Gratitude and Highlights Each Day in February

 We had a pretty great February all things considered. I mean, I would have loved it so much more if the weather had been better but I got lots of reading done, lots of crafting, and lots of hiking on those days the weather did cooperate!

1. So thankful our grocery haul was much smaller (and cheaper) this week. Up early and at the grocery store before the snow (not that it lasted long or gave us more than a dusting!), spent the rest of my day reading, crafting cards, and doing laundry. 6,619 steps

Wrong season, I know but I had this digi-stamp just begging to be used!

2. So grateful to have lots of meatballs in the freezer for later meals-- another step in reducing processed foods. I started my morning making a double batch of my homemade meatballs before settling in to work on really scrapbooking our Hawaii trip. I got all the pages planned out for each of us and over 4 days worth of layouts completed. 5,446 steps. 

3. So thankful Ian's diploma finally arrived in the mail. We woke to snow so I exercised at home, shoveled snow, worked on school with Evan and then spent most of the day working on scrapbooking pages before walking up to the mailbox in the afternoon. 7.488 steps. 

This workout

4. So thankful Evan's letter of recommendation finally came through from last semester's teacher (she had so many nice things to stay about him!). I worked a bit more on my latest painting, went to the gym while Evan was at school then after he did his homework we headed out for a short hike (since the wind had really picked up!). I spent my afternoon reading and working on some scrapbook pages. 9,995 steps.

My bird's a little chubby but I think I might leave him like that since it looks rather cute! now to add lots more detail...

5. Thankful for some beautiful National park stickers I ordered on Etsy! Gym, school with Evan, a hike, some scrapbooking, some reading, some cooking; it was an all around good day! 12,314 steps. 

spinach and fresh basil crustless quiche

6. So thankful that we made it hiking and back safely without falling; it was much icier under the snow than we had anticipated. A snowy day where Evan's college class was canceled but we ventured out for a hike after lunch and after I has spent my morning making a new vegetable soup and some homemade crescent rolls. 8,190 steps.

7. So thankful for a fun afternoon playing Triominos with my MIL and oldest. Gym, school with Evan, then we tried walking the river trail but it was flooded and full of ice so we gave up on that idea and headed home for a quiet afternoon of reading and resting. 8,333 steps.

8.  So thankful that we managed to find nearly everything on our grocery list despite the store being completely mobbed! A quiet day spent reading though we did get grocery shopping out of the way in the afternoon after my husband was home from his MSHA training seminar. 5,875 steps.

9. So thankful for a good book and our woodstove on this cold, snowy day! We woke to a good 4" of snow with more steadily falling up until lunch; but weirdly we didn't get much more accumulation than that. 5,261 steps. 

10. So thankful for such a productive day! Gym, school with Evan, ran to the library, cleaned the whole upstairs, did all the laundry; it was a great day! 9,784 steps. 

worked a bit more on my painting

11. So grateful to have found my workout motivation again. Worked out at home, finished up some more scrapbook pages, ran to the store and get gas with Evan, walked outside for 20-30 minutes, help Ian carry in his new TV stand he made. 8,385 steps. 

 12. I am so grateful my best friend from college called and we spent an hour and a half catching up! Gym, school with Evan, a nice long walk on the river trail. Another wonderful day. 17,669

racoon prints

This hawk was on the ball field with crows circling overhead; I'm guessing he found something tasty for lunch.

13. Thankful that though Alec was pretty sick he managed to take pretty good care of himself and is feeling better now. We woke to snowy/ice weather and a delay for Evan's school so I decided to scrapbook a bit and get a few more layouts started then once Evan did leave I talked with Alec about his week and made a new almond flour bread recipe. 4,114 steps. 

14. So incredibly thankful that we can afford to eat such healthy fresh foods! Gym, grocery shopping, went on a walk with Evan despite it being freezing cold and very, very windy! 11,675 steps. 

15.  So thankful for a paint that actually covered in 1 coat! Went to Lowe's and Target with Evan before spending the rest of the day repainting his room. 8,334 steps.

Before

during

almost done

We got takeout when I was still wasn't quite finished at 5-- luckily everyone pitched in with cleaning up and Ian volunteered to go pick up dinner.

16. So grateful we lost power AFTER dinner and not before. We woke to more snow and ice so I planned a quiet day at home though I did get to talk to my mom and step father for a good 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon getting caught up on what's going on with the family and I cleaned the entire downstairs. We lost power for several hours that evening starting around 7 am. 5,762 steps. 

17. Thankful for another wonderful day with Evan touring another lovely college. Our power finally came back on at 2 am so Evan and I elected to continue on with our plans to tour Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. The roads were a bit sketchy 1/2 of the way there but we were glad we went; even if it was too icy and snowy to get a "real" campus tour. (I know I had at least 5,000 steps even though my step counter says 35..). 

18. Thankful I finally tried the chair yoga class at the gym. I tried out a new yoga class at the gym this morning then spent my afternoon blogging, reading, doing laundry, etc. 5,658 steps. 

19. So thankful that despite the heat not working at the gym I was able to get a workout in. Gym, a quick grocery store run, school with Evan, and then another quiet afternoon spent reading and working on the blog. We looked into going for a walk but it was much too cold and icy! 6,861steps. 

20. I am so thankful that despite all the ice on top of the snow Evan and I managed an hour long hike/walk. I worked out at home after breakfast then settled in for some blog work and reading, after lunch Evan and I headed out hiking but the first few places we checked hadn't even plowed the parking lots so we ended up at the Thompson dam. We picked the straightest trails we could and tried to walk in the snowy sections where our footfalls would break through the icy layer on top to keep us from falling. 14,068  steps. 

21. So thankful my husband and oldest son finished off the chocolates I had received for Valentine's day: I really didn't want that temptation around any more. Gym, school with Evan, then a walk along the river trail in the afternoon. 17,460 steps. 

The river was running high today; lots of white caps.

22. So grateful we were able to squeeze in a date night this month! I spent my day doing laundry, reading my book, working on a puzzle, etc. And ended my day with a date night out to Texas Roadhouse for a delicious steak dinner. 5, 119 steps.

23. So thankful that we had such beautiful, sunny, and warm(ish) weather today. Started our day grocery shopping, then I worked on my puzzle, read my book, and headed out for a walk with Evan; we ditched our plans when we saw that the trail was covered in several inches of ice. I worked out at home instead. 8,282 steps. 

24. I was so thankful to get to spend some time this afternoon talking to Alec and firming up plans for spring break. Gym, school with Evan, we ran some errands (CVS, Target, the car wash, the library), I finished my puzzle, finished my latest book, and went for a walk around our neighborhood. 8,773 steps.

 

25. So thankful that it warmed up to nearly 50 today! That warm weather felt great. I exercised at home and worked on some scrapbooking pages while Evan was at school then after we both ate lunch we went for a nice hour long hike in the woods since most of the ice is now just slush. 10,868 steps.

We found quite a few trees down across the trails

deer tracks

26. I was so thankful for our absolutely beautiful weather today; the whole day felt like it was a perfectly peaceful one. Gym, school with Evan, hiking, some afternoon crafting. 15,051 steps. 

27. So hard to pick one thankful thing today-- the otters on the lake, the show at the PPAC, picking up Alec for the week-- they were all favorites I was so grateful for! Started my morning watching the otters frolic on the semi-frozen lake then went to get a hair cut before heading out on a hike with Evan. Then headed to pick up Alec for spring break. We found a nearby restaurant for dinner and ended our night seeing & Juliet! We even got comped better seats once we arrived! It was a wonderful day. 11,511 steps. 

What I wore to the show

28. I was to grateful to see an owl not once but twice today! (sorry no photos, I was driving). I was so tired after not getting home until nearly 11:30 the previous night and waking up at my usual time unable to sleep. I decided to head to the gym then spend the rest of the day reading, blogging, and resting. 7,131 steps.

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