Family Time at the Lake with the Bluebonnets

The bluebonnets were out this spring but our usual spot by Grapevine Lake didn't have many blooms.  The ground seemed extra muddy so maybe there was just too much rain.  But we still had a nice time going out and exploring the area and taking pictures.

Rachel found this dead tree to sit on and asked us to take this picture.  She is developing a good eye for setting up pictures.

Of course, a little play is always fun too.

We found a few patches of bluebonnets.  The kids stayed still and posed for us for a little while.  This is probably the biggest patch of flowers that we found.  We were also a little late in getting out here so there were probably more flowers a week or two ago.  

I can't believe how quickly these sweet kid are growing up.  I try to cherish the time with them but it still seems to just slip right through my hands.

This guy especially is getting too big!  I blinked for a moment and he now he will be starting eighth grade next year. How did that happen?

These two are so precious to me.  What a blessing it is to be their mom and to watch them grow and learn new and exciting things each day.  

Aww!  I was just going to pose with him and he surprised me with a kiss on the cheek!  What a sweet boy!

Stuart handed over the camera to one of our budding photographers so we could get a picture together.

We rarely get pictures of the two of us together.  This is shadowy and we were wind-blown but I love any picture with my sweet hubby.

Our kids are always discovering neat things in nature.  I never know what they will find but I love how they show each other their finds and they try to help each other identify them.

Nicholas found a little caterpillar.

I even found a pretty butterfly.

It's always fun to just explore around here.

My boy loves sticks so he is often carrying one around when we are outside.  This is the mack daddy of all sticks though.  Look how gnarly it is.  He was using it as a magical staff to shoot laser beams at things.

I love how there are still glimpses of a little boy in him.

Look how tall Nicholas is getting!  It won't be long before he is as tall as Stuart!

This little one is a sweet heart and she loves to give kisses.

She loves her Daddy.

Of course we can't go to the lake without Rachel bringing home some cool rocks and fossils.  She gathered them up in her dress to carry them back to the car.  She was a little sad when we made her go through her bounty and limit it to her three most favorite treasures to take home.

On the way to the car, Rachel fell and got hurt.  Big brother scooped in and saved the day by giving her a piggy back ride to the car.

Bluebonnets at Lake Grapevine

The weather has been beautiful and the temperature is perfect.  As I picked the kids up from their theater class today, I looked up at this tree and noticed the green leaves, blue sky, and rays of sun. 

That was about all I needed to decide that we needed an impromptu nature hike.  It's about time for bluebonnets to be in bloom so I went over to a little spot on Lake Grapevine to see what it looks like.  One year we came out to take pictures and it was completely flooded.  Some years it is overwhelming with blooms.  Other years it isn't very impressive.  This year probably falls somewhere it the middle.

There are different varieties of bluebonnets but they are all in the genus Lupinus.  Here in Texas, we find these beauties called Lupinus texensis.

The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas.  While there are rumors that it is against the law to pick bluebonnets, they simply aren't true.  

I love this spot because there is such a contrast between the lush bluebonnets and the dry rocky beach. It makes for unusual pictures and it is just more fun to explore.

In some places it is like God laid down a carpet of bluebonnets!

Of course, we never know what other interesting things we will find here.  Nicholas found this cool green beetle scurrying over the rocks.

We found lots of these burs.  Unfortunately, many of them were stuck to my pants and shirt!

Of course, when near a lake, one must get wet.  Amazingly, the kids stayed pretty dry this time.  They usually get soaked when water is nearby!

Nicholas found three Devil's Toenail fossils, aka gryphaea.

The terrain is rocky and can be rough to walk on in spots so the kids found sticks to use as walking staffs.

Rachel found this cool rock that has an impression in it.  We thought at first that it was an ammonite impression but it could be a regular shell.  Either way, it was cool to see.

A little later, Rachel called to us to see what she found.  A GIANT Devil's toenail!  I've never seen one that big!

I love that my kids have fun exploring and hunting for unusual treasures.  

On our way out, Nicholas found what we think may be two owl pellets.  

He picked one apart and didn't find much inside.  I'm still not 100% sure that these were owl pellets but they might be since they really didn't look like scat.

Bluebonnets in Ennis, Texas

We took a wonderful family field trip to Ennis, Texas this weekend.  Ennis is the official "Bluebonnet City of Texas".  They even have maps for bluebonnet driving trails to help you find the best bluebonnets around.  But I'd recommend going during a weekday so you don't have quite as many crowds stopped along the road.

This first stop on the trail map was actually to visit with some beautiful Belgium Horses.

There were very friendly and hanging out right at the fence to get petted.

Even Daddy enjoyed petting our new friends.

 The kids discovered that they could feed the horses with weeds they picked.  That was a big hit!

Rachel was just giddy that the little horse ate right from her hands!

There were so many beautiful wildflowers to be seen along the road.

My little photographer had to stop and take some flower pictures herself.  She loves having her camera with her all the time.

 Of course I think she is prettier than the flower :)

And this handsome young man is about to turn 12 years old tomorrow! 

Lot of people were asking strangers to take their picture for them.  We helped several families with their pictures and a nice gentleman took our picture for us.  

But we were mostly out to get some good pictures of the kids.  But I tell you, it is like herding cats to get good pictures.  They are so easily distracted by the other people around and...."Look at that bug!"

Ahh, that's better,

All smiles and flowers

I love these sweet kids more than they will ever know.

She looks so serious with her camera.  She wants her shot to look just right.

There are some great scenery along the Bluebonnet Trails that just make for some really special pictures like this barn and windmill.  I love the old green truck in the background too!

There were several stops with cows and longhorns sitting around in the wildflowers.

There were fields blanketed with beautiful bluebonnets.  It was hard at times getting pictures without other people in the background but that is why God created photo cropping.

Nicholas took a picture of us in the bluebonnets too!

I love this sweet picture of Rachel as she was twirling and dancing in the field of flowers.

This part of Texas is beautiful.  I love the country feel and wide open spaces.  Of course, fields of yellow wildflowers are nice too.

There were several designated stops along the bluebonnet map that were private residences.  It was amazing that they allowed hoards of people to just walk through their front yard taking pictures!

This house had some really beautiful flowers.  My kids were getting tired by now though so their smiles were starting to wane.  Note for next time, brings snacks and drinks along on the ride!

We spent several hours on the Bluebonnet trail and only made it through about half of the entire trail.  There was also a Bluebonnet Festival that we had planned to go to.  But we were starving and tired and decided to try this hole in the wall place for dinner.  The ordering process was a little strange but they have some great food.

Ennis, Texas is located just a little south of Dallas.  Check out their website for updates on bluebonnet blooms as well as info on how to take good bluebonnet pictures.