"Crunching, crinkling autumn leaves Spiraling, swirling in the breeze."

It reached 75* this afternoon. Of course this necessitated a run/walk down to the Post Office and Mercantile to get the boys vanilla ice cream. I brought my camera to document the things we see on our walks multiple times a week. So here's a peek at our cute community tucked away in the foothills that would be considered mountains back East. Most certainly I did not do justice to this place, so you'll just have to come visit and see the place yourself. 

View from our bathroom.

Ash, Maple, & Aspen painting our backyard.

View from the Post Office.

View from the Mercantile.

Ice Cream at the Mercantile. 

Beautiful tree on the walk home.

Love the character of this house.

 Stopped at the playground on the walk back home from the Post Office and Mercantile.

View coming up the hill to our home.

View across the street of Bogus and Stack Rock.

Hours of fun playing in the leaves. Typical of the boys: Braeden neatly cleans them up in a pile and Ian runs through the pile messing it up. Brandon showed up and made a massive pile of leaves from the four trees in the front yard for the boys to get buried in and wrestle.  

Can you find Ian?

And just in case you think 75* is a normal temperature for November, snow is predicted this weekend. We shall see if the snowflakes stick around. 

Sweets for the Sweet

Our First Trick or Treat Adventure 

Airplane with Thomas Hat/ Construction Site Worker

I get to be in the picture!

1st stop. Pleasantly surprised that B was able to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" without prompting.  Ian always the mimic, followed with manners. 

1st bit of candy, Twizzlers

My flower child, had to pick up every dandelion on the way up the hill.

1st and only spooky house. Ian almost got taken out by a plastic axe while getting candy at the door. The home owner quickly blocked it before it scared Ian.

No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Gun to kill the evil Zurg from the Buzz Lightyear ride at DisneyWorld.
On the ride, Poppa and Brandon were intent on outscoring each other with a final score
91,000 to 89,000.
Granny Bug was the victorious champion scoring 611,500 on the ride.
Go Bug!

"There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of everyday... Just a dream away!"

We went "home" to Titusville, FL last week to see family. Titusville became a bustling town in the 1960s with the advent of NASA. It brought both sides of my family there for the great Space Race. We are very proud of the accomplishments of my grandfathers and their tremendous contributions to space exploration.  On our trip we had great adventures, a wonderful time celebrating my late Uncle Lee's life and visiting our friends and family that we don't see often enough. 

SeaWorld

This is what Braeden thought of Shamu.

Ceremony to bury Uncle Lee's ashes followed by lunch at Dixie Crossroads

Seriously, what is it going to take to get Poppa a picture with the boys and shrimp?

I offered Braeden money to smile. Apparently that's what it takes. 

 There was a great turn out for Lee's ashes burial, unfortunately I didn't get pictures of it. I was too busy chasing a two year old.

Disney World

The real Disney experience: waiting in line.

Tea Cups!
Ian wouldn't leave my arms for a few hours after this ride. Poor kid.  Braeden kept saying, "faster faster"!

Dumbo. The favorite of the day.

Ian after the Tea Cups refusing to go on Dumbo. 

Little did he realize that the scariest ride of all was coming up next: the Carousel of Progress. Yup, not Pirates of the Caribbean. During the 1920s skit, a fuse is blow by the  kitchen appliances and it gets pitch black for a few seconds. Ian is extremely afraid of the dark and piercing screams emitted from his little body. He started to panic during the rest of it any time the kitchen appliances were featured. Next scariest, the People Mover. A train that takes you around Tomorrow Land -- it takes you into the dark far too many times.  Poor kid, got a shiner too, on the bridge of his nose falling into a rocket. 

After the Dumbo ride. "I kept going up and down, Mommie! It was so fun!"

Braeden driving with Granny Bug and Poppa chasing behind.

We're in the lead car. It was a bumpy ride with no steering control.

Riding a Steamy from Tomorrow Land to Frontier Land.

Back on Dumbo six times in a row. 

Yeah, I'm driving. What of it?

Beautiful Granny Bug waiting to cut off the boys from Dumbo.

Florida humidity is not good on the hair. Frizz city!

The boys got their Mickey Ears hats just like Timmy, Joanne, Katie and Meggie did as kids.  Brandon was offered one, but refused. He's missing out!

Helicopter School 

SandPoint Park

Just another day at the park. Any good Floridian knows how to escape alligators chasing you. Run zig zags.

Catching cameleons at Great Grandma Mary Jane's house.

 Fox Lake

Wee bit hot. Mid 90s with 95% humidity. Happy Fall.

Pool time at the hotel

Poppa & Granny Bug: thanks for such a great vacation, none of us wanted it to end.