Friday Daydreamin': I LOVE Texas

One last week to share a photo of a place we love on Friday Daydreamin'.  Make sure you link up over at R We There Yet Mom.

This one needs no introduction.

I love the rolling hills. I love the friendly faces.  I love the can-do attitudes. I love the tex-mex.  I love the history.  I love the weather, most of the time.  I love all the lakes.  I love that everyone drives a pick-up.  I love the sound of the crickets at night.  I love the sunsets.  I love windmills.  I love longhorns.  I love blue bell ice cream.  I love cowboy hats and boots.  I love bbq.  I love the Dallas skyline.  I love shorts in winter.  I love "y'all". I love the pride.  I love Texas.

Happy Birthday Texas

Last week, Texas celebrated it's 175th birthday ~ the 175th Anniversary of Texas Independence.  And we Texans are SO darn proud of our heritage, that we are gonna celebrate it all year long!!!

Seriously.

Every month, all over the state, something grand is planned.

Just 2 weeks ago, while at Sissy's 4th grade field trip, we were a part of the celebrating too.

Every year at Sissy's school, the 4th grade goes on the "Amazing Alamo" field trip  - they get a private charter bus ("with a bathroom Mom!!") that takes them down to San Antonio for the day.  They visit the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Alamo, and then the watch the IMAX movie "The Price of Freedom" (about what?  You guessed it- the Alamo!).  This field trip is a rite of passage for these kiddos and they look forward to it for years.

What is particularly exciting for me is that when I was in 4th grade, we did the exact same field trip (minus the movie - no IMAX in the 80"s....we toured Mrs. Barid's Bread factory instead).  So I jumped on the chance to be a chaperone.

So you all 'Remember the Alamo' right?  no?  Oh that's right, I'm talking to non-Texans.  So short version, The Alamo is a Spanish Mission built in what is now San Antonio, Texas.  In March of 1836, a small group of Texans defended the Alamo against Mexico and were defeated.  Because of this loss, Texans came together and won their independence against Mexico a month later under the leadership of Sam Houston.  175 years ago to be exact......

so how impressed are you that I knew all that by heart?

don't laugh at me.

every young Texan knows their Texas history....especially the history of the Alamo.

and did you know that Texas has had 6 different sovereignties leading us?  No?  Let me name them for ya:  Spain, France, Mexico, Confederate States of America, Republic of Texas, and the United States of America.

ya, I knew all those by heart too.

love me some Texas history - they don't call me a Texas girl for nothing!!

Feelin' Hot Hot HOT!

It's September 2.  And it's still hot.  No let me say that again for better emphasis.  It's HOT!!!  Ya'll it's over the 100s each afternoon.  So I just wanted to take a few minutes to familiarize you with how you know you are in Texas in August ..... and how you learn to survive.   If you haven't visited yet, this is sure to get you here!!

First off, when you leave the house, always, ALWAYS grab your iced down 32-ouncer of water BEFORE remembering to grab your keys and your purse.

Be careful getting into that car- the door handle can actually burn you.  And that seatbelt makes quite a nice branding iron.  Here in Texas in August, we learn to drive with 2 tips of our fingers on the wheel.  Go ahead.  It's perfectly safe.

Teach the kids that it's ok to sweat...a lot.  Cause the car AC doesn't blow cold air instantaneously.  

And who's bright idea was it to get a black minivan???

water is your friend.  even if it is luke-warm and splashing in your face.

luke-warm hose water is mighty refreshing down here.

When parking in august, you have to weight the pros & cons of parking in a shady spot versus walking half a mile into the store.  What's worse.....the 140 degree car or melting before you get to the one in the shade?

You start to become so delirious from the heat that 110 is "fine" and 98 is a "cool-down".

If you were a kid growing up in Texas, you played all day- every day - out in this heat and it didn't bother you.  So why does it drain you so now??

Ah.  The sweet smell of sunblock.  Blame all us Texans for killin' the Ozone layer with all our spray on sunblock.  We went through at least 5-7 bottles of the stuff.   Until I finally got smart and bought the lotion. I've managed to make it last over a month.  go figure.

And one of the worst things about August in Texas?  School clothes shopping - all we have to choose from is fall clothes!  Cute as it is, why on earth would I send my girl to school in a snazzy sweater and purple cords when it's 101?  Seriously, we don't start wearing these clothes until Thanksgiving.

Which is the main reason I live in Texas.  I can survive this ONE hot & miserable month for the six months of 50 & 60 degree winter!  Take that!