Cascade Springs... Again

Even though we didn't use Jr. Jr.'s National Parks Pass as much as we used Jr.'s when he was in 4th grade (it's the season), we did make sure to use it one last time before it expired just like we did with Jr.'s. How fun that the last time we used it to go to the place where we used it the first time. Cascade Springs.

Nichole and Jr. took turns with the camera and took lots and lots of pictures.

 

Jr. Jr.: Nichole, get a picture of the reflection.

Then Nichole had fun getting pictures of ripples.

The leaves were just starting to change color. Fall is on its way but it's not here quite yet.

While we were there, I asked that we get a picture of Jeremy and me together with the water in the background. I did my usual, standing on my toes while in a picture with my husband. Yes, I'm that short.

Apparently I forgot to ask Jeremy to look happy in the picture with me.

Yes, my husband makes me roll my eyes.

After getting a nice picture... finally... Jr. Jr. told us to take another picture because he wanted to do something in the background.

click on the pictures to see them larger

Our kids.

And my husband.

It was a nice trip but it wore everybody out. Sigh.

My mom texted that day to say, "Today is National Thoughtful Day. Just to let you know.👍💗😘"

I responded, "How thoughtful of you."

Somehow that one got missed on our calendar for August 28 so I appreciated her saying so.

First Day of Fall

Everybody say, "First Day of Fall!"

September 22 was the Autumnal Equinox. I had Jeremy close the windows the night before... just in case.

It rained the morning of the Equinox. Ah, fresh. Jet and I went for a drive up Provo Canyon.

After school we drove up to Cascade Springs as a family, enjoying the Fall colors.

I commented to Jeremy recently how I'm not missing the Fall colors this year. I've been out so much in nature lately. I love it.

 

What a nice baby brother holding his sister's homework.

 

Jr. Jr. saw a few places where he wanted to get videos of me juggling. I love that he wanted to do that.

"You can't see me."

 

We all brought face masks and ended up using them. It wasn't too too crowded but there were enough people we passed and the paths are narrower than some places where it's easier to just keep to the side and turn your head. It worked out.

It was so pleasant. I love getting out in nature with my family.

 

We stopped at Deer Creek Overlook briefly so I could get a few pictures of a view you might imagine in a Tolkien novel. September 22 is Hobbit Day after all.

 

On the drive up, I commented to Jeremy that what I really wanted on this drive was to see moose. On the drive back down there were a few cars stopped on the road at one point and Jeremy called out that they were stopped because of the moose running along the side just down below us. They came up and crossed the road in front of us. Woohoo! We got some horrible pictures but I got to see moose like I wanted!

For a while on the drive down I kept exclaiming how excited I was to see the "meese," which sparked a little conversation about plurals of certain words. Goose geese. Moose moose. Mongoose mongooses. Octopus octopi or octopuses (either one is correct).

On the drive down Jeremy also told us a Jackerina story about the leaves on trees producing spores that make the Telford family sleepy. Jackerina called the North wind to help blow the leaves off the trees and when it got dark, the leaves couldn't photosynthesize and went to sleep. Yay! We were saved once again.

 

When we got home, we had caramel apple cider, a recipe I got from Stephanie O'Dea's slow cooker website, ayearofslowcooking.com

Mmmmm. Fall.

Mommy Bear's Day Off

Lucky has a couple of Care Bears. He named them Baby Bear and Mommy Bear. I'm not sure what their real names are. I learned of yet another new holiday. Care Bears Share Your Care Day is September 9. That is also National Teddy Bear Day. Soooooo easy to combine the two. But how easy is it to combine a third. Wonderful Weirdos Day is that same day. Now for this family, pretty much anything we do celebrates Wonderful Weirdos Day.
So I'll let you know how the Care Bear teddy bears shared the care of the wonderful weirdos. Phew. Try saying that out loud (and I don't mean "that." I mean that sentence. I told you we were wonderful weirdos).

Baby Bear helped out at home and Mommy Bear took a day off (just like I did when Jet and I went up Nebo Loop). She took a ride up Alpine Loop and Cascade Springs and just like on my day off, she shared the care of Jet while he was awake (and a bit while he was asleep- note the teddy bear blanket).

Thanks, Mommy Bear. And thanks, Lucky, for letting us use Mommy Bear and Baby Bear in this way, kind of like when Jr.'s dragon helped us for Appreciate a Dragon Day back in 2013.

Here's Baby Bear helping at home.

Here's Mommy Bear on her day off (with a bit of Jet thrown in).

Tibble Fork Reservoir

Various pull offs and overlooks

Deer Creek Overlook

Cascade Springs

Up close with the Fall colors 

 

Quick stop at Bridal Veil Falls on the way home

 

It was a good but exhausting day. Lucky wanted to make sure he got a picture of the bears in bed at the end of the day.

Bonus: Pictures of me juggling in those various places.