continuing to document Fall Color travels...

I keep trying to post pictures our trip to New England last October.
It's a little anti-climactic now, but I'd be so sad not to have these pictures
in order somewhere!
Enjoy looking back to October with me, or at least have patience
while I chip away at ordering these memories.

Day 12  Visiting precious cousins in Ohio

This little guy (AJ's cousin's son) looks SO much like Zachary did at his age!

Day 13  Columbus Zoo
and stayed at Delaware State Park in Ohio.

I thought Ohio was beautiful!

Happy little traveler!

It was a WARM day in October for the Zoo outing

Polar Bears

Flamingos

Warning:  This is one of those tear-jerker movies.  However.....
It makes me laugh every time!  It just so happens that riding the Carousel
was Carolina's idea and the other kids joined her because she had talked mom
into it.
So, I wonder if she's scarred for life?

All was not lost, because we finished the day at Jeni's ice cream shop.

There were some strange flavors.
In fact, I think they were pretty much ALL strange flavors!
I tried a couple, but I was very happy to see my children choose
Chocolate and Mango.  Aren't the sprinkles wonderful?!!

Jeni's had a super-neat chalk board on their wall and a pile of chalk.
We left our mark.

We love you Jeni's!  Even if you put fennel and pepper in your ice cream!

Days 9-11 of Fall Color Trip continued

Day 9 Picked up a rental RV and traveled from Missouri to Kentucky.
Stayed at Horse Caves KOA where Zack found a tiny little bird nest for me.
One of my favorite souvenirs.

Day 10 First we stopped at Mammoth Caves

 ...and then we toured Diamond caverns...

THEN..... (dun-da-dun-dunnnn...)
We drove to meet my dear bloggy friend from the Home of the Petersonclan!
On the way through Kentucky, we enjoyed beautiful scenery:


























And my favorite was some of the barns which had painted quilt squares on them.




















































Lina and Mercy quickly made friends!

Sue found a niche too...

...and the boys.

What fun to make new friends across the United States!
The Clan shared an arrowhead and some geodes with the boys.
Those things made it thousands of miles all the way back to Idaho and
have been some of the most cherished souvenirs.

Thank you beloved Kentucky friends - you made our day that day!


Day 11  was a Louisville work day for dad and the rest of us drove around
and accomplished errands to Costco, target, and Bass Pro.
Please realize that this means Momma Bug drove a honkin' big RV through the big city
BY HER SELF.  (She's a little stuck up about it now) ;-)
AJ took us to Cheese Cake Factory for dinner and then we drove to West Virginia while the children slept.
Spent the night in Wal Mart Parking lot.

Missouri, sweet Missouri!

Get ready for five gazillion photos (and I was selective) of our time in Missouri.
Our hosts were wonderfully generous and entertaining as you will note. They are some of our favorite people!

Wild Onions which my two boys and the ever-willing Allison cooked into a stir fry.

I'd almost forgotten they also made Acorn cookies.  Um... they were very acorn-ish.  Just imagine...

The kiddos really enjoyed play play playing outside with their friends.  Missouri is very beautiful and felt like home in many ways.

And then there were the crawdads...
    Catching a bunch of the little buggers down in the crick

,

 Well what are you going to do once you catch a batch?

COOK them...

                                           



             



















......and EAT them, or course!
                                                                  (brave souls)

Just a taste of the beauty and sweetness of our visit.
THANK you dear friends!