An old English proverb spoke of March weather when it announced: “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” March has certainly blown in with great pomp and circumstance, but I’m not sure most of us noticed because we were too busy paddling our boats and trying to keep our heads above water. What a wet way to start a new month! Nevertheless, celebrate the gift of another month of precious family time with some of the following celebrations, or create your own family ones for this month. Whatever the weather, celebrate together!
    National Umbrella Month: If there’s any time we needed an umbrella in the Boro, it’s been in the past week and a half! Keep umbrellas and rain boots handy and play in the puddles this month when the opportunity arises. Add another dimension to the celebration and locate a copy of Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain” and watch with delight as the talented actor tap dances in the pouring rain with umbrella in hand.
    Monopoly's Birthday: The Monopoly board game has entertained families since 1903, when an earlier version called The Landlord’s Game was invented and patented by an American woman. For several years, different concepts of the game bounced around, until, in 1935, Parker Brothers created the Monopoly game we still play today.
    When’s the last time your family played a game of Monopoly? Use colored sticky-tape flags to change the names of some of the properties to local, familiar ones to make the game more personal and creative.
    Saint Patrick’s Day: Revel in everything green throughout the month of March with green clothing, green milkshakes, green pancakes, walks in the green grass, shamrock searches and tree frog scavenger hunts. Make a cloverleaf puppet to celebrate the day. Trace a three-leaf clover with a stem — a cookie cutter works great for this — onto craft foam. Also trace four smaller ones, then cut out the clover shapes. On the larger one, glue small craft eyes in place on the petal at the top, opposite the stem, and draw a mouth with a thin-lined marker. Cut one white craft chenille stem in half. Glue the halves onto the backs of the other two petals for the arms, then glue a small cloverleaf onto the end of each arm. Next, glue two full-length chenille stems to the back of the cloverleaf stem for the legs, then glue a small cloverleaf onto the end of each one to create the feet. Voila — a cloverleaf puppet!
    National Pig Day: A surplus of children’s books starring pigs as the main character are available at the library. Pick up a pack of piggy publications and party for Pig Day. To take a break from swooning over swine, head outside for a pig relay. Before the race, cut a pig-shaped snout from pink construction paper and tape it to each human’s nose. Run the relay on all fours; the first person to cross the finish line and squeal like a pig is the winner.
    Easter: Celebrate the gift of eternal life with a recipe of Resurrection Rolls. Let the kids dip large marshmallows in melted butter, then roll them in cinnamon sugar. Place the coated marshmallows in the center of a refrigerated crescent roll triangle. Carefully wrap the dough around the marshmallow, pinching the ends together to seal completely. Dip the top in the melted butter and cinnamon sugar, then place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake according to directions on the crescent roll package. Cool, then enjoy.
    Make merry memories in the month of March. Look for leprechauns, fly kites, chase rainbows, and splash in puddles. Don’t miss a moment of fun with those you love!

    Statesboro native Julie Bland Lavender is married to David Lavender and enjoys celebrating with children Jeremy, Jenifer, Jeb Daniel and Jessica.