Autumn Blessings

This year has been quite the year. So much crazy. So much uncertainty. So many things cancelled. So many disappointments. Sometimes I feel like it would be so easy to slip into an endless spiral of woe-is-me. 

However.

When I find myself edging toward the slippery slope of self pity, I try to focus on things I am grateful for. 

We are all healthy.

Hubby still has a job. The kids are doing alright.

I'm able to find free time to be creative and explore new things. 

It's October in Chicagoland and I can still ride my bike. (though, each time feels like it will probably be the last one, so it always feels special)

And Chicago's autumn has been so very beautiful this year. 

Typically, we always joke that we get two weeks of autumn squeezed between high summer and full-blown winter. This year, it's been a glorious, gradual transformation. 

And some years, the prettiest leaves have been hiding out in the forest preserves. 

But this year, they are all around town. Every drive, every bike ride, I see some fabulous color that gives me pause and I say a little prayer of thanks. 

Truthfully, it feels like a tender mercy. This year has been such a dumpster fire, and I'm really not looking forward to winter. Being able to go outside has been one of the good points keeping us sane this summer; all that will be more difficult with the onset of winter. 

And though the holidays will undoubtedly look different, and what is "typical" or "normal" will continue to shift and change, we will get through the winter. 

It might be more challenging, but we will figure out ways to make it fun. 

In the meantime, I am going to conscientiously savor this beautiful autumn we're having.. and keep on counting my blessings and practicing gratitude. 

'Cuz we got this. 

Farewell to Fall

This year the autumn colors have been particularly lovely, and the weather has been too. It's not every year that the descent in temperatures, marking the change from summer to fall, is as gradual as it's been this year. Sometimes it feels like we're lucky to get two weeks of autumn and then *boom* it's winter. So, I tried to savor it this year.

If I can catch it in time (and the weather cooperates), I always like to go out into the woods to really enjoy the changing leaves. This year we got out there right at peak colors and the weather was perfect.

Hiking with kids is always an adventure. The grownups just want to walk and look at trees, but the kids stop and draw in the dirt, stop and climb on the logs, stop to complain about how far they've walked..

Among all the pictures of the beautiful pictures of trees, I got lots of candids  of my favorite subjects..

On one of the stops, I noticed that the trees behind where the kids were sitting would be a great backdrop. I thought it might be great for updating our family picture wall (the ones up there now are over two years old). So, I attempted to get them to hold still and smile..

Close enough.. On they wall they go!

It was good that we went out the weekend we did, not a week later we got snow!

Ah well, all things must end, even lovely and beautiful autumns.

Into the Woods

Autumn is my favorite. I love the crisper weather, watching the leaves turn. I also like that I can walk in the woods without worrying about ticks and mosquitoes. So, to enjoy the turning leaves and the crisp morning, my family and I hiked out into some woods.

It was a little chilly, but we wandered into a trail that looped and wasn't too long. I figured that it'd just right for getting the blood moving. And it was a gorgeous morning. The leaves aren't super impressive this year, but still, the morning light was shining through the trees; it uplifts the soul.

It was a lovely trail with lots of different views. There was a little pond, some open grassy fields, and lots and lots of woodsy trees.

We started off, all four of us, but it didn't take long before Moon was insisting that *someone* carry him.. but Townshend wanted to see where the trail lead, so we split up. Hubby took Moon back to a little play area near the head of the trail, and Townshend and I carried on.

This kind of path is more my style of hiking. Clear trails (so there's no getting lost) that are wide enough that (even in the summer) there's less worry of ticks and poison ivy, but still enough undergrowth and trees that it feels woodsy and natural and not like a city park.

 

There were twists and turns, and a few little hills. Spaced out, all along the trail were benches which, to keep himself entertained, Townshend began imagining were stops along the El train. So every time we'd get to one he'd stop (on the appropriate side of the bench so the doors could open on the correct side) and say his little schpeel before continuing on. He's so fun.

The trail was exactly the right length, 'cuz just about the time both Townshend and I were getting ready to be done, we came to the end! Then, we headed over to the play area to join Hubby and Moon.

We hung out for a good while before we decided we were thoroughly chilled enough and then we headed back to the car. And though I know autumn in Chicago is short-lived, in just a week or two it will be gone... I love when I can get out and enjoy it while it's here.

Yep. Autumn time is my favorite.

Visiting Family

So, a while back, one of my sisters and her family moved to Iowa. This puts them in easy driving distance, which is very exciting! When we found a long weekend where our schedules aligned, it was perfect! So I drove me and my boys over to visit, and we made the most of that long weekend!

We found a great rest stop to break up the drive there:

We visited an orchard/pumpkin patch/corn maze that had all sorts of fun things to do:

We decorated pumpkins (it's too warm and too early to carve them) and had caramel apples:

We hiked into the woods and visited a cave:

And, over the weekend, this boy fell in love with this dog:

So much fun! Alas, eventually the weekend was over and back to the city we went. But we're sure to be back before too long for another visit.