Texas Equinox

Spring is officially upon us and this is definitely the beginning of a new season in our lives.  Gone are the gloomy winter days with their chilly breezes.  The flowers are blooming, bare branches are reaching out with fresh leaves and the lawnmowers can be heard buzzing over nearly every cup of morning coffee now.  Appropriately, I find myself embarking on the first leg of our move tomorrow.  Yes, today is my Texas Equinox.  For every season (turn, turn, turn) there is the prep work that goes into creating the marked change that separates it from the one before.  This trip is that prep work.  Part of change is saying goodbye to what made the last season it's own.  We will say goodbye to this house, where we welcomed both of our beautiful children and this beautiful island with it's gorgeous views wherever you look.  In the very short term, I will say goodbye to Lawson and Dustin.

Lawson talks about Texas throughout the day.  He tells me how we're all going, including the cat.  I'm sad that this trip to Texas, he can't come along.  I just hope he understands.  I'm not good at saying goodbye.  Lawson, luckily, is really good at it!  Going bye-bye is probably his favorite thing in the world!  His excitement for the person he's saying bye-bye to far supersedes his sadness to see them go.  I hope that will apply to me this time!

So hello, spring!  My bare toes are happy to see you with your warm, basking sunlight.  And goodbye winter.  I'm sure after a few months of Texas heat, I'll be missing the hats and coats, but for now, I'm happy to see you go and the only thing I'll be missing is my little man! 

And Then Her Toes Came Out of Hiding...

...because the sun had come out to warm the world! Spring was peaking out from behind the corner, so she did what any vitamin D deficient mama living just a hop, skip and a jump from the beach would do. She put on her flip flops and took her toes to the sand!!! And being that she was a mama, she brought along a few other eager little toes as well! With their favorite moving and grooving tunes blaring, windows down and smiles plastered on their faces, they let the wind carry them and found themselves among the rocks, sand and beach wood for an afternoon of loveliness and memories.

Paint-chipped, sun-starved, happy, sandy toes.

He had a permanent grin that made his mama's heart smile.

She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

He couldn't take his hands off of his ears as the F-18s flew did their touch and goes above.  "LOUD!"

Naomi is quickly becoming a stick connoisseur, much like her brother.

She's not picky though, and enjoys tasting rocks as well.  She picks them very carefully.

And then mommy makes her spit them out.  She's not a fan of that.

Lawson searched the beach for a treasure and found an "egg"!  He couldn't believe it!

Eventually, Mama got very tired of digging rocks out of little fingers and mouths and they all headed for the trail.  Naomi went in the front pack and off they went, Lawson running ahead.  The air smelled wonderful and the sun poured through the trees and grandfather's beard.  It was like a dream walking through the tall, tall trees!

They were so high, it was hard to see the tops!  He tried, though!

So much activity left those busy little feet quite tired by the time they reached the end of the trail. Luckily, the baby was snug in the front pack and mama had two hands free. So, up Lawson climbed, onto mama's back and back down the trail they went. Three happy beach bums, smiling in the sun and giggling just to giggle. The magical afternoon came to a close and now all that's left are some sandy car seats and these photos. Oh, and the wonderful, happy memories! Welcome, Spring!