The Fall

It has been the most beautiful fall this year.  We have spent lots of time outside and the fall leaves were just beautiful.  We went on a great walk this day.  

A great thing about moving to Utah is it seems that lots of people come here to visit and therefore come to visit me!  My friend Monica was in town and drove all the way to my house so we could spend some time together.  It was so great to catch up and I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends.

 These kids have all grown up so much.  It was fun to see them play together.  They got along SO SO well.  I think they would have played for hours had they been given the chance.  There was lots of silliness going on.  I loved it.  I knew all these kids as babies.  I remember watching little Aiden when Monica had to get some things for newborn Sofie and I remember going to the hospital when she had her Audrey.  Time goes so quickly and I'm so thankful for those years in Ohio that we could all start our families together and be there fore each other.

 After school one day I just had to take a picture of the girls with the beautiful leaves behind them.  I didn't realize that the leaves went so pretty here.

 We took the girls to a volleyball game one night for fun.  I was shocked at how much they enjoyed it.  Lily was just really excited about the mascot.

 Bryan's nephew Dustin was baptized in October and Bryan was on call so I went and took the drive to Wyoming by myself.  Thankfully my dad was also by himself so he made the drive with me.  We went and visited the old house and barn where my grandpa lived and where my dad grew up.  They have refurbished the old barn and made the area into a park.  It had been 12 years almost to the day since my grandpa had passed away and it was particularly sweet to go and see the place where he lived and worked so hard.  My grandpa was the salt of the earth.  So hardworking, genuine and the best judge of character.  He knew people and animals better than anyone.  It's amazing that even after 12 years I ache for one of his big bear hugs, to come home from church to him peeling potatoes or for one of his delicious breakfasts of bacon, hash browns and eggs cooked in his little egg pan.  We adored him.  I miss him all the time.

 It was fun to bring the girls here and reminisce with my dad.  He pointed out where in the barn he used to have a basketball hoop and practice, where his cousin Jerry almost set the barn on fire, where they would gather eggs in the old chicken coop and the old fire pit that was built with rocks from every single state.  I think the girls enjoyed it as much as I did.

 Isn't it beautiful?  I think my grandpa would be pleased that they preserved it.  He really loved this land and the valley.  I can see why.  The views were so beautiful.

 They had some old farm equipment the girls played on.

 Seriously can you believe that view?

 They were having a golden wedding anniversary inside so we were able to slip in for a minute.  It is so beautiful.  They did a great job restoring it.  My dad said this was mostly full of barn owls back in the day.

 My sweet Lily.  The leaves were so pretty there as well and thankfully for the girls there was a fun playground they could enjoy.

 Lily is just a little bit too young to start preschool so I try to take her to story time each week at the library.  She enjoys it.  She gets a little timid but really loves it when they blow bubbles at the end and puts a stamp on her hand.

 Here she is enjoying the bubbles.  It's fun to watch her.