IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE FALL

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The weather starts to cool and its so nice to be outside. We also have lots of family birthdays and it's a fun excuse to get together.

C Man climbing in Maple Canyon.

Princess P and I at a family birthday party.

C Man with baby W at the birthday party.

PUMPKIN TRADITION

We love to go down to Centerfield to the pumpkin patch for Family Night with the Gordon cousins. It's become quite the tradition for about 5 years now. We go down and pick out our pumpkins, go through the hay maze, play on the playground, take photos and then go to the park for treats (usually donuts and hot chocolate). It sure is a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Miss G, Cousin W, C Man and Princess P are picking their pumpkins.

Quick Wizard of Oz pic!

The cousins!! What a good looking bunch!

AUTUMN LEAVES FOR FHE

'Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.'

I sure do love fall! The colors are amazing and it is such a wonderful relief to have cooler weather after the burning summer. It does mean going back to school, but I'll take it if we can have gorgeous turning leaves to ease the pain.

The cousins on the hike with he beautiful trees.

We took advantage of combined Family Night tonight to go up and see them. We hiked up to the Ephraim Tunnel out Left Hand Fork and it was such a wonderful night to do so!

Princess P and Cousin G on the hike.

Cousin L and C Man at the top where there is a tiny waterfall (that I never took a photo of for some reason...).

Princess P and Me!

MAPLE CANYON IN THE FALL

Ahh, Maple Canyon in autumn in one of my favorite places to see. It is such a pretty canyon, but when you add all those colorful falling leaves, it's breath-taking. We went up this weekend with the family. Sister S was home visiting from USU and it was so fun to have her there.

Friend T, Sister S and Princess P.

 Sister S had a friend stop by and visit us on his way down to St. George. It was very chilly before the sun came out, so we started a fire.

Sister S, Aunt N, Princess P and Little C

Sister S climbing like a boss even after coming home from her mission.

Big C, Aunt N and Friend T.

Little C climbs out of the dark and into the sun!

Little C, Grandma G, Sister S.

Princess P, Cousin C, Little Miss C and Aunt J.

Some of the more loony members of the family decided they would long board down the canyon road. Crazy kids! Thank heavens they were safe. Not a helmet to be found among them. *Sigh*

Big C, Sister S and Little C with their boards.

There they go! Turkey Road.

PUMPKIN PATCH

We all love the tradition of going to the pumpkin patch in Centerfield for Family Home Evening. It is such a cute place and the kids all love playing there and picking out their own pumpkins.

Little C pushes the girls in the swing.

Big C gives Baby W a shoulder ride. 

Princess P and Miss G. Cousins and friends!

Look at our awesome pumpkins we found! 

This year they had quite the hay bale maze.

Miss G, Princess P and Little G pose by the decor. 

Baby W rides in the wagon.

FALL FAMILY NIGHT

I have been dying to see all the leaves up in the mountains. I LOVE to see the changing colors! It is such a beautiful time of year! We haven't had time to get up there yet, so I organized a FHE to make sure we'd go.

The sun's going down and the fire's getting warmed up.

 Some of our friends wanted to come too, so we met out Willow Creek Road, just behind Bald Mountain. It was perfect! 

Roasting dinner

What a beautiful view! It doesn't get much better! LIFE IS GOOD. 

HEADING INTO FALL

As sad as I am to see summer go, autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. I LOVE the change in temperature, the colors of the changing leaves, the smell of burning weeds and leaves, the wearing of sweaters, eating pumpkin treats, and pumpkins!

Here's some other things that have defined fall this year...

I love the new Women's Meeting that our Church does. I love being able to go all together (well, Princess P and I- but if S had been in town, she would have come too) as women and girls! It is always a wonderful meeting!

Princess P and I on our way to the Women's Conference session.

Our trampoline has had a huge hole in it for a year now, and we finally ordered a new mat! Yay!

The kids helping Dad put in the new mat.

The kids proving that it works.

We actually grew an edible watermelon this year! It's the first time ever. Big C has tried to grow one a few times and they never make it. He was pretty proud. It's all because of the greenhouse...

Little C enjoying watermelon.

SOCCER SEASON STARTS

Soccer season has begun. Here are some crappy cell phone photos of the kids' first games. They are both enjoying the season so far...

Little C as keeper.

I am Little C's team's assistant coach.

Princess P playing defender.

Princess P is glad that she is on a girls only team.

ONE LAST CLIMB

I know, I know.... more climbing photos. I promise I will not post any more climbing photos after this. I am sick of them too. Even if we go again, I won't post any. 

Little C doing some bouldering.

 We went over on the West Mountain to a new place we haven't climbed before yesterday. My Grandpa C. owned land over at the mouth of Axehandle Canyon (he used to pronounce it 'Excell'), so I have always felt nostalgic when we go there. I can just imagine my dad and his brothers and father there, herding sheep and hauling hay. Now we climb the mountain.

A and his new friend, A. She'd never been climbing before and was a great sport.

The day was GORGEOUS! We were actually hot. We knew the good weather wasn't going to last, that's the whole reason we went one more time. I think I actually got some color on my arms. Today feels like winter, so we were glad we took advantage of it.

Big C, having a conversation with his mom and dad, so I snapped a pic.

Princess P and Grandma G loving the beautiful fall day.

QUICK CARNIVAL & MORE MAPLE

Well, Halloween season is upon us. Today was the elementary school Halloween Carnival. It used to be on Halloween, but they moved it and I am so glad! It made Halloween hectic and overwhelming. Now it is just a way to get us in the mood for the Trick or Treat night.

Princess P as a nurse, Little C as a banana, Sister A as Hello Kitty, Miss B as a Minecraft zombie

Big C wanted to go climbing with the family again, so we were just going to go for an hour, but we ended up staying longer than that. It was a pretty good year (except the line for the tickets was out the door and around the block...). They did a new corn maze that had a Wizard of Oz theme. The kids loved it! 

Miss B and Princess P by the entrance to the maze. I loved the witch legs.

After the carnival we headed up to Maple Canyon... again. I really think we need to build a second home up there. It would get used at least once a week! Big C just can't get enough. 

Cousins in the canyon.

All the in-town Gordon family were there. We had a good time together, but it was pretty chilly. The leaves are almost all gone now, but it is still a beautiful place to be.

Big C climbing barefoot. Yes, I am serious.

Little C reading his Spiderman comic.

Princess P and Aunt N on the wall.

Me holding Baby W! He's so cute I have to grit my teeth so I don't squeeze him too hard.

FALL CLIMBING IN MAPLE

Of course we had to go climbing in Maple Canyon. The leaves changing color make this canyon even more beautiful than in the summer. It is a wonderful place to be. So yesterday we invited family and friends and even had some turn up this time. It was really fun! 

Early Bird Crag climbing area.

The first place we climbed isn't a great place to hang out, but is a good spot for kid-friendly climbs. The ground you are standing on to belay is really steep and rocky, so it's slick and uncomfortable, but we had fun anyway.

Little C at the top! Just call him Spiderman.

Why yes, my camera lens is scratched. How did you know? :/

Princess P, cleaning the route and climbing like a boss!

Little C found a lizard and gave it to his little cousin, Miss C. She loved it and named it 'Car Light.' I love that girl!

Little Miss C and her 'yizard.'

When it was time for lunch we went down and met some more family and friends. We had a picnic in a beautiful, autumn setting. We were in outdoor heaven!

Relaxing in the autumn sunshine.

Everyone was all smiles.

Later they went and climbed in a newly developed area. 

Everyone piling into Grandpa G's truck.

Playing 'restaurant' in the mountains never gets old for the girls. We all go have a 'meal'.

My new nephew is cuter than yours!