A CRAZY fall hike. :)

My friend Sue and I decided to take the kids on a fall hike up a local hill.  It's fairly large and actually serves as a ski area during winter months, so you can imagine it is fairly steep.  We were hoping for some colorful views, fresh air and exercise.  Boy!  Did we get our share of all!!

The first thing we should have considered is that we had strollers.  Who hikes with strollers?  But I remembered there was a paved path for emergency vehicles that wrapped around the hill, so if we could just get there...we'd be great.  Getting there was hysterical.  I had Grant on my hip..we were both dragging our strollers over rocks and streams and by the time we made it to the road we were both about to pass out from exhaustion.  Next up?  PUSHING the strollers up a steep access road.  :)  It was a workout!

The boys all had a blast.  We wrapped their wrists with packing tape with the sticky side out and they collected leaves and interesting things they found on their hike.  When we got to the top and the start of the ski area, the views were WELL worth the effort.  Just beautiful!  A mini picnic at the top of the slopes and then down we went.  Of course, we missed the green EASY slopes on our hike and ended up at the craziest, steepest one.  The boys were running and sliding down on their butts.  And Sue and I just laughed at how crazy we must have looked with our strollers navigating this treacherous hill.

Here is our crew, ready for the trails!

We were looking to feed the ducks, but only fed the chipmunks.  Seriously.  The chipmunks were running around eating all the food.  It was crazy!

Matthew among the trees!

First view from the top.  Ella and Grant have NO idea what they are about to endure on the way down.  

My sweetheart.

Here we go!!

The view is gorgeous.  Here the boys are running and sliding.

Brothers!

Stunning views.  When the trees really start to change this will be amazing.

Starting our descent!

Our intrepid hikers!  Taking a rest at the bottom.

View from bottom.  Believe me...MUCH steeper than it appears.  :)

The boys found this cool rock and Matthew taught them how to jump.  This is them PRE-jump.  (They were super nervous.

Matthew showing them the ropes.

Here they are AFTER their first jump and ready for jump number 2.  Clearly they are feeling VERY happy about their accomplishment.  Look at those faces!!  Thanks Matthew!

It was a day full of laughs, exercise and fresh air with special friends.  When we got home, the boys ate dinner and fell into bed.  And mommy wasn't too far behind!!  

Pumpkin Seeds!

A chilly fall afternoon calls for warm toasty pumpkin seeds!!  We roasted them with sugar and pumpkin pie spice...the smell in the house is heavenly!  And the result?  YUMMY!!!  Perfect companion to a cup of warm apple cider (courtesy of the Keurig!)

Boys are a little hesitant on the cider...we'll see if they come around.  I hope so!  It's SO good!

Our HAUNTED pumpkin!!

After an early morning photo shoot at the beach with the boys (mommy as the photographer) we came home to carve pumpkins.  This year we came up with a pretty great idea.  A Haunted House Pumpkin!!  We used small pumpkins as ghosts, monster and a witch.  Then used chalkboard paint so we could decorate the outside with chalk.  It came out pretty amazing...and the best part?  We did not ruin our sweaters or shirts!  Time to roast up all those yummy pumpkin seeds!

Toy Land!!!!

There is a local play area that the boys LOVE. After being cooped up with rain for two days, today we decided to spend the afternoon trashing - oops I mean PLAYING - at some place other than our house. So to the play area we went!

Well we're still here and we have the ENTIRE place to ourselves! All three boys are in heaven running from one thing to the next. Grant is so happy to have new toys. :). Here are some photos. Happy Thursday!

Almost there!!!

Grant is on the verge of crawling! He can go backwards...but he is about to take off. I imagine it will happen today or tomorrow. Look out world! (And time for mommy and daddy to put those baby gates back up!)