Autumn

My parents have the most beautiful yard in the fall. Their maple trees almost always turn the brightest shades of red and fall into a glorious carpet over the grass.

The forecast called for snow today, so dad decided to rake up the leaves before it came. 

Turns out leaves are about as much fun, if not more so, than snow!

(I spy a fox!)

Despite the mere 31 degrees, these two played for the longest time in the pile... 

running and jumping...

My Elli girl, still looking as cute as ever, even with a good sized ouchie on her forehead!

This picture is the epitome of my spunky, playful Caroline.

 Elli would dive right into the pile, while Caroline ran right up to it, and then fell gracefully. 

Making it rain.

They were pulling leaves out of their shirts, their shoes, even their pants!

Wrestling with Grandpa - aka "Tom Sawyer" - who got their help bagging all the leaves after we were done jumping.

 The only way I could get a real smile was to tackle these two.

But we got a pretty good one with Grandpa and Mia. If only Charlie had been awake!

"For you, Mia."

And then, after all the running and jumping and rolling and throwing... we got to witness the first magical snowflakes of winter. Pure delight.