Sunday, March 25, 2012

Springtime in Texas

Spring in Texas actually began in mid-February this year! This is the first winter in a long time that we didn't see any snow. What a difference a year can make, last year winter seemed to last forever! Seth has loved being outside so much with the cool mornings and warm afternoons! Some of the sure signs that spring has arrived here in Texas are: allergies, thunderstorms and bluebonnets (the state flower)! Our family has experienced all three!! About a week ago we had a major storm come through just before Seth's bathtime, we were playing in the guest room and heard thunder and lots of rain so I opened up the blinds and Seth took his potato head over and watched the rain come down (see picture). The storm didn't head out of our area until the morning (see picture). Due to all the warm weather, the bluebonnets bloomed earlier this year than normal. Their typical time frame is from the beginning of April to the end of April, this year they came in mid-March and are still here! Its a big Texas tradition (as well as a Tx Plumlee tradition) to take pictures in them each year since they are only around for one month out of the year. Interesting facts about the bluebonnets: they can usually be found on the sides of highways, they are not allowed to be picked, they are not to be mowed down until they die out at the end of the month, they are very prominent in the TX hill country (about 3 hrs south of here), and a city called Ennis has a yearly Bluebonnet Fesitval http://visitennis.org/Festivals/Bluebonnet_Trails.html

We went back to the same spot as last year to take Seth's bluebonnet pictures and they were as beautiful as ever! Happy Spring! (next post will be a few pictures from spring break in TN and AR) Seth loves to swing like this on his tummy
watching the big storm and rain come in with Mr. Potato Head


Seeing the storm leave on the way to the gym the next morning


celebrating Spring with a little frozen yogurt

BLUEBONNET PICTURES BELOW