weekend report

Fall is dry and warm here, at least in the daytime.  At night it drops below freezing but midday it can reach 75 degrees or more, so we are still trying to soak it all up and get outside.  We went sightseeing on Saturday and then played kickball with new friends in the evening.  There were about 20 kids and after dark we wrapped them in sleeping bags and they watched Mary Poppins on a projection screen in a friend's front yard. 

On Sunday, Jeremy had his first performance with the string ensemble he joined in August (he plays cello).  The kids were so proud to see him on stage and they sat quietly through three pieces!  And then we went home because, well, let's not push our luck, right?  We had dinner with a family we're getting to know and with whom it seems we have quite a bit in common.  They met at and graduated from the same college we met at and graduated from.  They both participated in the HNGR program, just like Jer did.  The wife grew up in a suburb of Seattle, but only after she moved back from living overseas as an MK.  They have two girls and a boy (in that order), and all were born within a year of each of ours.  He loves to mountain bike.  And the list goes on. 

We might have skipped out on the UFO film fest, but we still had another great weekend.  The best photos are from the sightseeing trip.  We went to a National Park and wandered around, not really knowing what to expect.  It was...indescribable.  My camera could not do it justice.  Let me just say it once again: you'll just have to come for a visit to see for yourselves (and in the meantime, click on photos to see a larger version).

petroglyphs (some dating as far back as the 13th century) and autographs (as far back as 17th century):

feeling dwarfed by the massive rock walls:

the most fall leaves we're likely to encounter this season.  L. enjoyed the three full minutes of leaf-throwing

a little top-of-the-mesa talking to.  (see how he is hanging his head in shame!)

"Mommy, I'm just going to sit in this hole"

700+ yr-old ruins at the top of the mesa

at some points, it got a little surreal.  like taking a walk on the surface of the moon...

It was just too cool.  I can't wait to go back sometime.