Fall is Well

On Sunday we took the kids out for a ride to check out the cool little neighborhood near Mark's office. It has old homes and streets where the trees form beautiful canopies overhead. I was also looking for some fall pics of the kids to go in a window frame I want to change seasonally. We walked and played in the leaves. And I forced my children to walk hand-in-hand down the middle of the street. Safety first. Always, safety first. How many moms do you know yelling at their kids to get back into the middle of the street?! And hold hands for heavens sakes!!! I would have thought Ben would be in heaven being forced into the street like that, as that is his favorite place to run for when he escapes out of the house. But, as Murphy's Law would have it, he was so enamored with the piles of leave on the sides of the road, that he was kicking and screaming as I hauled him out to the middle of the road. This picture is a testimony of how the right point of view can make all the difference- happy children, hand-in-hand strolling down the street. Um, no, Ben WAS screaming his head off!

Yes, we love to jump in the leaves, and lay on the leaves. Ben was so much happier once he got out of the middle of the street (and I don't think it was because he just felt safe again).

Kate wins my prize for smoothest posing. I turn the camera remotely in her direction and she dazzles me with her pearly whites every time!

On the way in the car we had been listening to a little Abba "Dancing Queen." This seemed to particularly inspire Sophia who seemed much less interested in frolicking in the leaves than she was in just being a dancing queen her moves are simply inspiring. And believe it or not - no formal training.

One last good word for Abe and Elsa. Abe who is so patient with his sisters. Amazing brother. Elsa who is a good little mother and helps with the younger kids all of the time. We have great kids.