Embracing Our Lone Star State

It was that time again, yes time to take the kids to the TX Bluebonnets. It's tradition, I have taken them every year and although at first I don't feel much excitement to take the kids out to the wildflower fields I have always been pleasantly surprised with how much fun I end up having taking pictures of them running around.

I guess it's one of the few places I don't have to worry about safety because they could run and run seemingly without an end. I have yet to get that 'perfect' group picture that I dream of but I still felt like a winner this year since no one cried and all of them seemed to have had a good time.

Looking back...

This year at the Blubonnets...

I like to get over to the un-touched fields but a fence does come between my 'vision' so first we need to climb over it before taking some pictures

Paige's outfit is by eden's bouqet

Harlow's beautiful dress is eden's bouquet and flowers are by Joyfolie

Aiden insisted that his pictures be taken on the fence

Since we are on the topic of embracing our Lone Star State, last month we took the kids down to the Ft. Worth Stockyards for the first time. We had a really great day watching the parade, seeing the Cattle Drive come down the street and enjoying our bbq basket dinners on the patio of one of the restaurants. Paige and Aiden on a Longhorn.

This past Friday Paige had western themed day at her school so here was my fashionista take on a cowgirl, Paige thought she looked 'fancy' so I told her she was an 'upperclass cowgirl'. She has insisted on wearing her new boots everyday and even her little sister has enjoyed wearing them around the house.

Mad Over Bluebonnets

It's that time of year again if you live in Texas to take your children for some pretty Bluebonnet pictures, it's a Texas tradition.

I have a field near my house that I take the kids to every year for ours, it's actually a small, old cemetery but the fields where the bluebonnets grow aren't near the headstones. Because I waited a little longer this year to take the kids I had to climb a fence to get to the field that had the most flowers. Bluebonnet flowers only bloom a short time and people trample them trying to get the "perfect picture" so the sooner you go the better.

So yesterday I channeled my inner Super Mom (no cape needed) to get the kids dressed and over to the bluebonnets just before dinner. I had to overcome a few obstacles to get the perfect picture, first was getting us all on the other side of the fence all while holding Harlow and the camera bag but I was determined. Then it was time for a trek through the fields in my flip flops where I lost one of Harlow's shoes so I had to go back to find it before I could start our photo-shoot. After I found the shoe and sat the kids down I quickly realized that Harlow wanted no part in sitting in these pretty flowers so I only got a few pictures before she started to cry.

Both Paige and Aiden were great trying to give me their best smile and talking to Harlow in hopes she would cooperate. I think Paige has realized that the quicker she can help me get a good picture the sooner we can be finished. Paige really enjoyed singing and dancing in the flower filled field, so with a crying Harlow on my hip I got some great frolicking pictures of Paige amongst the flowers and some of Aiden climbing on the fence.

Well for those of you who know me you know I don't easily give-up my idea of getting a 'perfect picture' so after I loaded up Paige and Aiden I had to try one last attempt with Harlow in the bluebonnets, after-all it was her first year for them. I even tried bribery with her first little lollipop but nope she continued to cry so I had to settle for a pretty picture of her from behind.

Harlow 8 months old

Maybe next year Harlow

Paige & Harlow are both wearing clothing by eden's bouquet

A Texas Tradition the Bluebonnets

It's tradition if you live in Texas to take pictures in the Bluebonnets. The Bluebonnet flower is the Texas state flower so it was on my "to do" list this year. I missed them last year as they seem to come and go pretty quickly. Of course I didn't prepare my pregnant self for the heat, bees and fire ants and just had my heart set on getting a few good pictures but what I was really going to get was a lot of complaining but here's what I did manage to get before I gave up and headed back home.











Look at Paige and Aiden from 2007, Aiden was just a new baby...