Wildflowers? In Austin?

When we moved here people raved about the wildflowers.  Just wait til spring, they'd say. All the bluebells and wildflowers, it's beautiful! Then spring came, and some tiny 6 inch bluebells began to sprout here and there in random fields. Giving the color pop that dandelions do on a weedy lawn.

I wasn't impressed.

I thought to myself, are these Texans so starved for beautiful landscape that they really think these are something special? I settled on that. Texans are a little dillusioned, after all (did I just make up a word?).

Then this winter came. Wet and wonderful, unlike last year. And with that moisture came a very different spring.  Bluebells and the miles and miles of beautiful yellow wildflowers lining the free way and every open field in sight.

Okay.  I get it. It is pretty.

Seeing Green

Our family has a yearly tradition of eating an all green meal on St. Patty's day. This year we roped Becky and Rob's family into joining us.

Becky made a delicious lasagna with noodles dyed green. We had green dinner rolls, green salad with green goddess ranch dressing and mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. Mike was a little chicken eating seconds of the green lasagna (even though he loved it). He decided in years to come we're just doing green pancakes (maybe I'll sneak in green eggs too) :)

These aren't our dinner, but look a bit like what we ate :)

What did you do for spring break?

We're not very exciting. We're the first to admit it. But our poor kids seem to pay the price after any break. "What did you do this summer?" is frequently met with "Uh. Nothing."

In an attempt to give them a tad more exciting answer we took them to a local ice cream factory for a tour. The tour was free and we got to try their delicious ice cream at the end! Yum!

                                          

Here they're loading up some of their Sweet Cream Ice Cream (vanilla without vanilla in it)
The ice cream is almost like a silky, thick whip cream when it comes out.

Found out that ice cream has a little bit of seaweed in it to keep the ingredients from separating.

Freezers to harden the ice cream a bit.
They make up to 800 gallons a day. Not bad for a little company.
Their best seller is their Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. The have over 300 flavors
including a maple bacon, and jalapeno ice cream.

Girls on the Amy Cow

Nothing like riding a blue cow by a busy street.

They had a fun playground outside their shop.
Macy was loving this spinning sit.

It's official when they pay you.

The new editor from Jack and Jill magazine just emailed me and wants to put my "School Lunch that Almost Killed Me" story in their July/August issue this year (they've had it on hold for like 2 years, so I had kind of lost hope on that one).  But he said he really likes it and selfishly hoped it was still available (novel idea to me that I could have shopped it somewhere else) :)

This will be my first story I'll have ever been paid for.  So cool and hopefully just the beginning.

Just a second...

Cole:  Just a second, Macy.
Macy: A second is a really long time.
Cole:  No, it's not.  It's really short.
Macy:  When Mom says 'Just a second' it takes a really long time.

Another year older.

Lots of fun sparkly cards.  Mutti and Papa's even brought on a money dance.

Taking pics of card/gift opening is near impossible with little kids (and  helpful older sisters).

Kids and Cousins.  And a Light Saber.

Slippers

A soft pull over (like mine that she wouldn't take off  for the first week after I got mine)

What did Nana and Papa get me!??  It taunted her all week on the fireplace.

Jane and Stu are almost as excited as Macy.

A Barbie that launches into the bathtub!  WOO HOO!!

Girly scooter with tassels.

What a great girl!

Happy 6th B-day Macy!

Be-lated Christmas.

I realized that I never put up pics from this Christmas.  Here's a few:

Coming down the stairs view

Santa's cookie note and left over Coke.
We figure the big guy needs a caffeine kick. 

Patiently waiting for the "GO!"

Jane opening her princess doll and dress up.

New Bike!

Beyblades!!!

Boots for Al!

My shoe box (to hide our shoe pile)

Games.  games.  He loves his games.

Merry Christmas!