Leaves 2011

One of our favorite things about this time of year is looking at all the beautiful leaves.  And, we love to go to the mountains to find them... Our favorite place is definitely Silver Lake.  It is up at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, a mere 26 miles from our driveway to the parking lot.

The lake itself is fairly small, but it is surrounded by wetlands and beautiful scenery.  In order to preserve the wetlands, they have created a boardwalk that goes over the wetlands and all the way around the lake.  It is a PERFECT place to take the family on a little jaunt in the mountains while still being able to use the double stroller, etc.

Another nice thing is that even though there are few enough people around to really feel like you are out in nature, there are always enough people to get the whole family in a picture or two...

We took a nice picnic dinner and sat at one of the picnic tables to eat.  Then I took the food back to the car and met back up with the family as they started around the lake.  As SOON as we let Jonathan out of the stroller he took off running- he was like a man on a mission.  He was ENTHRALLED!!!  Every time he spotted water between the plants he would stop and point, informing me water was there.  I would agree with him, and he'd take off running again.  Since we were going through the marshes, you can just imagine how many times this scenario repeated itself....

When we came to a spot where the water is more than just a reflection through the grass, the kids all had to stop.  They were laying on their tummies, faces as close to the water as possible without dumping themselves in, looking for fishes in the water.  They never found any, but they sure enjoyed the search!

Once we got to the section where the boardwalk ends and the path around the backside of the lake begins, the kids had to stop at EVERY large rock.  They made stages out of some, houses out of others...  They loved it!

Fortunately for me this also meant lots of photo-ops with mostly cooperative kiddos

Alix was trying to get everyone to "make your sour face" for the picture, but she was the only one I got...

I love my little family !  :) 

Look hard!  In case you don't see her on your own, there is a Moose standing there.  She was a short way off the path, so I stood quite a ways away, took this with zoom, and then walked quietly past.  She was probably only about 30 feet away from us at one point.  (the picture was taken from about 100- I didn't want to tempt her...)

Jonathan's favorite spot!  We all had so much fun tonight, and really loved being out in nature.  Heavenly Father obviously loves us an awful lot to surround us with such beauty!