Our Family - Fall

 by Cheryl Merrick

At the beginning of fall was filled with the excitement of getting the kids ready for school and starting new classes. I always felt lonely when I came home from taking them to school on their first day. The house seemed too quiet and empty. 

In the fall we liked to drive out Provo Canyon and go around the Alpine loop. We also went out to Cascade Springs and walked around the area. 

We would go out to the canyons when the leaves began to turn orange and yellow. We especially enjoyed crunching through the leaves in beautiful Mapleton Canyon.

When our kids were little we cooked hot dogs over a fire in our backyard. When they were older, we went on hikes in the canyons, and then ate tin foil dinners around the fire. 

It was always fun to dress up for Halloween. Several years we grew pumpkins for Halloween. After the kids left, Garrett grew butternut squash in the backyard, and we went to the neighborhood fall social. 

One Columbus day, Garrett was asked if he would portray Columbus on Columbus Day at Daniel’s elementary school. Garrett happily studied his part, donned the tights and costume, and spent the day being Columbus at the school. He answered questions and just had a great time. Dan loved having his dad be Columbus.

We liked to take bike rides around Mapleton on warmer days. We did a lot of riding, not only in the fall, but the spring and summer too. 

We gathered our walnuts and raked mountains of leaves which the kids loved to play in. The change in the weather, starting a new school year, and Halloween made fall an exciting time of year for us.