Coon Creek Wildlife Reserve and a Clean Garage

This is one of those posts that I would put in a photo album for my kids.  The only problem is, I never ever print out the pictures I take.  I suppose this is my photo album.  I like the idea of my kids in their older form, hopping onto the internet during down time at work or on a Sunday night, looking back to see what life was like when they were 4 or 2 or just a baby.

Here's what has been going on the past couple of days.  

Since Kyle's on fall break, he's had a little bit more freedom with work time.  Yesterday was one of those times where we took full advantage of his accommodating hours and took a hike at the Coon Creek Wildlife Reserve, located 10 minutes out of town.  It was a gorgeous hike as the last of the trees were turning color.

Does anyone know what happens to the corn that's planted on wildlife reserves?  It was just a small patch, so we weren't sure a combine would even come in to harvest it.

The boys had fun the way down since it was all downhill.  The way up was another matter.  I ended up putting Isaiah in the Baby Bjorn because Livia was in hysterics.  I'll explain why later.

(Background info: Isaiah loves his vitamins and knows that mine are yucky.  So now he always says, "Yuck, mommy's."  And now he's decided to say that where ever  we go.  Lucky me.)

Take a look at this toad!!!  ...I mean, this log.

Livia was in the Baby Bjorn on the way down,

BUT, I happened to catch my pants on a huge stick 20 minutes into our hike, went flying forward and practically fell on top of Livia.  I felt SO HORRIBLE.  She whimpered for the first 5 minutes, then cried the next, and would wail every so often after that.  By the end she was jabbering so I wasn't as worried as I was in the beginning, but I was almost ready to call 911 at first.  I thought I might have collapsed her lung or something.

This morning, much of the right side of her face was red and a bit puffy and her right hand had a couple scratches on it, but she seems to be her normal self.  God's angels were watching out for her, that's for sure.  How would you like to be "pancaked" by someone 8 times your size?

Our oak tree (right) is one of those trees that is finally changing color but our Sugar Maple (?) on the left doesn't seem to realize it's autumn.

Our Burning Bush is burning.

And our garage is FINALLY clean.

I have fond memories doing this when I was little.  Do you?

And Kyle moved our wood pile to the garage.  It used to be outside under a tarp.

We've had about 5 fires in our fireplace so far and we are LOVING them.  (Check out Isaiah.  He's rockin' the big brother skills.)

I don't want to say the word 'obsessed' but Kyle is pretty excited about the fires.  He even went to the yard waste site to get some more firewood, even though we have plenty right now.

By the way, please add an "ax" to his Christmas List.  He is in need.