Fall in Maryland

Fall is my very favorite season in Maryland.We moved here in the fall two years ago, and I think it made me like Maryland more because every day was so beautiful.

Fall has traditionally been our exploring season. The weather is finally nice again after a sticky summer, and we are eager to get outside and see new sights. This year was a little different because we had so many big events going on in the autumn months: Nate went to Alaska, we all went to Utah, and Nate had a big deadline at work. We still managed to squeeze in a few fall outings (in between me lamenting that the most beautiful season was slipping by).

Beckett had a field trip to a farm. The weather was beautiful and warm that day. Just the drive would have made the trip worth it--it was so pretty. 

All the kids got popcorn to take home.

Felix was a real trooper through the corn maze.

This was the best I could do for a pumpkin picture. Felix kept rolling his pumpkin down the hill. He thought it was a ball.

One Sunday afternoon we hiked to this bridge. We kind of stumbled onto this hike, and it was really quite a find. It's in the Patapsco Valley State Park and is really close to our house. The hike has almost everything our boys could desire:

A bridge

At the trail head. We will hike down to the base of the bridge.

Fall foliage

Okay, maybe this one was mostly for the adults.

Railroad tracks

And a train tunnel!

Everyone looks goofy in all the tunnel pictures. Best I could do.

And the hike ends at the river -- a perfect spot for throwing rocks into the water

Felix tolerated the pack.

Beckett kept telling us, "I am such a good hiker." And he really is. I was taking that kid hiking before he even turned two. When Beckett was Felix's age he had been on many hikes at the Ernie Miller Nature Center. Felix, however, is a lousy hiker. He's always sitting down, picking up leaves and rocks and eating them, and turning around and heading back.

Look! A picture of me makes an appearance on this blog. I step out from behind the camera.

We'll definitely go back. 

We also like to go to Harper's Ferry every fall. We went a little late in the season this year, so Harper's Ferry wasn't in its full glory, but we still had a good time.

Spiraling down to the Appalachian Trail.

Harper's Ferry is a great outing for the whole family. I think we saw seven trains this time, so Beckett was thrilled. Felix likes nothing better than being outdoors. Nate and I enjoy the scenery and the town. Everyone loves the ice cream. It's so nice to see the kids happy in a place that we can all enjoy so much too. (I guess this statement is a dig at all the places I take my kids that they love but that bore me to tears.)

We found this new spot to watch the trains.

Felix thinks he's suppose to sit down every time I pull out the camera.

A portrait of our stroller. Our first trip to Harper's Ferry is what inspired its purchase. It's also where we coined the term "Extreme Strollering." A sport at which Nate could really excel, if it were actually a thing.

Felix loves throwing rocks into the water.

As always, fall was over way too quickly.