Pictures in the Bluebonnets

[sweetbasil]

My college roommate and I started a tradition of taking our little ones out for pictures in the Bluebonnets (a wildflower that grows in Texas between March and April, roughly- it's the state flower, incidentally). Anyway, this was our third year, and I thought I'd post two of my family's pics, for those of you still in more of a wintery climate.

And if anyone's ever interested in coming for a visit to Texas, we'd welcome you, and so would the sun! ;)

Our new avatar is a tiny cropping of the first picture (thanks, Sarah H!)



http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/3872.jpg

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/3873.jpg

[abigailsmom]

I am SOOOOOO jealous! I am from TX and usually go for a visit there Easter week to see my grandmother, aunts, uncle, etc. This year however it falls during the busiest week of the year in Augusta... so therefore I DON'T GET TO GO TO TEXAS!! Thanks for sharing the sweet pic event though it made me homesick!!

[mharling]

Beautiful pictures!!! Your boys look so sweet. :)

Mary
Lane 4/6/03

[jubilee]

What great pics! You are all so beautiful!

[gour0]

Was just being wistful about this the other day in the car.... Leaving TX meant no bluebonnet photos of Ben. :( Lovely pic, Julie. Can't wait to see Charlie's 9 mo shots!

[Andrea S]

Julie,

Oh I am so jealous. I wish we had sun :). These pics are great the boys look so sweet.

Andrea
mom to Andrew 8/14/02

[COElizabeth]

What beautiful pictures! We were in Austin (where I grew up) a couple of weeks ago, and I was disappointed knowing we were just missing the time for good bluebonnet pictures. James has really blue eyes, and I think he'd look so cute in the bluebonnets! Another year, maybe! :)

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02

[ismommy]

What a great pic. Where in Texas are you? MY DH is thinking of applying for a job in Austin. But we are both from the North East and not so sure of moving that far.Any insights would be great.
Helene
mommy to Isabella

[friedmana1]

OMG! Your boys are gorgeous...and the scenery too!

Aimee
Mother to Leah 10/26/02

[llcoddington]

How cute! I'm JEALOUS!!! I grew up in Texas and wish I could get pictures of Lauren in the bluebonnets!

Lana
mommy to Lauren 12/5/03

[NEVE and TRISTAN]

Julie,

What a precious picture of the boys...and I really love the one of you two, you are such a pretty mommy!!!!!
You look so happy with the boys!!!!
So glad you shared!!!
Neve
http://home.nc.rr.com/ourbabytristan
AKA "mama2be"-forgot password
and Baby Boy Tristan born @UNC
Feb 25, 2003
Brother to 3 pups "gees" and 2 kitties

[sweetbasil]

>What a great pic. Where in Texas are you? MY DH is thinking
>of applying for a job in Austin. But we are both from the
>North East and not so sure of moving that far.Any insights
>would be great.

Helene,
We're in Houston, but this was taken outside of Chappell Hill, a tiny little country town that's quite well known (around here, anyway) for their bluebonnets. We've lived in Abilene, Ft. Worth, and we're living in Houston now.

The Austin area is really nice- it actually has hills ;) (no such thing in Houston), lots of trees, rock climbing, lakes, and is just beautiful. The only downside of it, to our family, is that we get horrible allergies when we're there. We were just there last weekend and all came home congested. I guess it's because the pollens and everything are a little different there than here, and we'd probably adjust after a while if we were there for long. It's a lovely place, though. Oh, and I'm sure it gets pretty warm there in the summer- it was in the 80s there all weekend, so probably highs in the 100s in the summer wouldn't be all that surprising.

It sounds like there are several other people from Austin- I know peanut4us (Joey, Sara's mommy) is in that area (I got to visit her last weekend, in fact!) so maybe you could get some other opinions from them.

HTH...and thanks, everyone, for the compliments on our boys. We think they're pretty great ;)

[peanut4us]

Goodness Julie. Those pictures are gorgeous... We have GOT to go do that this weekend before they are all gone away. Where was that gorgeous field? Most of our good spots they mowed last month (idiots!) so we are having some seirously slim pickings. I might actually have to pay to go to the Wildflower museum and get some pix out there :(

Have you ever been? They have a kids weekend in the spring where they have all kind of kid activities like making "plant/flower" pizzas etc... it is so cool! Maybe next year??

[C99]

Gorgeous! When I was in Houston, my dad took us driving to look at the wildflowers, but we never really found any that we could (safely) explore.

[COElizabeth]

Helene,

Julie is right. Austin is terribly hot in the summer (but I have been sailing on Christmas Day!) and absolutely horrible for allergies (I had near-constant sinus problems growing up there but few now), but it is beautiful, friendly, quirky, and lots of fun. I made the reverse transition by growing up in Austin and then moving to the Northeast for college and my first jobs, so I'd be happy to answer any questions you have! :)

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02

[papal]

Julie.. the pictures are absolutely gorgeous! And all of you look so happy and beautiful. Wow, cannot WAIT for it to warm up here after seeing that!

[McQ]

Gorgeous! All the way around. And I love how curious Charlie is on everything.

Allison
~ mommy to Declan 3.24.03
and number 2 EDD 9.14.04

[MartiesMom2B]

Just beautiful Julie. Everyone looks great!

Sonia
Proud Mommy to Martie 4/6/03

[trumansmom]

How gorgeous!

It brought back a truly sweet memory for me. I was born in Houston, and always a bit of a "daddy's girl". One of the sweetest things he used to say to me (he passed away 10 years ago) was that my eyes were "as blue as the bluebonnets in Texas". It's not true. They're actually quite hazel, but it always made me feel special.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!

Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/29/01 and EDD 4/23/04!

[khakismom]

What beautiful boys Julie!! (and you too!). I'm think we may have to get your boys and my girls together in a few years! :)

[Dcclerk]

Absolutely beautiful! Your family is full of lookers:)

[peanut4us]

Helene! We live in Round Rock, which is really a suburb of Austin. And we love it here. It has good points and bad points, like every place. Why don't you email me and ask me what ever you want to know. I'd be happy to help in any way. Also, Heather (alleyoop) lives in Austin. You might want to contact her as well.

And, not that it's a motivating factor for moving here, but there are at least 6 ladies that I know of in the surrounding areas from the boards, so you wouldn't be alone.

[22tango]

Absolutely ADORABLE!! I can't wait for spring flowers out here in PA...now I'm inspired! :D

[mamahill]

What, do you live IN a painting?! What a great tradition! And it doesn't hurt that you and your family are so dang cute... ;)

[mik8]

What lovely pics! I'm envious. Wish our weather's like that here.
Thanks for sharing.

[Rachels]

Those are beautiful!

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02

[parkersmama]

Oh, Julie! The boys, you, and the blue bonnets are all beautiful!! Thanks for sharing your pics. :)

[redhookmom]

What a great tradition. Thanks for sharing those cute photos.

[sbaker]

Do you mind if I post a Bluebonnet picture from last year? Although we do live in Fort Worth we usually get the best Bluebonnet pix on DH's family's ranch near Waco. We won't be down there until Easter weekend. I'm SO hoping to get some good pix of both kids this year.

DS likes to "mow" Bluebonnets with his Radio Flyer Walker Wagon...
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/3934.jpg

Just my two cents...
:) :+ :)
Sara
Mom to:
Rayce 02/09/02
Charlye 12/20/03

[MelissaTC]

Awesome photos! You all look wonderful :)

[sweetbasil]

>Do you mind if I post a Bluebonnet picture from last year? Although we do live in Fort Worth we >usually get the best Bluebonnet pix on DH's family's ranch near Waco. We won't be down there >until Easter weekend. I'm SO hoping to get some good pix of both kids this year.

Sara,
That's a great pic...and Rayce's little Hanna outfit matches perfectly w/the bluebonnets! They're saying that this weekend and next are peak blooming times for the bluebonnets this year, so it sounds like your timing couldn't be better. Please remember to share when you get the pic of your little cuties...I don't remember seeing a pic of Charlye lately-- I bet she has really grown! :)

[jojo2324]

Julie and Sara, those are both gorgeous pictures!!! Absolutely beautiful! :)

[celfsh]

Julie and Sara--

Loooove the pics--thanks for sharing!

celeste
mom to olivia 9/25/02

[BethS]

This is our first year in Texas and we'll have to start our own tradition.

[starrynight]

Beautiful pics! :)

[lrucci]

Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. I love the bluebonnets and your boys are adorable.


Lisa
Mom to Kyleigh Elizabeth 7/19/03

[bunnisa]

Thanks so much to all of you who posted the gorgeous photos! They hardly look real!

DH grew up near Austin and always bemoaned the fact that I'd never seen bluebonnets. (We've never visited at the right time).

Well... we've actually decided to move to Austin in the next two months, so hopfully I'll have some photos of my own to post next year!

:)

Bethany
It's a Boy!
William Eric
6/03

[esianoyam3]

I'm really jealous.

I frequent a message board for aspiring professional photographers, and there are several Texans on the board who have posted gorgeous bluebonnet pictures...

I WISH we had scenery that pretty to use as a backdrop here in Utah...

You took some adorable pictures!

[lynettefrancois]

All the pics are great! I have to go soon and get ours- we're visiting my mom in Georgetown. I didn't think I was going to get bluebonnet photos in her first year- I'm soooo excited! :) I'm jealous of all you who get to live here year round...

[amp]

Gorgeous! The flowers, sun and your family! Thanks for sharing!

[doubleL]

What a great tradition!!! Just beautiful.

Lou
~David 5.01
~Elisabeth 6.03

[sbaker]

Julie,
Thanks! I think that Waco was getting some rain today, so hopefully by next weekend the bluebonnets will be lovely. I'll try to remember to post pics when we get back. Miss Charlye is growing fast and getting BIG!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/3979.jpg

Just my two cents...
:) :+ :)
Sara
Mom to:
Rayce 02/09/02
Charlye 12/20/03