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.

Swords and Flowers

Big brother Aiden was by her side using sticks as swords as Harlow took her time to pick some flowers.

so sweet...giving his sister a flower

dancing amongst the leaves

beautiful knot dress by Matilda Jane

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!

Today the kids and I celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with a themed playdate over at a friends house. I brought along a hat craft, our stuffed Cat in the Hat, a Green Eggs & Ham book tucked inside of a Dr. Seuss backpack. Oh and Harlow just happened to have the perfect Dr. Seuss dress by Sweet Plume.

Poor Cat in the Hat being dragged around like that!

I brought along supplies so each child could make their own striped hat

So fun!

My friend Kristy served the kids Green Eggs & Ham.

Even after I read the Green Eggs & Ham book to the kids, Aiden wasn't so sure about actually eating green eggs (he doesn't even like eggs) & ham...

but he did try them and he still wasn't a fan.

Harlow however was and she ate everything on her plate.

It was so much fun celebrating such a beloved author of so many of our favorite books.

Snow Much Fun

We were so excited to get snow again this year, the kids couldn't wait to get out and play in it. The best part about snow in TX is it only lasts for a day or two and then it's gone. We took the kids out yesterday while it was still snowing and then I took Aiden and Harlow out again today while the groung was still covered in snow.

I think we could benefit from some snow bibs and gloves, the kids wanted to play outside longer but we just couldn't make our winter coats and mittens work for the freezing cold and wet snow. At least the big kids and I had rainboots. In any case we had fun, Paige built a snowman yesterday and Aiden enjoyed kicking him down today. Harlow enjoyed just running around outside.

using our Bilibo to slide down the hill

Harlow's adorable Owl hat is by Snap-Happy Boutique

love her litte foot prints running down the driveway

Aiden sharing his snow with his sister

so glad I bought these rainboots from Target this year, they really have been put to good use

Blogs that make Me Happy...Happy New Year!

I was thinking back on my year and the things I really enjoyed doing, one of them being reading beautiful Blogs. Reading a good Blog is usually just what I need for a little downtime while the kids nap or sometimes to get some inspiration.

I wish I had an iPad so I could spend more time reading these beautiful Blogs or hey, even better so I could make more time writing on my own Blog. I think I will put that on my 'wish' list for the New Year, it seems like the perfect way to 'stay connected' when I can't be at my computer which is most of the time chasing after 3 kids.

My favorite Blog by far is Kelle Hampton's enjoying the small things, her entires are all so inspirational and her pictures are all sooooo beautiful.

I love keeping up with my crafty on-line friends, so many of them have great Blogs:

Joyfolie - yes you knew already that these are my very favorite shoes for Harlow but also I love reading her Blog because her talent and pictures are both so inspiring.

Joyfolie has a fur wrap giveaway going on right now over on the Blog so hurry and enter by tomorrow night.... crossing fingers that I win it.

Dear Lillie - love the Blog and I LOVE to shop all things Dear Lillie

Evy's Tree - my favorite Hoodies ever!

Forty Toes - Jenn takes some really beautiful pictures of her gorgeous daughter Stella Marie and also has a fabulous Etsy store

Princy n Paris - has some of the sweetest hair accessories in her Etsy store

Just this past week I have found another couple of Blogs that I also really enjoy reading, one of them is the Roseland family Blog, Jenni seems like such a fun mother that I can really relate to. She is also very generous, she has a wonderful Matilda Jane giveaway I hope to win for Harlow.

The other is ashleyannphotography Under The Sycamore Blog, she has a really great DIY project section.

I could go on and on, I really love a good Blog and lucky for me so many have them.

I have a few resolutions for my New Year. I would love to learn to sew. I just need a sewing machine first so I can get started on the 'learning' part. I also want to learn to use my camera, I think I need to take a local class so I can start to 'own' my camera in the manual settings. Lastly, I hope to stay-up on the laundry. With a 5 person household and Harlow in cloth diapers it almost seems impossible not to have laundry on the couch but my hope is I can come up with a schedule in the New Year making it easier in some way.

So that's it, now it's time to sit on the couch with Jon and greet the New Year just before heading to bed. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year filled with much love and happiness!!!