Tulip Time!

If you know me, then you know I LOVE tulips!  I planted (with the help of my mother) about thirty bulbs the fall before Derick was born, just so I could have something pretty to look at out my window while caring for a newborn.  Ever since then, I've fallen head over heals for this bright, spring flower.  They are such a life affirming plant after a long and grey winter. 

Lucky for me, Washington State is home to one of the most amazing tulip festivals around....and yet, I haven't been in over 20 years.  I decided it was time to go, now that my babies are old enough to handle the "rules" in the fields and the hour + drive to get there. 

So, on a partly sunny Friday afternoon, we headed north to see some flowers.  It was all I remembered...and so much more!  Now, seeing the sea of colors with adult eyes (and a gardener's viewpoint, too) I could appreciate how amazing this truly is.  And to my pleasure, the kids were so well behaved and very sweet with each other.  They thought the mud puddles were MUCH more fun than all those flowers, but I didn't care.  I got what I wanted and they did too.  It was a grand adventure, and not too expensive either.  I brought lunch and drinks in a cooler, paid $5 to park, and spent about half a tank of gas up and back.  I didn't go into any of the fancy gardens, nor did we stop and shop.  This was purely about the fields of flowers and I couldn't be more happy about how the day went!

 My sweet kiddos!

 They were so patient with me as I kept asking and asking for them to pose for me.

The mud puddle that Derick found...it was more like a mud lake!  And just after this photo was taken, he fell over in it and got soaked!  But, he was a good sport and continued to take photos with me afterwards.  I love my boy! And I, the smart mama that I am, brought extra clothes for them both to change into.  So, the van wasn't destroyed either!

 Not only were the flowers amazing, but the clouds came out to play too!