everything's coming up tulips... and mamas

I'm a Dutch girl.  

Through and through.  As far as I know, that's the only nationality I have in me.  So, I guess you could say I'm a "purebred."  ;)  Although I guess that would make my children "mutts" since Chad is what he calls "American" (translation - a little mix of everything).

Being that my children are half Dutch, I thought it was vitally important to take them down to Pella for the Tulip Time festival this year so they could see where some of their "roots" stem from.  Even though it did mean pulling Addie out of school.  But I considered it an educational field trip. ;)

The tulips, of course were in full bloom everywhere.

It was so beautiful and the weather couldn't have been better.

Unfortunately, Chad was unable to come along since he had to teach, but I was able to find another friend and her two kids to come with us.

And with no husbands around to help with the kids, that meant we weren't able to do much shopping at the hundreds of little booths and tents set up all around.

So we played at the park for awhile instead.

Our wallets thanked us later.

Handfuls of dirt and sand are much better than crafty little trinkets anyways, right?

We tried to wear the kids down at the playground so they would sit patiently and wait for the parade.  

They did pretty good... although sno-cones didn't hurt either.

Tate wasn't too excited about the loud drummers approaching us every few minutes (actually, he hated them so much he cried big crocodile tears at each boom of the drum), so I got him dancing and clapping to the beat instead which helped relieve his fears immensely!

I loved the sight of my two little girls sitting side by side enjoying all the beautiful floats.

But the highlight of my day was definitely an unexpected reunion.  When the parade had finished, I was cleaning up our mess when I heard a strangely familiar voice  ("strange" because it was the same voice I knew, just a more "grown up" version) say my name.  I turned to see one of my favorite friends from high school, Hollie.  Just seeing her face (which really hadn't changed at all in this almost 14-year time span) brought back swarms of memories with her.

She was the friend that I could be completely spontaneous with.  Sometimes maybe a little too spontaneous... i.e., leaving "marks" that last a lifetime... *eh-hem*  ;) A moment with Hollie was a moment treasured and not forgotten.  Just buried with time and new experiences.  But so easily recalled... and smiled and laughed upon.   

Here we are on my family vacation to Branson.  Oh, good times.  Remember our "this sucks" plates, Hollie?  I'm sure my parents still have that picture... I'll have to dig that up.  ;)

If only we had more time to reminisce and catch up.  It was so good to see you again, Hollie!

And that was Tulip Time.

Which brings us to Mother's Day.

Yes, we had to have our yearly picture in front of our blooming purple tree (sorry, I don't know what kind it is, so I just call it "purple.")  The blooms only last about a week, and lucky for me, it always blooms during the week of Mother's Day.

After church, we went to my brother and sis-in-law's house.  And I do know that here we are standing in front of a lilac tree.  See, I'm not completely tree-illiterate.  Just mostly.

My beautiful mother.  I couldn't ask for a better one!  I am truly blessed that God gave her to me.  She had to put up with an awful lot of "mouth" from this teenage girl.  But thankfully, we got through that stage and are now the best of friends!  I only hope the same for my daughters and me someday!  (Not the mouthy part... just the friends part)  ;)

And we enjoyed a lovely Mother's Day meal with fresh-caught salmon as the main course.  Oh, yum!

And not to be forgotten...

another wonderful mother in our lives who is truly dear to our hearts.  Just unfortunate that distance separates us at these types of holidays.

We love you Mom, and Nana!  

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!