FFFFF

We add a few 'F's every year- I think now it stands for the Final Family Fun Fall Fling.... and it was definitely fun!  We had to squeeze in the FFF this year because the warm-ish days came to an abrupt stop just a few days after Halloween.  So on a Thursday night we packed up dinner, firewood, some camping chairs and a rake and headed over to our favorite family woods for one last campfire for 2018.  

The sunset was gorgeous over the lake as we crossed the bridge.

 This is one of my very favorite view of Iowa.

 We went straight to our usual hiking place, but the effects of July's flooding were still in full force here by the lake.  There was so much mud, a stream where we've never seen one before and no trail to hike on.  We did not wear the right shoes for this terrain!  Daddy took one step into the squishy mud, slipped a few feet, and we all turned back.  Maybe next year!

 We stopped by the secret pine needle hideout, just like the one the Boxcar Children stayed in!

Tromping through the woods they go.  Notice that Leah is wielding a rake, just in case they encountered another "tur-coyte" like last year.

There is nothing like the smell of woods in the fall.

Leaves!!!  Leaves galore!! 

 Emma, Leah, and Noah had a great time building leaf nests 

 and burying themselves deep in them.

 Pure leafy joy!

Adam, not so much.  He told me it was because of this Calvin and Hobbes strip- ha!

Jason built us a great fire, and we all gathered around for brats, hot dogs, apples, and roasted potato chips with melted chocolate on top.  You never know what will become a tradition, I guess...

 The only animals we saw or heard this year were a few birds and a deer or two.  Nothing hooting or howling at us this time, but boy were the kids afraid of the dark this year!

 We told stories and laughed at jokes and peered into the darkness until the sun went down and the cold behind us was stronger than the fire in front of us.

 Then we packed up and headed back home, smelling like smoke and happy that our lungs were filled with fresh fall air one more time before winter settles upon us.  Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow!