February

To be the shortest month of the year, February always seems so long. It's after all the holiday hubbub but so far from the next school break, and all the shine has worn off the excitement of the new year. It's cold and dark and, this year,  so very wet. And, though we usually have an extremely healthy household, this February brought us the flu and some respiratory gunk. And, a dead rat appeared on our back porch. It was a hard month. But, even with all its gloom, there were many wonderful things about February, which must be documented. And all of it is being documented at once here because, apparently, I'm on the once-a-month blogging plan.

We had our first ever Groundhog Day celebration.

We celebrated Max's birthday at Main Event.

We acquired a new-to-us vehicle.

I had a fancy makeover done.

Weston had a basketball tournament in Austin,
and he and I got to spend a long weekend together.

We soaked up as many Olympic moments as we could.

My nephew turned six, and the younger boys
and I got to go celebrate with him.

We FINALLY got around to celebrating Weston's
birthday at The Melting Pot.

The Cub Scouts had their Blue and Gold Banquet,
and Clay was thrilled to have his grandparents in attendance.

Weston was honored in the Scouts' Court of Honor with many pins
showing his advancements in rank during the last few months.
He is now at the rank of First Class Scout.

Ruth achieved the rank of Cadet Airman in CAP.

There are also several notable things from the month that aren't pictured:

• The boys earned a trip to the trampoline park by working extra hard on their school work.
• Max tried out a couple of yoga classes.
• Some of us got to spend a couple of nights with my parents.
• Ruth attended the CAP banquet.
• Weston had his bottom braces put on.
• Ruth had her first track meet.
• Weston had a camping trip with Scouts in which he got to try some shooting sports.
• Max was invited to join a special Ninja Warrior team class. 
• I was released from my knee surgeon's care.
• Weston finished up his basketball season.

I'm thankful for all the hard things this month and for all wonderful things!