Fall

I suppose that yesterday's winter storm (predicted to “far surpass anything that we've seen, probably for the last several years” ... anybody see that storm? I think we missed it.) brings fall close to an end.

Sigh.

It's sure been fun! 

One Saturday morning while Wes was building us a house the kids and I bundled up for a long walk in the leaves.

   

(Spencer only tolerated his mittens at intervals.

"I can't suck!" he'd say in desperate frustration and demand their removal.) 

 

 We finished with scones and hot chocolate at the cafeteria.

You may recall that the creator of those darling hats was my friend Rebecca.  We had a chance to visit her and Nate in their lovely abode this fall, and meet their darling pup, and sample their delicious apple pie.  We love them. 

And we love our friend Alan who flew out from Chicago at the beginning of November.  The evening before he left we made Anne's carmeled apples, looked through old Las Vegas year books, and listened to lots of music from the 90's.  Good times.

 

     

And there has been fun with (and help from!) lots of other friends.  

Friends like Karen and Leesee who hooked us up with a sweet Christmas bow for Lucy's holiday head (shop up and running yet, Lees?).

Friends like Charis who dropped off a little firewood and s'more stuff so we could enjoy one last family night in the canyon before winter's storms. 

  

I loved that night.  Spencer didn't know he should cook his hot dog before biting in.  Lucy, as usual, prepared her dog with a half a bun - for holding purposes only. 

When the darkness deepened we snuggled up together by the fire.  There were stars, and s'mores, and lots of silly songs.  And it was all perfect.  

So was our afternoon at the fairy lair around the corner from Grandma's house. 

so was this week's family night. 

We learned a few little Thanksgiving songs together and the kids took turns performing them on the couch using a bat as a microphone.  In the process, we learned that someone in our family likes to be solely in the spotlight.

And that brings us to this morning, all of us still in our jammies on the first day of Thanksgiving break. 

Happy feasting, friends!

(Hoping to be back soon for the story of something rather high on my grateful list this year!!)