tulip gardens

I had driven by Thanksgiving Point hundreds of times, but had never visited. Saturday when I drove by on my way down to the Crawfish Boil in Payson, I noticed their billboard advertising their Tulip Festival, and there was still one week left! I called Brooke to see if she had ever gone, and she hadn't, so we picked a day (one of the hottest days ever!!) and loaded up the car with the two little ones, and shoved, then disassembled, then shoved again both of our big huge BOB strollers in the trunk. Our kids are on opposite nap schedules, so it's actually kinda hard to get together for activities that last longer than an hour. So I said, to heck with Pearce's nap today, we are gonna live a little and go have a fun day! (And hopefully she will sleep on the ride home, which she did. Kind of.)

I didn't really know what to expect. I kinda thought it would be like the tulip fields in Carlsbad, CA or Skagit Valley, WA with rows upon rows of tulips. But it was different. And it was lovely. There were more fields of grass, and manicured gardens, and beautiful trees. And ponds with fish, and little streams with rocks, and waterfalls. And brightly shining sun with beautiful blue skies and big fluffy white clouds. 

When I think of tulips, I usually think of them being more closed, and droopy (which I love). But these tulips were much more open, that at times I didn't even think they were tulips. And stick straight up, like a magic trick! Pearce, of course, loved the flowers. And wanted to pick them. And then when I told her she couldn't pick them, then she wanted to take the dirt away from them. 

This photo below is one of my favorites. And it's also hard to believe Pearce was still for a moment there. It was hard to get any close up photos of her, or still photos. I need to start saving for a lens with a zoom, because she is a runaway.

 Pearce was running all over the place. Gone are the days where she sits in a stroller. I was reminded, because Braylon (11 months) stayed calmly in his stroller the majority of the time.

 Little Braylon is learning to walk, and is taking steps on his own. It's fun to see this age again, brings back lots of happy memories. 

 Okay, just a few of me and Pearce. Even though I don't like myself in photos, BUT I've made a conscious effort to be in photos with her regardless. I want her to see one day, that mommy was there, and mommy had fun and adores her. And I'm sure I'll look back in 10, 15, 20 years and think *why the heck did I not like how I looked??* And I'll think *WOW, I was sooo young!!** Even though, that is NOT how I feel now. Why am I getting teary writing this right now?!? hahahaha (I guess it's because memories are precious.)

 Pearce would grab my hand and say "Mommy, come here!!" "FISH!"

Aaaaah, those blue skies and clouds. You couldn't NOT notice them! When I saw them, it reminded me of some art work a design blogger shared in her dining room. She enlarged a cloud photo and framed it. And I think I wanna do that over the fireplace in our family room.

Looking at the fish in the pond.

 Little beggar. Nice Brookie.

 Pearce loved the "goldfish" - ya know, like her crackers she eats all the time.

 Funny that little rocks look like the fish food. Because after we ran out of quarters (just one) she fed rocks to the fish. Here she is carrying hands full to the pond.

  And throwing them in. :-)

  i LOVE this one below!! Made herself real comfortable.

 Happy girl.

 Hot and sweaty girl. And mommy starting to die of heat exhaustion. Didn't pack a big enough bottle of water. Wasn't prepared. But we found a little fountain and I filled her sippy cup with water that I gulped two of them before handing back to her.

 We made it back to the entrance building and got some much needed cold treats. This was Braylon's first sugar, so he was laughing hysterically. so CUTE!!

  And this was NOT Pea's first sugar. hahaha 

 We hung out in the lobby for a bit cooling off eating our popsicles. And then took off.