The Fall bug has hit me. I do love Summer and I do terribly despise (most) of Winter in Minnesota, but there is this great time in between. A time when everything seems new and different, but not yet frigid and white. Though Fall no longer means Back to School for me, I can’t help but feel like Fall is a new beginning. Everything changes. The leaves, the sunlight, the smell in the air.

Last week we headed up north to Jay Cooke State Park to enjoy this new season. I think this will become a tradition of our little family (which we started last year); to visit northern Minnesota and remember why we love this state even when it’s not Summer.

After a few hours in the car, we were ready to walk. So we hiked up the river a bit taking in the Fall colors and smells. I promise I didn’t make my husband wear both the baby and our backpack the whole time. But to my defense, he did say that it sort of balanced the weight. Ephram was wide-eyed and happy for the entire hike. And he also seemed to want to stand on the bridge and jump. Hmm… I hope this isn’t a taste of what’s to come in the teenager years. Stay tuned for part 2 and 3!