March MADNESS

March.  Usually one of my favorite months, but this time around… I’m a little bit glad to see it go.  I feel like we typically keep pretty busy, but March had me running to keep up.  Lots of fun, lots of work, lots of the essential… just lots! Going into it I knew it was going to be a big one, but it threw me some curve balls too. 

The month started out with my dryer breaking.  Instead of taking four hours to wash and dry a load of laundry basically the size of three bath towels, it was taking six hours! 

Jade's second semester of swim classes started the next week. 

I mostly chase Ridge around and up and down the bleachers the whole time, and try to keep him from stealing stuff out of the vending machines. 

 

I was also getting everything arranged for the food for ASIA women’s conference that week.  Then conference was all weekend.  The next day Cody flew to the States for a week for work.  The day after he got back, I had to speak in Sacrament meeting with the rest of the Relief Society presidency (it was the anniversary of the Relief Society that day).  We also had a small St. Patrick’s day gold hunt that evening. 

Then Monday and Tuesday the dryer repairmen finally came and took our washer/dryer unit for the rest of the week. 

Wednesday was our Relief Society birthday dinner that I was in charge of planning. 

I feel like it was a success.  We had around 50 women that attended, the food was incredible, and the presenters were absolutely delightful.  The feedback we’ve received has all been positive as well.  Thank goodness I have a fabulous committee to help with everything! 

 

 

 

Somewhere in there I had to go get my eyes checked and select new glasses.  Quite a feat with the squirmy Ridge under foot.  Not sure I’m in love with them, but it’s done.   

Thursday was my birthday, which was a nice release with Indian take-out and movie night in with the family. Exactly what I wanted. My mom’s package had perfect timing and arrived right on my bday!  I look tired.  I was.

 

Friday Cody's work gave him free tickets to the Hong Kong Sevens tournament.  That meant I was frantically finding a babysitter that day.  The Sevens is an international rugby tournament.  One ticket costs about US$200, so we were beyond thrilled to go! 

Rugby Sevens is played where each team has seven players on the field and the game has two seven-minute halves. 

It is very fast paced and extremely fun to watch!  We saw seven different games in about three hours. 

Some of the teams we watched were England, France, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, South Africa… and many more.  The evening was an incredibly fun date night (and unexpected birthday surprise)!

Saturday our washer/dryer was delivered and reinstalled.  Though we were busy that weekend, I did pretty good keeping up on the washing even if I didn’t have time to do the folding.  I just wanted to get everything clean!  That is the hard part with such a small, time consuming appliance.  By Monday I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry about having my dryer back.

That weekend we had a nice reprieve and had a couple invitations to dinner.  I was so grateful for a break from my responsibility of cooking (and laundry).  What great friends we have!  As we were getting off the train on our way to one friend’s apartment, we spotted Iron Man struttin’ his stuff around the subway station! You better believe I chased him down.  

I couldn’t catch up, so I yelled after him.  “Iron Man!”  “Turn around!”  And wouldn’t you know, he did!  Then he walked right up to Jade, shook her hand, and took a picture with her.  I still have no idea if this was some promotion for the upcoming movie or just some random guy walking around in an awesome suit (I really wouldn’t be surprised either way).  I sure got a kick out of it though!  Obviously.

 

We also have a District Relief Society Conference coming up on May 1st where we have been invited to perform an ‘80s dance for the Filipina sisters, so we have a weekly practice until then. 

Jade started her two week spring break on Monday and we went with several ladies in our branch to the Jade market and kitchen shops.  I spent some birthday money and had a pair of pearl earrings custom made.  And Jade scored a free bracelet.

 

Tuesday Jade woke up with a stomach ache and started vomiting shortly after.  She was really sick all day.  After not eating, lots for rest, a trip to the doctor, and some medicine, she had drastically improved by the next day.  She slept all afternoon on Wednesday and—other than her decreased appetite—has been almost back to normal ever since. 

While she and Ridge were napping I got to work on our US taxes, which can be a teeny bit tricky with our foreign income. As I was doing so, I looked down at my ring to find an unpleasant surprise.

That’s right. My diamond fell out. The top of two of the prongs chipped off! As this was the day Jade was sick, I had been doing laundry, washing my hands like crazy, taking out garbage…. the diamond could be anywhere! After a few prayers, Cody meticulously searched the house and found the diamond! It was truly a miracle. I thought for sure it was down a drain or lost in the washing machine.

In-between cleaning up throw up and washing bedding, I have been scrubbing the apartment top to bottom to get ready for our visitors coming next week.  We leave for Beijing on Saturday and they will arrive within hours of our return, so everything has to be perfect before we depart.  Plus I’ve started packing the three of us (Cody has to do his own; I’m not that nice). 

Oh, and we’ve been trying to squeeze in some Easter activities since we won’t be here to do them on Easter.

Jade was thrilled to wear her Easter dress to school for her class Easter party. 

We decorated Easter eggs with a real PAAS kit (Cody purchased while in the states)—something Jade has never done before.  Poor Ridge stayed strapped down on the opposite end of the table.  Believe me, we’re all better off that way.  Maybe next year, Bud.

 

 

We also made and decorated our traditional Elegant Easter Éclairs. 

 

Don’t worry, we didn’t leave Ridge out of this one. 

And I think the Easter bunny will be showing up tomorrow morning…

Add on top of all that, the normal monthly activities:  temple trips, family calls, cleaning, cooking, groceries, errands, play dates, and of course, spending time with my kids.

  

 

 

Did I forget anything?  Probably.  March has been crazy.  Enough said.  I’m ready for vacation! 

 

***A special thank you to my dear friends, Betsey and Caroline, who graciously offered to watch my kids to allow me to get some of my responsibilities met!!  You’re the best!!***