Bluebonnicator: March 7, 2013

It's the return of the Bluebonnicator!

This year is shaping up to be a very good year for bluebonnets in Brenham! Just one week into March and there are already bluebonnets in full bloom in and around town. That's perfect if you're coming into town on Saturday for Noble's birthday party. Bring a camera, take a drive in the country and see some bluebonnets while you're here!

I've had reports (and photos) of bluebonnets popping up all over. It's not peak season yet, but they're starting out great!

This week's Bluebonnicator is at 30% - the highest start of Bluebonnet season in Bluebonnicator history!

This would be a good time to remind everyone about some general guidelines:

1. Don't trample the bluebonnets. Try to step only in the areas between the bluebonnet plants. It might require you to what I call "the bluebonnet hop", butit will keep the plants looking great for everyone.

2. Don't pick the bluebonnets. Period. Get some seeds off the bottom of the plant instead and grow your own! Besides, it's against the law to pick the bloom.

3. Don't go romping through people's yards and fields to take pictures without permission. It really, really makes the locals mad when "city folks" come up and go on quarter mile hikes into their pastures to take their family's picture in the bluebonnets. It's private property, and it's just rude. Most times, if you'll just ask permission it will be okay, but there are plenty of great photo opportunities on public land. The state makes sure of that.

4. Watch out for fire ants! The same kind of soil that is great for growing bluebonnets is also prime for fire ants. Watch out! [and watch out for snakes, too!]

5. Ask a local. As I said before, there a lot of great photo places to take your family's photo in bluebonnets. And a lot of them are very easily accessible, but might not be able to be seen from the highway. Ask a local where some great shots can be had as you buy some Blue Bell ice cream or a sandwich or an antique from their shop.

6. Don't cross a fence. I've heard a lot of stories since we moved up here about tourists crossing fences. Some stories involve getting chased by bulls, some involve broken fences and some involve animals getting loose. But every one of the stories involved trespassing and ticked off the land owner. I've been guilty of this in the past - I admit it - but now I know better, and I'm letting you all know, as well.

7. Have a great time, outdoors. Get outside and enjoy the spring air and the sunshine. You can't see the bluebonets from your living room couch, folks. Unless you live in Brenham, that is. ;)

Sending love your way...

...and big hugs to all of you who sent love our way, too!

Extemporaneous Speaking and Hamburger Seeds

Wait, the title gave it all away, didn't it?  Oh, well.

January is School Board Appreciation month.  At the School Board meeting Tuesday night, each elementary school presented a gift to their school board representative and had a few students speak about what they love about their respective schools.  Well, there was a bit of a miscommunication...Kayci's friend who was also speaking wrote an entire speech, and Kayci had one very well-crafted sentence.  So, the first school went...and the kids had these very, very long and impressive speeches.  I was a little nervous for Bitty...I didn't want her to be embarrassed with her one sentence, but I couldn't get to her to tell her it would be okay if she read what she had OR if she wanted to add some more.  Kayci's friend Jenna spoke, and did a wonderful job...then it was Kayci's turn.

That kid never ceases to amaze me.  She stepped out, and her tight grip on her paper made me a little nervous.  But then, when she looked at the paper and pretended to read, "Hi, my name is Kayci Pharaon and I'm a fourth grader at..." I knew that she would be fine.  But then she went on to give a completely spontaneous, completely convincing speech...on the spot.  She looked at that paper the whole time, and even I wondered if she'd had time to write out the speech while she was waiting.  But nope, when she came over to us the paper was still blank save for the one, lone, original sentence.

This wasn't Bitty's first public speaking experience, but I'd say so far it's been the best.  She's awesome!

Daddy came home from Agents' Conference right before the school board meeting, and to celebrate his homecoming and Kayci's great performance we went out to eat.  Noble ordered his favorite, a hamburger, but when it arrived he got really excited.  We couldn't figure it out--then he pointed at the sesame seeds and said, "I never had these on a hamburger before!!  Mommy, can we take these seeds home to grow more hamburgers??"

He was dead serious, so we'll be planting some sesame seeds this weekend.  Wish him luck!

Kayci's Piano Recital

On December 15, Kayci had her winter piano recital here in Brenham. Here is the video for those that couldn't make it:

Oh, Christmas Tree

So, the plan this year was to buy our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving since we were actually home (with no plans!).  But...then we chickened out.  That's a whole lotta weeks to have a live tree in our home, and our house is so small that 4 weeks of decorations just about drive me nuts...I love, love decorating for Christmas, but I also love, love taking it all down in January and having just a basic, clean house for a while.  :)

We made time this past weekend to decorate our tree, so off we went Thursday night to buy our tree.  That way we could get straight to the decorating this weekend.

Or...not.  But man, we did have a great weekend!

So, the new plan was to decorate the tree Monday night.  Last night.  Only, one of us commuted to Houston for work and got stuck in CRAZY traffic coming home.  So maybe we got a later start than we planned.  Daddyboy and I just looked at each other and agreed, it was TIME to get the tree up--the kids could stay up late one night.   :)

My favorite part of decorating the tree is opening the boxes and telling the kids the story behind each ornament...and remembering.

Each year we give our kids a Hallmark ornament for Christmas.  Whether they like it or not (and we hope they love it!), when they get married they'll already have a lifetime of ornaments that tell their story, ready for their trees.

When I was 9 (in 1983 if you must know), my Grandma Weseloh started the tradition of buying ornaments for all of us grandkids, which is where it started for us.  When she was unable to continue the tradition, Mom and Dad started buying ornaments for us.  So I have almost 30 years of ornaments that tell my story on our family tree., along with a few really early ones.  This is the ornament that started it all.  She's broken now, and out of rotation, but this year I had Kayci put her on our dresser so I could enjoy her again.  Man, I miss my Grandma.

Our tree is perfectly imperfect, as one of my favorite bloggers would say.  In addition to our bought ornaments, there are tons of kid-made ornaments.  It was fun last night looking at their 1-year old ornaments and comparing the size of their hands then and now.  Oh, how time flies, y'all.  

Each year we have our jobs:  Daddyboy puts on the lights (NOT my favorite!), and I sit on the floor and open ornaments and hand them to the kids, telling them the story of each one.  Then Daddyboy helps them place the ornaments on the tree (unless it's an unbreakable one, then we just let them have at it).

It's too early to go out there and take a picture, but I got a good laugh last night...last year was the first year Bubby was big enough to help with real ornaments.  Yeah.  I'm thinking we were a year early--at least 2 of our Hallmark ornaments are glued together with notes "Noble dropped, 2011."  But you know, being THAT KID is part of his story.  Someday his wife's going to get a big kick out of it!

It's been a little tough for Bitty to share the job of putting the angel on the tree--after all, it's been her job for YEARS.  Last year Daddyboy let both kids put the angel on, and he did it again this year.  I'm thinking we've spent enough on his back...next year we'll flip for it.  :)

And that's it.  It still needs a little garland for a finishing touch, but that's our story.  It's the kind of tree one either loves or hates.  But to me, a fir tree dressed with our story is a Christmas tradition.

Oh, Christmas tree.  You were a long time coming this year, but man, we're glad you're here.

I used to overload December with activities and too many traditions to count, but last year and this year we've kind of toned it down.  I realized I was focusing too much on the DOING and not enough on the BEING.  So this year, I'm not sure what we'll do.  Since it's December 4th, guess I better figure it out.  I know the kids are excited about the Advent calendar, so looks like I'll be working on that today.  Our Elf on the Shelf has been visiting, of course, but she's JUST an elf, not one of those mischievous ones.

An Invitation!

Okay, a few invitations!

This Friday, 11/30 is the Brenham Lighted Christmas Parade!  We'll be riding on the Germania float, but will hit downtown afterwards for some hot chocolate (weather permitting) and the Stroll.

Next Friday, 12/7, is St. Paul's Christmas Program at 7:00 pm at Brenham High School.  Noble will be playing the role of a gift, and he can't WAIT!

Saturday, 12/15 is Kayci's Fall Piano Recital at 10:30 am at First Baptist, Brenham.  Afterward we'll grab a quick lunch (dutch, Kayci wants me to remind everyone--she's learned a new word!) and then James and I will head off to a wedding shoot.

We will take video and photo at each, of course (who am I kidding?  James will take video and photo, I'll snap a few crappy pictures with my phone), but we'd love for you to join us at any that appeal.

Hope you're having a great week!

Thankful for...

Surely he's thankful for other stuff, too?


If you're reading this, we're thankful for YOU!

Corn Maze

After church yesterday, we had a picnic then headed out to the Brazos Corn Maize. It was wonderful, and the people were so nice! Our goal was to get photos for a little happy (fall 2013!), but the kids sure had a blast. James took "real" pictures, but here are a couple of fun ones. The fifth Pharaon, Levi, was with us this weekend, so that's the extra kid on the bridge. :)





Bubby played hard...then he slept hard until it was time for trunk or treat. He slept through a 90 minute visit to the Carroll's new house while the kids played all around...now that's tired!

Pizza?

This came home in Noble's backpack yesterday.


Hmm. Might be yet another cookbook we put up in the cabinet and don't use--really, who but a chef would have these ingredients on hand?

Boo!

With the nice summer weather (and crazy busy work schedules for Mommygirl & Daddyboy), it's been a little tough to get into the Halloween spirit. So today we skipped church (gasp!) to stay home, recharge, and find some time to dress the little green house up for Halloween. Come on by in 10 days-we'll be ready with the candy!