Indian Summer

After an October that was the second wettest and third coldest on record, we are now enjoying delightfully warm days. Today was actually warmer than several days we had in July.

With the cloudless blue skies and warm breezes, there was absolutely no chance we were spending it indoors.


Although the first part of the day was spent raking leaves (which was been long overdue), the second part of the day was once again spent wandering along our favorite trails.





The warm weather lured us farther than we usually go. Even Blaise's normally strong little legs eventually tired out (although from the look on his face, it appears he may not have been quite as tired as he was putting on.) We can home with sore feet, tired legs, and well rested souls.


This beautiful weather is almost enough to make me forget that winter is nearly upon us. The weather forecast actually predicts that we may have just enjoyed our last nice weekend. But driving home with windows down and views like this, it is easy to imagine they will last forever.

New Trails

The leaves are pretty much gone (everywhere except out of our front yard.)

The weather has been pretty chilly.

But that hasn't stopped us from exploring new places. If the day is even remotely dry and the temperature tolerable, we are gone.

(Don't ask me what we are going to do when there is snow and below zero temperatures.)

We just found an amazing trail that goes through forests around the reservoir, complete with the huge gnarled oak trees I have fallen in love with. This trail loops down to look out over the lake.



And the loop is a perfect distance to be exercise for everyone, but still manageable for the boys.


One of the things I miss most about Utah is the fast flowing clear mountain streams that gurgle loudly. Here in Iowa, while not flat, the streams and rivers are slow, quiet, and murky. I was commenting to Keith how much I missed seeing water that I had no reservations about the boys playing in, about how much I missed those fast, sparkling streams. Then we turned a corner in the trail to come across a beautiful wood and steel bridge.


And under the bridge was a small, fast flowing clear stream, complete with two sets of small waterfalls.


I am definitely coming back here in the summer. In fact, I may not wait that long.

Autumn Joy

Nothing says impromptu photos shoot like a mild October day and a huge pile of leaves.




Those smiles and blue eyes make my heart crumble and make every day worth it.

I think the reason I've been able to stay so positive over the last couple very difficult months is that I know every day, I'm coming home to this.


Some of these photos just may end up (after a little Photoshop work on some unwashed faces) on our Christmas cards this year. We'll have to see.

Fall at the Lake

With the cold nights and mostly rainy days, every moment of sun is to be enjoyed.

We took advantage of the last sunny moment to walk around the lake. I had seen the lake trail when we had gone to the lake to swim or boat, and instantly wanted to explore it. So, the clouds broke, the sun shone, and we were gone.


One of my favorite things about living in Utah was our close proximity to the canyons and the fact that I could take the boys any afternoon and go for an adventure. We hiked all the time. There were times when finding a child-friendly trail was a challenge, but it never stopped us from exploring. I had worried when we moved to Iowa that there wouldn't be as many outdoor opportunities. But the lake trail now makes the third amazing nature trail that we have found.

The trail was just a little bit longer than I had anticipated, since we went the entire length, from the beach to the "waterfall." The boys were looking just a little worn by the time we completed the round trip.




But it was the most wonderful way to enjoy fall and the increasingly rare sunshine.

Pictures of Fall

It is full blown fall now. While most the trees are still green(ish), there are more and more pops of red, yellow, and orange. It has started raining again, after an entire three weeks without rain. I'm telling you, Utah people, that's like a drought here in Iowa. It's supposed to fall below freezing tonight.

Full blown fall.


And we are doing our best to enjoy every minute.

A day at the lake, to have a beach picnic and play in the sand. And never mind that I said keep out of the water.



Leaf piles in the backyard.




More apple picking.


Because somehow we managed to eat fifteen pounds of apples in one week. I did make apple pie and apple crisp and we ate those too. But still, 15 pounds! Well, three of us ate 15 pounds of apples. Roman still insists he likes picking apples much more than he likes eating them.

At least someone loves apples.

Soon, more of the trees will change, and it will be time for more fall walks and drives.


Because soon it will be winter.


But for now, it is fall.

Happy Halloween!

I didn't grow up celebrating Halloween.

I do remember trick-or-treating once, maybe twice, when I was very little, 3 or 4.

And then we never went again. My parents felt it was not a holiday they wanted to celebrate. And that was fine, and I never minded.

(Although I did go trick-or-treating with my cousins when I was 15.)

However, for my own children, I love Halloween. I love carving pumpkins. I love lighting candles and making little tissue ghosts.

But what I love most is dressing my boys up in ridiculously cute costumes and parading them around in public. There is no other time of the year it is acceptable to do that. (There is also no other time it is acceptable to wander around in public wearing a tiara, either.)

This year, the festivities started with a Halloween parade at Roman's school. This is still new for me. I debated whether I should go, or get started on my paper. I decided to go. It turns out it was a good thing I did. The school was packed, music going, most of the adults dressed up as well. It would have looked bad if I had been the only parent within the school boundaries that didn't go. And there is no better reward than seeing your boy's face light up when he sees you in the crowd.

Roman at his school costume parade

Roman decided to be a cowboy this year. It says something that we have enough dress-up to put the costume together without buying anything. (I'm not sure what it says. Maybe that we've been a family for a while.)

Doesn't he make an extremely good-looking cowboy?

Stick 'em up!

My boys, the cow-pokes

Blaise was going to be a bee, and wear his costume from last year, since it still fit and there is not reason (other than wanting to) to buy a new costume every year. However, when Blaise saw us bring the bee costume out, he starting crying and saying that he only wanted to wear a cowboy hat. After the morning spent in the black sweats for his bee costume, we relented and let him be a cowboy.

We always go trick-or-treating at Keith's work and then at the mall. These are both safe places to wander around with our little kids, and are immune from the unpredictable weather of late October.

Keith, Roman, and Blaise
Ready for trick-or-treating!

The boys enjoy it, at least at first. But inevitably, Roman gets tired of walking. And Blaise gets plain tired.

I'm not sure,
but something is telling me
we are done trick-or-treating,
and it's time to go home.

I don't think it is exciting as door-to-door, but it is an efficient way to get candy.

And even though it is not as much candy as I remember getting when I was very little, it is PLENTY!

Memory Park

So, I decided to break away from my routine of going up Mill Creek Canyon every time I want to escape the valley, and took the boys to City Creek Canyon.

(Okay, the real reason I went to City Creek/Memory Grove is that I wanted horse chestnuts for decoration at home, but the boys didn't know that.)

I have to say, that although it is technically a canyon, and there is a "creek," it doesn't feel like getting out of the canyon. There were tons of people with the dogs, bikers, joggers, a wedding, and a multitude of photography sessions going on. You can also see the capitol building dome over the tops of the trees, and houses on the ridges that overlook the canyon.

Capitol Dome, as seen from Memory Park

But regardless, it is a beautiful park.

City Creek

City Creek with fall leaves

The stream once again provided plenty of opportunity for Blaise to participate in his favorite activity of throwing things in water.

Blaise, busy with his favorite activity

Blaise, sitting at the side of City Creek

Roman
Isn't he getting good looking?

The monuments are beautiful to look at.

Roman, sitting on the steps of one of the memorials

And it is a very pleasant walk, strolling through the trees. Even with Blaise running back to grab my leg every time a dog ran past us.

Walking along the fall trail

Oh, and we got plenty of chestnuts!

Leaves

There is nothing more iconic to the fall season than fall leaves. And nothing speaks to my childhood memories of fall more than playing in them.

And now, since I'm a mom, there is nothing that make me happier than seeing my beautiful boys making some of the same memories that I have.

Roman

Blaise

Being apartment dwellers (yuck), we don't technically have a yard. There is a shared common area of between the buildings, which works great for a little bubble blowing, ball kicking, and parachute man throwing. (Well, that is, until the other apartment dwelling children come out and take my kids toys away.)

However, we are "lucky" enough to live next to a church that has a huge parking lot that is empty 6 1/2 days out of the week. There is also a small area of grass. This area is perfect for bike riding. Very few cars ever come through the parking lot, so there is no yelling at the boys to "get out of the way."

The boys on their bikes

Roman riding his bike

Blaise on his "bike"

Blaise loves the sound of the leaves crunching under the wheels

Just look at that tongue!

Yes, Blaise has a tricycle, not just the riding toy that he is using in the pictures above. But his feet don't reach the tricycle pedals (after all, he is two, and riding a tricycle is a skill developed at three years of age. So no pressure.) Roman has gotten very good at riding his bike, and through the whole learning process got away with much fewer scrapes than I remember getting. I can wait until I have a bike to ride with Roman down the Jordan River Walkway (sigh).

since, like I mentioned before, the church is being abandoned most of the time, it is also perfect for playing in large piles of neglected leaves.

Jumping in the leaves together

More jumping

Now that looks like fun!

When Dad gets home, he joins us in playing in the leaves. Well, that is until the boys gang up, and use their huge leaf pile as arsenal. And I joined in too.











Unfortunately, a lawn maintenance company came by the next day, and now the leaves are gone. But at least we enjoyed them while we could.