Texas bluebonnets are more than a necessary facebook picture – they are a sign.
A sign “winter” is over. Spring plays in fast forward, until in a blink the hot 100 degree + weather of Texas summer is upon us.
It is only a matter of time.
With entry into the Era of Bike Riding and two children who love the outdoors – I have been mostly unplugged these last two months as we savor every beautiful day we can.
There was the kite festival – some logistical issues on getting there and very crowded, but a perfect day where a sea of kites held the kids in thrall.
Insanely crowded, too-long lines - still a perfect day.
And what kite festival isn’t complete without face painting?
The Tackler naturally requested a rocketship taking off from earth and a volcano.
There was our first ever excursion to pick strawberries on a farm – a huge hit with both kids.
The trick was keeping them from eating the berries.....
And what is farm without goats…
Lil Diva was especially enamored of the goats.
And a horse…
Dogs at close range terrify her but goats and horses - no problem.
There were bikes rides to eat dinner. Bikes rides to parks. Bikes hauled on the recently purchased bike rack to new parks with bike trails.
Bike riding through a mini-town.
Playing on new playgrounds.
Volcano building in the sand.
THe Tackler had to re-created a few volcanoes... of course.
And now?
Everything is green.
Not just the plants and leaves, but everything.
Oak pollen is in season.
My reward for spending three hours outside with my children? Allergies, causing drainage similar to what I went through two months ago with cedar pollen – resulting in a nasty case of laryngitis.
I am now, once again, on the precipice of losing my voice.
I am forced indoors on days when I want to go outside and savor the beauty. I fear riding my bike will lead to complete laryngitis, only this time, my mother won’t be visiting to corral the kids.
And yes, it sucks.
But I did not let it get me down.
I snuck out Saturday night with my friend Priscilla to see The Hunger Games.
My rating: 7/10 stars. Because while entertaining, it should have been phenomenal.
If anyone wants, I could write a review of it, otherwise, there is my two cents.
It did make me reread the first book again.
Keeping me unplugged.
Don't let Andy get f***ed by another lawyer.
The few times I’ve ventured online have been in defense of my March Movie Madness #2 bracket pick – Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption.
He’s made it to the Elite Eight -a dark horse bracket breaker based on other’s predictions – and until noon on Wednesday is against Atticus Finch and my good friend Ironic Mom.
Help Andy make it to the final four.
Please.
You don’t have to feel bad for Atticus or Leanne – she won tickets to see the Oscar winner on Oprah last year – which meant she was in the same room as Colin Firth – she can die happy.
And while you’re at it, you can vote for Wesley from The Princess Bride too.
So please, go vote for the Elite Eight – especially Andy Dufresne – who brought us words to live by:
“Get busy living. Or get busy dying.”
Don’t let another lawyer frak him over.
***UPDATE*** –> Too many “friends” turned traitor and voted for Atticus (yes, Katie, I’m talking about you!), and Andy was denied entry to the Final Four. Thanks to all who did vote for him. Wesley did make it if you want to help him take it all…
Dances with Chaos 
You Texans use your kids for the strawberry harvest? According to a lot of people, you would have Mexicans to do that. Great post.
As you might notice in the photos – we had a very small harvest. Sadly, several of the strawberries did not survive to being eaten, thanks to the beating the received rolling back and forth in the box.
But the kids had a blast. I think it is the first time it has hit them food does not really grow in grocery stores.
That’s an important notion, I’d say. Hopefully they had some before they went into the box.
Nope. I am an evil mother, not wanting my children to eat strawberries with dirt on them.
We still had plenty to eat – my husband had accidentally bought strawberries at the store the night before too, which is partly why we didn’t pick near as many at the farm.
My children don’t have delicate hands either. They helped the squishing along. All part of the experience.
I’ve been so “unplugged” I missed Clay’s March Movie Madness bracket! I’ve been such a blog-reading-slacker!!
But I do what I can do and that’s good enough. 🙂
Love the pictures! I am eating strawberries right now. Our grass is incredibly green, thanks to a full week of rain during Spring Break.
Love bluebonnets. I have a picture of my brother and I sitting in a huge patch of them.
Sadly, I have come to conclusion Lil Diva has an allergy to strawberries – her face around her mouth breaks out shortly after tasting one – usually within minutes. Of course this means she LOVES strawberries and no I cannot feed them to her brother in front of her because she wants one. Or a dozen.
And here I thought Bluebonnet Fever was a Texan affliction. 🙂
Aw, too bad about the strawberries. She may outgrow it though…because my Princess did the same thing at that age. Now she can eat them no problem.
I’m hoping so. I was allergic to tons of food as a baby, but I outgrew it pretty early on. She doesn’t seem pained by the strawberries, she can eat 1/2 lb in a blink if I let her.
What I’m not sure is if we should avoid it to “outgrow” the allergy, or continue exposing to outgrow it, as it doesn’t appear to be a serious allergy.
We avoided it until she was a couple years older. It worked.
Karly used to break out around her face with strawberries when she was young and I’m happy to report this is no longer the case.
Hopefully, Lil Diva will grow out of it as well. Because strawberries are damn delicious.
(Even with dirt on them. shhhhh.)
It’s good to know it is one of those allergies kids are likely to outgrow.
But even I won’t eat them with dirt. Too much aftertaste. :p
Out of loyalty to you I refrained from voting altogether. I simply couldn’t vote for Andy over Atticus but I couldn’t vote against you either. I guess that makes me only half responsible!
You are forgiven, my friend. 🙂
I had all these evil lawyer jokes ready too.. Oh well.
I hope all is well.
I am so very happy for you and the unpluggedness (yes that’s a thing) of late.
Not so great are the allergies and laryngitis.
But hopefully you’ll be back out in the fresh air and sunshine soon.
You make me want to ride my bike. And eat strawberries. And smile.
Julie, you are welcome to join us for smiles, bike rides, and strawberry eating any time.
Or I suppose you could do it there too, but we’d be way more fun. 🙂