Running Through Fields of Flowers

Saturday, I have to admit, started out a little bit "gray". We were originally going to go to the zoo with my sister and her sweet little family, but it didn't work out due to illness. And then we found out Jacob had to work all day Saturday to meet a big project deadline coming up next week. Oh yeah, and we forgot it was our turn to clean our church building - so getting out of the house took longer than anticipated. I was a little grumpy I was feeling sad that all of our plans seemed to fall through and also that Jacob, who works so hard for our family, had to go spend another Saturday at work. Instead, I should be grateful he has such a good job - but, everything else aside, I was just bummed.

I decided I wanted to go have fun even if it was just going to be me and the kids so I decided to take a little road trip up north to see the last day of the Tulip Festival. Last year, they had topped off the flowers by the time we made it to the festival. This year, however, they had a late bloom so the fields were all in full bloom! It was a little bit cloudy when we got there but the sun came out and we ended up staying 3 whole perfect hours out in the fields of Tulips!

The kids had a BLAST (as did I).

Sawyer ran up and down rows of Tulips (I tried to keep him on the path...) and Aspen wanted to walk even though she tripped through half of the trenches and the uneven ground (good thing our BOB stroller has shocks, I tell ya!) And I pretty much just struggled to keep them both within arms reach while juggling the stroller and my big ole' camera. I so badly wanted a "perfect" picture of my two children in the fields of flowers...but it just wasn't happening! Especially with Aspen, who just wanted to walk walk walk or grab onto my legs or hand to steady herself as we went along.

At one point, Sawyer decided he would hold her hand and walk along with her. How darling is that?

We found a little spot right across the path by the field, sort of wild grass/weeds and we laid down our picnic blanket. I didn't even care about naps at this point - the kids were having a great time and I figured they would sleep in the car on the way home. They love having picnics, so they were really excited. I never really asked anyone if it was okay to have a picnic and didn't even really think about it until we were the only ones in there, with an awesome view, eating out pb&j's in front of hundreds of people and millions of Tulips. No one seemed to mind. If anything - we became another sight to see! Sawyer and Aspen would get up and dance around and eat and passers-by would gush "oh my goodness, they are soooo cute!"

I agree.

I love this image below. These 3 cute teenage girls kept trying to get all these different pictures with fun poses of themselves in the flowers. We had fun watching them. And their little point and shoot just wasn't quite fast enough to get them in the air...so what did I do (could I even help myself?) I offered to take some of the three of them. They were very happy about it!

...and then...there were bubbles!

We also brought the bubbles the kids got for Easter.

Can you say heaven?

I mean, honestly, a picnic amongst the Tulips, sunshine, relaxing with absolutely nothing rushing us, and bubbles.

Okay, this is random but Sawyer hadn't used the potty since 10:30 that morning...and when I took him to the honey bucket he was like "gross no way!" (can you blame him?) so he held it all the way until 4pm when we made a pit stop on the way home. I think it's safe to say the kid has good bladder control! (thank goodness - I was wondering if I was going to have to sneakily take him out in the fields somewhere if he couldn't hold it any longer...)

These last few of Aspen made up for her not wanting to sit by the Tulips for a photograph. Tulips or Weeds? Well, it was really the bubbles and her brother that got her grinning...

and I just love these sweet photos of my girl.

Perhaps next year Daddy will be able to join us and we can finally get the "perfect" picture amongst the flowers - with all of us. Then again - what is perfect anyway?

Our day was!

It ended even more perfectly -

We had a date night out.

So, even if some days start off a little gray - isn't it nice to know they can turn to sunshine and end up being perfectly bright?

I hope you all had a sunny weekend, too! Here's to a new week!