blackberry picking

one of our favorite summer traditions is to go fruit picking. we've visited duck creek farms for the past three years, and it's something I look forward to every june. We love visiting and supporting local farms, meeting and talking to the farmers {and various family members} that own them and sustain them. Plus, the blackberries are so delicious!

Austin Science + Nature Center

I always try and squeeze in a trip to the science + nature center and the thinkery  when we are in Austin visiting family. sadly, I didn't take any photos with my camera when we were at the thinkery, but it's an awesome children's museum ~ you can easily spend all day there!

Austin's Science + Nature Center is tucked under a bridge near zilker park, has beautiful walking trails, a small zoo of rescued animals ~ the baby fox was so cute, a dino pit, where the littles can 'dig' for dinosaur fossils, and tons of educational exhibits that they can explore. my personal favorite is watching the honey bee colony. it's so fascinating watching the little worker bees' make honey.

sparrow loves it + if you ever find yourself in my home city, I highly recommend taking your littles there. and to the thinkery!

twu gardens

this afternoon when chris got home, we loaded up the littles and headed to one of our favorite spots in denton - twu gardens. I love this place. I love to come by myself to pray or think, and I love bringing my girls here to play and explore. and during the texas heat, all the trees make for some real nice picnic spots.

sometimes me and chris joke that parenting is a lot like ground hog day, filled with sameness and routine. wake up, rush off to work (at least for dad), feed babies, nap, play-dates, baths, dinner, homeschool, nurse, nurse, nurse. you feel me mama's? but it is so good for my spirit to break out of our routine and fill our days with adventure, even if its a small one like getting frozen yogurt and letting sparrow pick wild flowers or like today - walking amidst a beautiful and lush garden, letting sparrow roam free without restriction, connecting with my husband without distractions, and watching my little girls bond.

this life really is so beautiful, and I just need a little reminder to slow down, so I don't miss all of the wonderful moments, like the sound of sparrow's laugh, and juniper's little dimples when she smiles, and the way it feels to hold my husband's hand, and to feel the cool breeze on my face. and for me, this comes easy when I am outside - away from technology, away from my to do list, and away from my messy house. after-all, like my mama always says ' it goes fast + there will always be dishes, but there won't always be a precious little one that wants to hold your hand'.

a family date at the DMA



 

we scooted down to dallas for the afternoon - took sparrow to the  Dallas Museum of Art(it's free now, so I love using it on rainy/snowy/too cold to play outside days), it was so good for her to just be able to run around and climb stairs and look at colorful paintings - and then play at the kylde warren park. we got all of her endless toddler energy out - and then enjoyed a late lunch at taco diner! Yum! :)

saturday, a family favorite





 

this Saturday we had a little birthday party to attend at my favorite park in dallas, the klyde warren park. Love this place. food trucks all around, little splash area, and it's right near the DMA + the Perot Museum. so it's naturally a favorite. and beforehand, I talked chris into taking me to hypnotic donuts, for some early morning treats + cuvee coffee.

lake day

we headed to the lake with some dear friends while the weather was still warm. i love lake days! we packed a cooler full of good food & drinks, loaded up the kayak - and thanks to some kind strangers who let us use their sunscreen, none of the littles got sunburned (or me!).

A DAY AT THE FT.WORTH ZOO

so we decided to take sparrow to the zoo for her 2nd birthday! her actual birthday was on a Friday this year, so we met up with sparrow's poppi & nani & auntie paige! for now we have decided that sparrow's birthday presents (at least from us) are going to be experiences - and she is just at the right age to enjoy stuff like this now! we had so much and the zoo just had a brand new baby elephant! not gonna lie, elephants are my favorite! this weekend we have more family coming into town and are having a little picnic party on Saturday to celebrate her life!