Tulip Festival 2011

There's a primary song that's going through my head-except that I really don't remember the words but in my head it goes like this: "Tulips, Tulips all around, in the sky and on the ground." Ok so they weren't in the sky but they were all around and they were gorgeous as was the weather. We really couldn't have asked for a better day.

The night before Grandma's sister, Aunt Katherine and her husband Uncle Gary drove up to go with us. We ended up taking 2 cars, but I think it worked out so the sisters could spend some quality time together.

Kids couldn't wait to get out in the fields. It was pretty dry except for a few mud puddles around the edges. We had to rope Tate in a few times but he did pretty well at not grabbing the flowers. I only caught one he'd ripped out of the ground carrying it around like a trophy.

Grandma, John & Tate, Mom & Tyler, Aunt Cathy & McKenna

We stopped for lunch in our favorite spot in La Connor

We had a great time with Grandma Payne, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Gary!

We then headed home to get a couple of birthday cakes made for a party and the adults stayed to see a little more of the beautiful fields in Mt Vernon!

Just for Documentary purposes-and because I was so excited and flattered to have been asked to make the cakes for my friend Ady's husbands 40th Birthday Party. It didn't necessarily go as smoothly as I hoped but the outcome was pretty and I had many report that they were Yummy!

I made 2 cakes: Nie Nie's Mud Cake from Cheeky Kitchen...

...and a Salty Sweet Cake

The Tulips are Back

There are so many pictures I made a slide show-They really tell the whole story anyway. If you want to read about the adventure then continue on.

The Tulips are out a little early this year, but it worked out perfectly for our schedule. My parents flew in Saturday morning and after picking them up at the airport we immediately drove 2 hours North to La Connor for lunch and then onto Mt. Vernon to take in the beautiful Splendor of the Tulip Fields.

There was more than just tulips there-it's been raining for what feels like forever, but over a week and there were a lot of puddles for the girls to jump in. Happy we brought the rainboots because Tyler didn't make it too long before falling in. Luckily she was wearing her skirt and Leggings, classic Tyler-and the Leggings and her wet feet were the only evidence.
Tate came down with a fever a couple of days earlier and for the most part just wanted to be held. He wasn't quite sure about Grandma and Grandpa at first, but Grandpa's silliness brings out the best in all of us and he couldn't help but play along.

Tyler on the other hand fell in love with the Dandelions at the end of the field-beautiful flowers that they are. Left a big smile on her face along with the yellow pollen from smelling those beautiful flowers so much.

You have admit that's quite the bouquet, what little girl wouldn't love that. The little old ladies parked next to us liked it.

We were on our way home and found a 2nd field which is actually the place we usually go-it was bursting in color and begging us to stop and take MORE pictures. Grandma made the girls these beautiful little pettiskirts and so we put those on with threats to stay away from the mud puddles and headed out for a photo shoot.

The Photographer

The Subjects

John was helping find "the spot" and Tyler decided to sit in. How cute is that?

Our Goofy Family