Spring Break 2012

We had a great Spring Break this year! This was the first time since we've been married that Spencer and I spent Spring Break together. In years past he has been on mission trips during that week, so this was pretty exciting! We went to Tennessee to visit family and then up to Arkansas to get away from the big city for a bit. Seth loved being outside as much as possible, he especially loved his first hiking experience and did great! And from what I hear he had a big time at the park, the children's museum, and the library for storytime...thanks Pop and Gran! As always we had a great time with family!! relaxing on the porch at Pop and Gran's

Seth's first hiking trip looking down at a big valley...daddy is holding on tight

pretty flowers and turquoise water

Everyone hiked!

Seth loves to splash in water (we washed his hands afterwards!)

the birdbath

making a fire with Gran

happy to be outside

looks like he is up to something sneaky

loved being out on the porch with snacks and mr. potato head

looking at all the trees

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

COUSINS!

above-Plumlee baby at 8weeks 2 days-due Sept 15th
above-Swofford baby at 12weeks-due Sept 12th

September 2012 is going to be a fun and busy month here in Texas! My brother, Steve has a birthday on Sept. 3rd, my dad has a birthday on Sept. 18th and not to mention there will be 2 babies here in Sept! Our baby is due Sept. 15th and my brother and his wife Julie are joyously expecting their first baby on Sept 12th! How exciting to be going through pregnancy with your friend/sister in law! So excited to be an aunt and for Seth and baby #2 to have a new cousin!!

A Hot Day in February

Here in Texas, we have had a pretty mild winter, for that I am thankful...although I have missed seeing snow. But this spring time weather has made this mom and her 2 year old happy to be outside! On Thurs. we were to have near 80 degree weather, so Spencer took a couple of hours off and came to the zoo with us! Seth loved seeing all the animals, but I think he loved just being outside...and so did mom and dad! He needed his sunglasses today!
looking out at the giraffee and the ducks in the water


He loved this swan

He would have jumped in the water if we let him

He liked looking at all the fish

He loved running around in the aquarium. Looking at a turtle here.

Big Brother is Watching!

Baby Plumlee #2 is due to arrive September 15, 2012! A friend of mine made Seth this sweet shirt so he could wear it when we told everyone!! We tell Seth that Mommy has a baby in her tummy but Im not sure he really understands...yet!

TeeBall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22dafzc4Zc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

this is a video of Seth playing tee ball in the living room on a cold day! turn up the volume and enjoy!!

Riverbend

Last weekend all 3 of us went to Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose, TX (about 1 hr south of ft worth) to speak at the winter retreat for our church's high schoolers. There was some concern about bringing seth but we decided to give it a whirl. Well I forgot to pack diapers and the bed rail for seth...but luckily we found a nearby grocery store and put some pillows under the fitted sheet and used that as his bed rail which worked just fine. (Seth has been doing great in his toddler bed by the way). Spencer and I shared a room and Seth had his own room with a bathroom connecting both of our rooms, it was a perfect set up. Seth loved for us to put him on the top bunk to play, he felt so big! It was a really pretty weekend outside weather wise, so that's where Seth and I would be while Spencer talked to the students during their sessions. Riverbend is pretty special to me, because its where I went to GA camp with my church growing up, so lots of great memories there, so it was really special to get to bring Seth! He loved being outside and playing in the little pond and throwing rocks and sticks in. He also loved playing on the playground the model boat they had built...needless to say Seth was in heaven! There was a band that would play worship music before each session and that was by far Seth's favorite thing! he would move his arms and clap and afterwords he would want to go and touch the drums! It was a tiring but fun weekend!! Enjoy the video at the end of Seth and Spencer playing! (just click on the link) Seth playing on the top bunk in his room

Seth watchiing Mickey in his bed before bedtime
Seth loved to people watch during meal time

This is one of his favorite outdoor spots-the pond


his arms are blurry because he's waving them to the music!



just sitting and watching the water

beautiful overlook of the countryside

he liked climbing on the rocks and getting as close to the water as possible

here's the boat he liked to play on-so neat!

in the boat steering the wheel

sliding down out of the boat

i think he wanted to go swimming

one of the many random objects that kept seth busy over the weekend

he loved watching the band practice

the rooms where we stayed

Seth loves microphones

wiped out after a long and fun weekend!!

Check out this video on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cg7PVV17sI&feature=youtube_gdata_player