Perfectly Picturesque

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter." -Carol Bishop Hipps

It's been fourteen years, and we're still going strong with our Annual Fall General Conference Watson Family Picnic And Official Beholding Of The Changing Of The Leaves. Um, I just barely made that up, but I like it so don't be surprised if this becomes the official  title of our beloved tradition. I'm not prepared to have any member of the family missing from this event yet, even if my firstborn decided to fly the nest this year. We've never seen Logan Canyon in the fall. This was the perfect year for such a venture, and we could pick Jess up on the way.

This looks like a fairly sparse picnic indeed. Believe it or not, we did all get enough to eat. We were unaware that all of Logan Canyon is a national forest, and we're too cheap to pay $10.00 to enjoy a one hour picnic, so Jessica pointed out this, her favorite little spot by the river. Good thing we brought a blanket.

A young man can't find himself planted in front of a river and not take the opportunity to skip a rock or two.

Nor can he pass on the chance to climb a tree.

We parked just outside of the fee area, and walked in to take some fall photos. This is my annual remembering how much I love these children and sighing at how much they are growing moment.

It seems to work out every year. I remind the children before our picnic that I will be taking photos so don't pick your most hideous outfit, and they all come out of their respective bedrooms not clashing. It's magical for me. Even the college student seemed to get some sort of subliminal message as to what she should wear. The impromptu photo shoots are always the best kind.

And then I let them loose. These goofballs start really being themselves, and I just snap away. Yup, these are my favorite photos.

Then we simmer down and get serious again. This may be the only actual family photo we get all year, so we try to make it count.

This is the five layers that I made Neil shed before taking said photo. For the love of Pete, it was all of 70 degrees out there yesterday. I also made him remove his beanie.

The handsome men in my life.

A mom and her daughters.

Sisters.

They insisted on this photo because this is really how they always look when they are together.

The love of my life. I'm glad we made this beautiful family together.

The Master Photo Bomber! This girl is going to make me pee my pants one of these days.

This is Jonah's Annual I Haven't Had A Good Pout Fest As Of Late moment. He tries to get at least one in at every family event.

The Bigfoot Pose. Another Sabrina Especial.

Everyone else wanted a piece of the action.

A contrived tender moment, brought to you by the most dramatic of the foursome.

These two always try to get a perfect clicking of the heels shot. They can never get it in unison.

I guess that's as good as it gets.

Jessica fetching Jonah from another pouty moment. I miss having this girl around.

And I will leave you with this last cheesy staged moment.

We got less actual General Conference than we usually do this year, but some much needed family time. The drive home through Sardine Canyon was perfectly picturesque. The mountains were all aflame with deep reds, oranges, and yellows, and a spattering of evergreens for contrast. Lovely Day. Lovely lovely day.