Fall hike

 Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time of year.  When the weather turns mild, the sunlight turns golden, and the leaves turn brilliant shades of reds, yellows, and oranges.  You'll find us outdoors most of the season, taking final picnics before the cold and rain arrives, and out crunching, collecting, and just enjoying the smell of, fallen leaves.  One of our favorite places to go during this golden time is Woodland Hills.  With its heavy cover of trees, there are so many beautiful places to explore and  hike.  We started at a lot that we love to dream of owning that backs up to a hillside full of growth, and just started hiking up the path that switchbacked up the mountain.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day for being outside, and we enjoyed the unstructured, unplanned time together.  This is one of my favorite things to do; just set out together and find somewhere new to explore.  This day Savannah brought her friend along, which happens to be our next door neighbor, McKell.

 Some of the fall beauty.  I am always so incredibly grateful during seasons to live somewhere so beautiful as Utah is.  One of my goals in life is to take a cruise up the New England coast during Autumn.

 For some reason, fall wasn't as stunning in most other parts of the county this year, but Woodland Hills did not disappoint in its display of autumn glory.

This view from a clearing along the way made me wonder if this is what Vermont looks like, with the houses nestled among the trees and flaming spots of color.

 Boston is getting too big to be carried in the baby carrier.  I think this will be his last flight in it.

 As we hiked, the kids kept finding these little...indentions in the hillside, for lack of a better way to describe them.  They told each other stories about which fairy lived in each, and what she used for her bed, chair, bowl, etc.  It was fun to see nature through their eyes, and I could almost believe that fairies would live in such a magical place.

When we go on hikes, the kids love to find walking sticks, and help each other find just the perfect one.  They have to be very straight, and smooth, and just the right size for the user.  I'm always amazed at how good they are for finding them.

I love fall!