My Most Favorite Time of Year!

The kids have been waiting anxiously for the time when the leaves begin to fall. Oh how they look forward to playing in the leaves! We've been watching the tree in the corner of the yard for a few weeks now as it slowly turns into a thing of incredible beauty.  It is one of the reasons I love Fall. About this time every year I can't walk by the window without pausing to admire its loveliness.

 This tree in the other corner of the yard is a bit slower in turning, and it turns a bright yellow eventually.

 Its just starting to get there.

The other thing I love, besides the brilliant colors of fall that are so cheerful and refreshing, is the joyous sights I see each day when I glance out the window. I am constantly wanting to grab my camera and snap some pictures. Obviously I've done that plenty.   I can't seem to help myself. :) Here is Fall overdose. :) 

Note: Maybe I enjoy this so much because in Oregon, DRY, crispy,crunchy, fluttery, leaves don't exist. :D

Leaves!!! Wonderful, crispy, crunchy, fluttery, leaves!!!

 You can haul 'em in your dump truck....or your wagon.

 You can rake 'em into a great big pile and jump into it.

You can just shuffle your feet through them and listen to them whispering and rustling as you meander along, kicking some up every now and then to watch them flutter around in little whirlwinds.

 But best of all you can throw armfuls at each other and watch them float and flutter all around, clinging to hair and clothes!

Or even just above your own head...again...and again...and again!  Such fun!!!

All together now!

 

 And then its time to rake them up again...

(You'll notice at the end of the video Aubrey didn't want me to feel left out. Yes, I got a faceful! :D)

I  could sit outside all day, watching them play in the leaves, and enjoying the crisp fall air!  It's so refreshing!  Happy Fall ya'all.

When November Turned to December...

Although we still had a few cold and clear days, we often woke to heavy frosts that were so beautiful! It almost looked as if we'd had a dusting of snow.

We did our final raking of the leaves for the winter...

The kids were beginning to get the hang of leaf raking and turning into quite the good helpers.

Miss Kate had a much better attention span than her 2yr old brother...

That's not to say there wasn't some goofing around on her part tho.

(I'm pretty sure her brother would have been raked into the leaf pile if intervention had not occurred.)

But she continued diligently raking even when brother left off with the work part of things...

And even when he began playing in her hard work...

she continued on.

After he paced back and forth several times in front of her he was made to fix her leaf pile...

But in reality I think he spread it out even more! :)

So Kate gave up on being helpful and gave in to having fun!

Did you know if you walk around in a circle, passing through a leaf pile, while shuffling your feet...

over and over...

and over again...

changing directions if you start getting dizzy...

and you do it for long enough...

you will eventually get a circle shaped leaf pile!

And if you have a circle shaped leaf pile with a path through the middle there are no end to the games you can play in it!

But all fun must come to an end...even fall fun!

Not to worry though, as winter fun is just around the corner.

And freezing fog is sure pretty to look out the window to.

Then came November...

There was still a little color left in the trees and a few clear COLD days. We enjoyed the benefit of some sunshine and took the opportunity for a chilly day at the park to break up the monotony of day after day cooped up inside.

Sometimes everybody just does their thing and has fun...

...and somtimes they get their imaginations going, and thats even more fun!

Run, we're late for the bus!

The happy Bus driver!

Exit the bus with some drama!And climb aboard again!

Then mix it up and climb UP the slide and DOWN the steps...

The happy passenger!

Time to pick up another passenger!

Also a happy passenger!

And the time to take home little chilly noses and toeses always comes "too soon" for them. :)
We say goodbye to cousin Lala and Aunt Vi as they head back to their house.

And we head off across the park to our house, glad for one more chance to play at the park before we go into hibernation...