups

I love my daily routine.

I love the predictable.

I love the assumed "eb and flow" of our full family life.

But then invariably there are the daily "hiccups" which present themselves.

Moments when I think to myself, "Lord, I'm being tested here.  Help me to not disobey you during this little hiccup."

Hiccups for this week?

Thursday morning. . .I've taken my morning shower, dressed, combed the wet hair and trying to find my glasses.

Glasses, where are you???

I always put them on the vanity before entering the shower.

Finally, after five unsuccessful minutes of blurry searching (I honestly can only see a foot in front of me without my glasses) I yell for "the troops" to rally and find mommy's glasses.  I have only walked from the bed to the bathroom this morning! Where could they be?

The boys put me through a battery of questions in hopes that I really didn't need my glasses . . .

"Can you see me here Mom?"

"How about now?" 

"Wow, she really can't see!" 

"She won't be able to drive!"

My reading glasses were found three times over and I needed to convince each excited rescuer that the reading glasses won't work and it was the glasses for seeing far away which were lost. 

Hiccup.

Definite hiccup and time of testing.

Finally, after fifteen minutes of searching, Z-man FOUND my glasses behind the bathroom door on a stack of towels.  Why I put them there I have NO idea.

What was left was a disastrous mound of books and papers on my bed as my nightstand had been cleared out during the reckless search and rescue.

I guess the long overdue project of organizing my messy side of the bed would take place, TODAY.

Other hiccups?  The home school sports club shirt to be worn each Thursday still has not been found. And a pile of clothes which still needs to be folded and organized on the shelves in this son's closet from the chaotic search and no recovery mission.

Another?  Making quiche tonight only to realize I only have 1 cup of milk and need 4 1/2 cups.  Fortunately, Mr. E. was able to pick up a gallon on his way home and we'll be eating dinner at 7:30 instead of 6:30.

Such is life.

All the daily hiccups are inevitable.

The only constant is my faith. My Lord, He will lead me through these daily challenges.

I like this quote from Beth Moore:  "God's mercies have existed through all of eternity, yet Scripture tells us they are new every morning. A new day with all its fresh challenges gives an old practice of faith new life."

Yes, my faith has new life each day!

"Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!  I say:  The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him."  Lamentations 3:22-24

May you rest well this Friday night. . .

So you'll be ready for tomorrow's hiccups and

for your old practice of faith to be given NEW LIFE.

And just because everything's more interesting with a picture. . .

Guess Little A needs a hair cut, huh?

Happy Friday night,

Heather

 

The view from here. . .

So I caught a winter bug last week.

By Sunday my bedside view was mostly this. . .

Although I did have the beautiful morning sunrise each day to view from the bedroom window.

We've had such unseasonably warm sunshiny weather this first week in March.

   

The children, you wonder?

Oh yes, my six children.

They pretty much ran wild while I tried to tune them out.

Just kidding.

Mostly. ::grin::

They did more of this than usual. . .

On the couch watching something educational I'm sure.

Yes, they do have knives in their hands.

Just cutting up their mangos, I promise.

But today dawned a new beginning.

Momma was even out of her pajamas, made salads for lunch, and tromped outside to capture the winter fun on this beautiful March day with temperatures reaching 40.

Yes, that's Little A without her coat or hat. 

I can assure you that she was not barefoot.

I guess this mom is not fully functioning quite yet.

But I'm close.  Real close.

Hope this month brings spring-like weather and good health your way.

Happy Wednesday,

Heather

 

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today March 1

Outside my window.....the sun is shining brightly and the skies are blue!

I am thinking.....it's hard to believe today is March 1.  We're heading into spring folks!

I am thankful.....for another 2 lbs. lost last week.  That's a total of 5. Yippee!

I am wearing.....My husband's army green fleece shirt and my black sport pants.

I am hearing.....the boys wrestling on my bed.  "Out of my room boys!!"

I am creating.....a "Simply Grand Photography" logo, just for the fun of it!

I am going.....to bring C-man to Tai-Kwan-Do, run to the grocery store, come home, make dinner, do Little A's laundry, tidy up the kitchen, make Mr. E's lunch for tomorrow, and head to bed!(in a nutshell)

I am reading.....the popular Children's Book of Virtues  by William Bennett to the kids this week.

I am praying.....for my dad who came down with shingles this week.

I am remembering.....I guess my memory has left me--I cannot "remember" anything at the moment.

I am hoping.....that this cold virus will leave and I'll have more energy by the end of the week.

On my mind.....I'd like to attend a photography workshop this year.

From the learning rooms....Alexander Graham Bell today. Did you know that his greatest enjoyment in life was teaching the deaf and blind?

Noticing that....when the sun is shining at the temps are in the 30's, the boys spend LOTS of time outside.

Pondering these words....."Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) 

I hope my kids choose to walk in His ways when they are on the younger side of "old".  I would delight in seeing them walk closely with Him.  But I'm sure we have some interesting challenging days ahead.  I'll start praying now.

From the kitchen.....Spaghetti for dinner tonight and quiche tomorrow.

Around the house....we're all glad to have daddy in town this week.

One of my favorite things.....a warm shower.

A few plans for the rest of the week.....the usual weekly routine plus a wedding on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

I need a smile about now. . .and this picture does it for me.

Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook on this day. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook

Happy first day of March!

Heather