Fall in Ohio

I don't think that I have ever mentioned how much I love the Fall.  I think that can honestly say I have never seen anything more beautiful than Ohio in the fall.  I have always loved halloween time, pumpkin bread and cookies, Fall colors, and making halloween costumes for Molly and now Lee and somehow in Ohio all those things are so much more fun. Probably because it actually looks like Fall here. It is one of the 3 times I LOVE Ohio.  The other 2 are spring and summer.  There is a certain nervousness I get in the pit of my stomach this time of year though because I know what is coming. I pretty much loath it here in the winter.  I guess that is not true.  There are a few things I like about winter time here in Ohio. They are sitting snuggled up on the couch watching a movie with Mark after the kids go to bed with the yummy smell of the fire in the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate, the look on Molly's face when there is snow on the ground and she knows that Daddy will take her out to go sledding when he gets home (she knows it won't be me), laying snuggled up under my down comforter (the one Mark wont let me use unless it is 40 or colder), and looking out the window watching the snow fall (from a safe distance).  The thing that I hate most is loading my car with groceries while standing in 3 inches of slush in my converse shoes while my fingers and nose just about freeze off and I think I just might DIE. I guess I will always be a warm desert Arizona kind of girl.  But since it there is still a few more weeks of beautiful Fall before the cold comes in I LOVE OHIO!

Here are a few of my favorite spots to enjoy Fall in Ohio.  The best thing is they are all right by our house. I had to take some pictures so that I never forget Fall in Ohio.

This is what we see right when we walk out our front door.

Down in the Metro park. 

This is just a few houses from our house. Isn't is gorgeous!

Another spot just up the street from our house.

Auntie Margaret

We were lucky enough to have Mark's really awesome little sister Margaret come and visit us this past weekend.  We had so much fun, stayed up way too late, and ate WAY too much. We definitely did not have enough time with her. The time just went too fast.  Here is a couple of the fun things we were able to do with her. 

Heritage Farms Fall Festival

I just thought the barn looked really cool

It was COLD!

Margaret had Lee cracking up. I just had to get it on camera. It doesn't take much to get this boy to laugh.

Can't you just hear Marge now. Hee hee!

I just had to stop and love on my sweet girl.

The unconquerable maze.... It seemed like we would never make it out of this maze which when looked at from the outside seems quite easy. Especially since you can see right through it.  It should have been as easy as the mazes we us to make on the ground out back with various supplies such as a garden hose or a rake but no.  It was the never ending, headache causing maze.  We finally made it out after it seemed FOR EV ER! and a little bit of cheating. (we didn't trample the fence down it was that way already).

Lee was oblivious to it all. He was just happy to be with his dad and out in the great out doors.

Margaret lost... (with a headache)

Molly just kept saying to me "I don't think we will ever get out of here mom"

a little bit of "corn hole".  That name will always seem funny to me. 

and some pumpkin picking. 2 for $5.00

and then taking a ride with the pumpkins 

Molly had a blast! Can't you tell by the look on her face.

Lee is just always happy no matter what.

The ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

If you can't tell we just about froze to death. It even SNOWED that morning but I told Marge to suck it up because we are going to the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME! (not really, it really did snow though) It was so much fun even the part when we got lost in down town Cleveland oh and when I hit Margaret in the head with hatch door on my car.  (I am still so so so sorry) We didn't get many pictures because they wouldn't allow photos inside.  We left Molly with a sitter and brought Lee along. He loved it. He danced along to the music, I guessed he more like bounced along in his stroller, and laughed at all the mannequins in funny clothes. It must have been a requirement to wear ridiculous clothes to be inducted into the hall of fame. I thought of my big sis Jen when I stood about 2 feet away from the same jacket that Bono sang and sweated in. (she would have cried had she have been there, I know because she told me so). And was brought back to the ninth grade when there was nobody cooler than the Beetles while staring at one of the Sgt Pepper's costumes. It was a lot of fun.  

Marge and Bon Jovi's very own Harley.

We also visited Kirtland, made really yummy potato soup and bread bowls, got the worlds best ice cream at Handles not once but twice (if you don't believe me that it is the worlds best come and try it) and went to the mall. All in all it was a great weekend.  It was so nice to see Marge again. Molly had fun with her Aunt Margaret and even told her "you can come back again. We will leave grandma's bed up for you". 

Last week the kids and I went on a well needed trip to the park with my friend Sarah and her kids for one of the last nice days (so sad!). It turned out to be so much fun and such a BEAUTIFUL DAY! Lee tackled her twin boys who are almost twice his size every chance he got and Molly played with Sarah's little girl and made lots of new friends. After 3 hours of FUN we decided to call it a day. It is so nice to have made such great friends here in Ohio to keep me company.

Molly and her friend Kaia driving the car.

Lee loved the slide. He would crawl up as far as he could, let himself slide back down, laugh, look at me like "did you see me mom", then do it again.

My little dare devil! She loves to climb and has no fear!

Believe it or not she did not want any help. She made it all the way up to the top.

Lee wanted to try too.

The Turtle

A few days ago Mark and Molly found a turtle in the street in front of our house during their daddy daughter time. Molly thought it was the coolest thing. We told her she could keep it or she could let it go in our back yard "pond". She said that she wanted to keep it for a little bit but let it go before it gets STINKY. She is so funny. I actually tried to talk her into wanting to keep it. I told her that we would get an aquarium and that we could put it in her room. I couldn't talk her into it though because what she really wants is a dog. She asks for one just about every day.

Lee thought it was pretty cool too...

but he was more excited about just being outside.

Saying farewell to the stinky turtle. Don't they look so sad to say goodbye.

Sunday Walk

We had Stake Conference last Sunday. I'm going to brag a little bit but the kids were awesome. Sadly, we went with so little expectations but they were so good the whole two hours. We couldn't believe it. So, to reward Molly we went for a walk as a family in the Metro Parks which are just down the street from our house. It was a beautiful day. The weather was perfect and the trees are starting to change colors now. We had so much fun following Molly through the trails, skipping rocks and just enjoying time with our family.

Molly skipping rocks with her dad.

Lee loved the big splashes.

Lee loves his daddy.

I just had to sit back and watch the 3 people I love the most and capture this sweet moment forever.

Molly and I crossing the stream. Molly said "Don't get wet Mommy it's Sunday". She is so cute!

I think that Molly must have run up and down this bridge four times before she let us pass.

Lets have a picnic

So, this past week was one of those weeks where I wanted so badly to be home with my family and friends in AZ. The kids had been sick for a couple of weeks so we hadn't left the house much and I was so lonesome for everyone back home. So after moping around the house all week, finally Friday I told Molly we could go outside and play. She said "lets have a picnic mommy". We packed our peanut butter and honey sandwiches and went out back. The kids had so much fun. Lee was in heaven crawling around everywhere in the grass. Molly made up her own game with the Frisbees. I ended up "out" most of the game. It was a beautiful day with perfect weather. Once the ants and spiders took over our blanket (there are so many bugs here) we called it a day. It was a great day.

Bath Time

Lee loves his baths but this wasn't always the case. For a while he hated it. He would cry and try to get out the whole time. It was like torture. I just happened to always put Molly and him in together because it was easier to get them both bathed at once. Then one day I put him in the tub alone while Molly was at school and it was a new bath time experience. I could barely get him out. I don't know why I didn't figure it out sooner. Molly just can never keep her hands off of him. He was probably scared to death trapped in that little tub with her all over him. Now that he is bigger and more comfortable in the bath they are fine together. It could also be that he is now starting to be able to hold his own with his big sister. I might not be being a good mom but I admit that I encourage this a little.