Thanksgiving Point Tulips

One thing is certain, we love the tulip festival in our family. We go every year, and even with the crowds (the crowds are insane!) we have a really nice time. This year we bought waffles from a food truck and sat on the lawn in the sun and laughed and laughed.

Both kids have been earning allowance and saving their money for toys. James goes to the Lego store every time he has the minimum amount to buy something, but Juliet is much more like me, she saves and saves. Finally she decided she'd like a camera with her money. The entire time we were there

Juliet loves taking pictures of flowers, much like me.

She's so funny, she totally gets down low, gotta get on the flowers level. (And in case you were looking up her dress, she always wears bike shorts under her dresses. It's great, because it means that she can play and climb and never worry about underpants peeking out.)

Gotta check that photo, make sure the exposure was correct.

Most the time she's willing to give me a smile and a pose.

This little girl is looking less and less little by the day. Isn't she just the sweetest?

This one is hard to corner for a picture, glad I got one!

And the mama and baby owls are back! Woot! Watching them is the sweetest thing ever.

Happiest birthday to me! And Red Butte Garden twice!

The best birthday present EVER this year was a ridiculously warm day for early April. When I turned 30 it snowed and snowed, but when I turned 35 it was warm enough to have breakfast on the patio and a picnic dinner in the garden!

Also I got the best gifts this year. I've been searching for the perfect leather flat for years. I've had Toms, Frye, and this year finally spurred on Tiek. The Tieks are so expensive, but I wear them every day, and so far they are my favorite by far! Ah! And I got red, so I look amazing everywhere I go. ;)

E also got me an antique Sherlock book, The Hounds of the Baskervilles. It's amazing. A second edition in perfect shape.

We played outside all day, and finally after quiet time went to Red Butte. We didn't wear yellow this year for our annual daffodil photo (they never seem to be my favorite photos, so I skipped it) but had a LOVELY time from beginning to end.

The weather! The happy kiddos!

It's too bad E doesn't know how to treat his woman right. ;)

I asked E for a birthday portrait. Apparently I didn't tell him the most important part of the photo was my new birthday shoes.

Four has been AMAZING for this one.

We saw the sweetest little bunny in these daffodils, munching on the blooms. As soon as we got close he scampered away. (However, I got a little video and posted it on Instagram here.)

We brought bubbles in hopes of perfect photos. Problem is? Kids move FAST when chasing bubbles. 

Cuties. 

A few days later we decided to go back to Red Butte with Damma and Chelsea/Joe/Emilia. The weather was too nice not to soak it up.

We thought a cousin photo was needed. The girls both wanted their accessories. So Tiger and the backpack joined the photo.

The first time we went none of the blossoming trees were open, the second time we went everything was at their peek!

Honey bees were everywhere.

Look at this darling almost three year old!

Damma had coins so we could buy duck food.

Absolutely everything was in bloom.

Such a good first week of April!

Late November in the garden

These may be a few weeks late. My brain is Sherlock-compromised. ;)

It was a bit colder than expected and she wanted a hat. Luckily the bonnet was still in the car and she wore it the entire time. I die.

Little Red.

Thanksgiving Point Gardens in autumn

Sometimes I feel like I could just post last October's posts and nobody would be the wiser. We do the same things each October: Lagoon, enjoy leaves, Garden After Dark at Red Butte Garden and visit Thanksgiving Point before their garden closes for the season. And of course Halloween.

So, enjoy some autumn garden goodness.

This kid is suddenly so big! Reading and doing math like a pro. Has his first loose tooth and turning six in just a few weeks.

My favorite spot for a photo every single year. Here is a link of the years previous.

They are both goof balls.

E had just returned from a week away and he misses these kiddos so much. Autumn is difficult because it's his busiest travel season by far.

James took this! Well done kiddo!