My Fall Fix

No offense to you folks out there who just LOVE yourselves some desert landscape...

But, my preference is lush rolling hills, lined with beautiful trees and thoroughbred horses. Of course my favorite time to view such scenery is in the Fall, when those beautiful trees are spotted with rainbows of Fall colors and the crisp in the air requires a light jacket and warm soup.

For this reason, I grabbed my sister and my daughter and we flew to Kentucky to experience a "true Fall season" - away from cactus and rock. OK, OK - and to see my family.

We had such a wonderful time, it's hard to know where to begin.

So sit back, and enjoy the 478 pictures (give or take a few) from my trip home.

And before the travel log ensues, I have to thank my wonderful husband for sponsoring our trip. Why didn't Greg come you say? Sweet hubby of mine has limited vacation time due to billable hours that SUCK his life away... but was willing to let Emma and I party without him. He's just swell I tell you. Just swell. Thanks sweetheart! WE LOVE YOU!

The Marcums (Sean and Amber) were kind (or crazy!) enough to have us over for dessert on Sunday evening after church. They have three darling kids with #4 on the way and we always love partying it up with them. Emma loved all the attention.

Emma has a fetish with small chairs. She insisted that Grandpa join her. I won't assume or surmise who's bottom fit better into the small surface area.

Cousin Aliya (Matt and Corinda's daughter) is 4 months younger than Emma and they really had a fun time playing. Monday morning the girls chose to wake up Aunt Laura by jumping on her bed. How could you not wake up on the right side of the bed with this face smiling at you?

True or False? Aliya has the infamous "Krebs Eyes".

We took the girls to Keeneland on Monday. Keeneland is Lexington's famous race track (featured in movies such as Seabiscuit and Dreamer). The horses were not racing that day, but we walked around the grounds and said hello to the horses in their stalls.

You will not find prettier (or more expensive) horses around. Absolutely gorgeous animals.

Tuesday we went to Boyd Orchards to get in some pumpkin/fall fever. On the weekends they charge for their activities, but as we went during the week everything was FREE. WOO HOO!

Grandma with the girls. My mom is so cute with the grandkids and they just love her.

Our ward had an activity after church on Sunday, for some unknown reason, Emma felt the need to guard this circle in the middle of the room. She spent at least 20 minutes just standing on the circle and smiling over at our table. In one fateful moment another man stood on her circle and she flipped a lid. How could he not have known this was HER special circle? :)

Her little feet fit perfectly in the little circle. Maybe I should start drawing circle on my tile floor? Think of the hours of fun that could provide?

We coordinate all of our outfits when I visit home. DUH.

My neighborhood goes NUTSO for Halloween. This house was down the street and Emma LOVED to visit and see the scary spider and pumpkins. $10 to the first person who can "I SPY" little Emma peeping.

Aunt Laura and Uncle Glen were kind enough to take Emma to the park. Swings are like smiles. They bring the same joy, wherever you are in the world.

Oh how Emma loves her Unlce Glen (Nen Nen). She probably called his name 4,578 times a day and he answered with joy every single time. What a great uncle. When we are back in Arizona Emma asks to call him at LEAST once a day.

And what would a trip to Kentucky be without a little "food time" with Grandpa?

I'm pretty sure Laura was more scared than Emma...

Music lessons with Grandma. They let her share the bench for awhile, but then kicked her off for more space. They'll be to Carnegie Hall any day.

A "nature walk" with the family.

More pictures from Boyd Orchards... I love this picture because you can see GORGEOUS Kentucky in the background. Just LOVE. MY. HOME. STATE. It was seriously so therapeutic to see green again. Greg always gets nervous when I go to Kentucky, because the two weeks that follow are always filled with longing to move back East.

Ashlee - this one's for you!! :)

At this point in the trip my camera batteries died... although this is the very same camera that we thought was broken. A little flick of my finger at the lens and WALA! The camera was fixed.

Thursday and Friday we took a road trip to Atlanta. I visited my long time friend, Lara (Saville) Dahl and her husband, Greg. She got us comp tickets to see her perform in this orchestra of Mozart's "Magic Flute". It was an opera/ballet performance and it was spectacular! I also got to see Lara's beautiful new home in her gorgeous Peachtree City. They treated my like royalty with waffles for breakfast and homemade pizza for lunch! YUM!! Unfortunately, it was a short trip and we left after less than 24 hours... but quality over quantity is what I always appreciate. Thanks Lara and Greg for a WONDERFUL visit!