Fall weekend fun

Saturday was a beautiful Fall weekend. So a couple of hours after dance lessons Saturday morning, we packed everyone into the van and went in search of some beautiful yellow aspen scenery in the mountains. We ended up heading towards Pikes Peak and decided to drive up to the top. We have lived here 7 years, and this is the first time that we had been up to top (well, it was Mark's second time since he hiked to the top just about a year ago). The aspens were beautiful down at the base of the Peak, a few were already past their prime, but there was still plenty of color to enjoy. There was a soft breeze blowing that kept the leaves rustling and spinning making the trees even more beautiful.

We stopped at Crystal Resevoir where the water was a gorgeous sapphire blue with aspen and pine trees leading the view to the top of Pikes Peak.We took a couple pics of the family there with the Peak in the background. then, all of the big kids wanted to try taking a picture of Mama since I wasn't in the other picture. They each took one, and I liked this one that Carissa took best. I will have to see if I can't 'photoshop' myself into the family picture effectively.
Once we got to the top, there was a couple of feet of snow in places and the temperature was a balmy 37F degrees- brrrr! The views are pretty spectacular up there. this one looks down the east side of the Peak towards COSprings- you can see the downtown area and the Garden of the Gods.
This photo is looking down the west side of Pikes Peak, and you can see one of the resevoirs. The falcons and ravens gliding on the air currents on the west slope were fun to watch too.
Saturday night Mark attended the men's banquet he had been helping plan for over a month. It went well and everyone enjoyed the evening. Mark stayed late talking with several people he knew from work and our old church that had been invited, catching up on news and playing music together. Sunday we just crashed at home after church and relaxed.