Deer Hunt, Pumpkin Patches and Parks

Utah public schools had a few days off this week for parent teacher conference, which falls during The Deer Hunt.  I think it is funny they have vacation days to hunt.  We don't take those days off for hunting or conferences, but we did enjoy that some of our weekly activities were canceled and we had a few free afternoons!

We fit in a few things we've wanted to do but haven't had time.  We spent an afternoon at The Leonardo museum, and another day met Emily and her kids at Wheeler Farm to get some pumpkins.

The girls went crazy over these friendly goats.  This historical farm was really fun.  They had old barns and a tree house, animals of all kinds and cellars and outhouses.

I came in and saw that Ceci was on this tracker - who cares about the sign that said stay off of the antique farm equipment.  Somehow Ceci doesn't see signs like that... (She pulled out the fake fire in an exhibit at The Leo this week, too.  Bless her curious heart.)

But the real excitement came when we took a little walk around a field and came across a hidden bridge and forest.  So what if I had to drive to childhood - we found it.  We parked ourselves for at least two hours while the girls explored the secret places, and created a fort under the foot bridge.

Meanwhile Em and I watched her one-year-old twins explore and delight in all of the textures and sounds (and tastes) of this beautiful, natural place.

Britt came and met us at the end while the kids ran through the hay maze and got their pumpkins

We missed the fields of pumpkins, and picking our own unique shape, but this was a good Utah alternative.  It was a perfect fall day.

The next day we had a few hours, too, so Emily and I took the kids to Sugarhouse Park to ride scooters, climb trees, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

These kinds of trees are my girls favorite for climbing.  Can you see them near the top?

A different, even bigger, one

It felt so good to be outside, to see large spaces, and to see my girls so alive.