The Thaw

Joel and SB decided to sell their house and buy another up north--so we came over to help with projects as they transitioned.  The moms and dads painted the garage while I took the kids to the park to play.

And instead of going home to bed, Adventurous Daddy insisted we detoured by way of the falls downtown.  The run-off was higher than we'd seen in years--we had to see it!

3 things we're all about this March

 1. Basketball for Josh--his excitement is contagious.

2.  Being brainwashed by 3rd grade Gracie Propaganda.  She's becoming quite the persuasive writer. Somehow she persuaded her teacher to print out several copies of this fine essay to post around our house for literate parents to find.

3.  Finding and moving Lego "ships" created by boys.  Each one is precious and can't be put back into the massive bin of separate pieces.  My piano top has become a Lego art gallery.

Men in Blazers...seen by men in scarves...

This was a trip to Seattle that Jeff couldn't say no to!!! Men in Blazers came to Seattle?!?!  He and Colin were not going to miss this! Rog and Davo came to celebrate the Sounders winning the MLS cup.

Stephen Frei

Clint Dempsey

Jordan Morris

Rob with the MLS Cup with Sir Mix-a-Lot on stage!

Kids going to bed that night, dreaming of Men in Blazers...

The Ants Came Marching...in March.

March was filled with disgusting ants visiting our nice warm home.  This picture is to remind me to spray for ants this summer.  (I can still hear the vacuum slurping them up every day...)

"Look Mom, my letter!" -Micah

Micah also loved the live performance of Go, Dog, Go! by Whitworth theater students.  It was perfect for Oden and Nels and Micah, and a little young for the biggers and the Van Sickles.  :)

Kaitlyn is off to new adventures!

Not so fun, saying goodbye (for now) to our Kaitlyn, but we were so excited for the adventures that were right in front of her!  She is headed to Central and South America for 8 weeks before figuring out the next direction of her life.  We were SO SAD to have her leave.  She came over with picture collages for the kids with a letter written on the back--so sweet!

Early Bday for Joshua

G'ma Dianne sent home an early bday present for Joshy!

 A pillowcase and his favorite banana bread with frosting!

This was happening in March.

 Yeah.  Snow.  In March.

Jeff finally got a day to take his students snowshoeing.  He'd tried twice before in Dec and Jan, but the temps were just too cold.

The Day Use Picnic Area on Mt. Spokane

Up on the Rooftop

Due to the crazy storm last fall, our insurance covered OUR NEW ROOF.  What a gift!  Well, not exactly a FREE gift, but we only paid our deductible (and our monthly insurance payment, of course).  They approved us in the fall, but couldn't get started until now...March brought a new roof!

 Jeff prepares by taking down the lights!

All done by 3/20!  As the snow melted, we found a few more nails...

My Birthday Staycation--and ELTON JOHN!!!

Jeff surprised me with a Spokane Staycation for my birthday weekend!  He'd wanted to get tickets to see Elton John, but at Christmas, my parents surprised all of us with tickets to go as a family!  Even better!  So Jeff continued on with the weekend plans, arranging for us to stay at the Davenport Lusso (the one we hadn't been to yet) after Josh's basketball game on Saturday.  But first, The Yards!

Night one:  Dinner at Sushi.com and games with the V's!

(Meanwhile, back at the Lochhead Ranch, the kids were getting spoiled by G'ma and Papa!)

 We found a new coffee spot, Coeur.  De.  Licious.

And then, on Sunday night, the family arrived!  We ate dinner at PF Changs and then Ben drove us all to the concert.  We were running late, and there were only 6 seats in the car, so Jeff decided to run through the park to meet us at the Arena.  With traffic and entry, Jeff beat us by a long shot!

We teased Dad about setting off the metal detector with all of that hardware in his back.  :)  This concert was a fun celebration of his recovery this year!

Sir Elton John!

 Benny and the Jetsssssssss

Rocket Man

Tiny Dancer (AKA Tony Danza)

 Candle in the Wind

Tribute to George Michael--Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

 Wahoo!  We made it through a crazy surgery year for Dad!  Such a fun night to remember this!

 It was such a fun night!  

We met up with Mom and Dad on Monday before they returned home...for some burger crowning!