Autumn: the year's last, loveliest smile.

Fall has arrived! I love this time of year. Although, I must admit - experiencing it from the desert is a little different than from the Midwest. I do miss seeing the leaves turn, and the farmers prepare for harvest. There is something so nostalgic about autumn. The sight of school buses, lights surrounding a football field on a Friday night, and pumpkins, are all reminders of a simpler time in a safer place. We hope to make it back to the *home* for a little sampling of what this season holds.

Days keep slipping away... It's hard to believe we're already into the second week of September. The past few weeks have been busy with yet another Red Flag, visitors, adjusting to the new routine of being a stay-at-home mom, and trying to prepare our house for our December departure. It's been nice to not have a *job* on top of all that has been going on. I guess things work out for a reason ~ even if it's not exactly as I would have chosen.

Brandon is in sunny Panama City Beach, Florida, this week. I'm so jealous. He keeps on bragging about the humidity and the beaches, and how the waves were crashing onto the shore. I could tell him about our weather, but it's been the same since May. I love the Gulf coast. Perhaps we can be lucky enough to find our way back some day.

Ashton and I have been having fun at home. Our days consist of taking a long walks to a park that fits her size perfectly (we've made a few pint-sized friends there, too), having tea parties, emptying out the kitchen cabinets (because the REAL pots and pans are MUCH more fun), coloring, digging in our backyard looking for "buggies", helping me clean... Every time I accomplish one task, I find that seven more things have become undone. It's an uphill battle. At the end of the day, we're both worn out!

Below are a few pictures from the past several weeks ~ starting with my dad, Todd & Ryan's trip in mid-August.

Watching the Bellagio water show. It's always amazing - no matter how many times you've seen it.
You can almost hear Frank Sinatra in the background...

Mt. Charleston. I've been here for over 2 years, and that was my first time climbing it. It was positively breath-taking. The elevation was a little tricky to get used to, and I was 'mountain-climbing' in flip-flops ~ but it was definitely worth it.

A shot from the trail leading to Little Falls.

The Dam.

On August 30th we went to a Las Vegas 51s Minor League baseball game with some of our Squadron "family" members. (Pictured above: Ord, Booger, Cain'n, Rooster. Below: Val, Lyz, Toni, and me.)
I loved Mt. Charleston sooo much that I insisted Brandon see it, too. We drove up over Labor Day weekend. It's about 25 degrees cooler up there right now ~ a huge relief from the 100 degrees that still seem to be lingering. It felt so "fall-like". I'm already looking forward to the next hike.
Brandon and Ashton at Little Falls. The water was so cold!
Hard to believe this is just outside of Vegas.
Ashton was incredibly concerned about the bugs, but I think she liked it up there, too.

The end. (o;