Trees in Mid October

We have a tree in our backyard that's been driving me crazy! The leaves literally DUMP onto the ground. We spent a good chunk of time one Saturday raking, mowing and cleaning things up and it looked so good. But can I just say that THIS is how it looked the VERY next day?!! Take notice for a minute the nice grass to the side of the house. That would be our neighbors yard (remember that most of the houses here don't have fenced yards). If you were to glance to our neighbors yard on the other side you would notice that it looks immaculate too--rarely a leaf to be found! Now I have nothing against leaves falling--In fact, I LOVE the fall--that was one of the exciting things about coming to a 4 season state. However, the leaves that are falling from our particular tree are not even the amazing fall colors one would hope to find.  

But that didn't stop the kids from having fun. They were so happy to come home from school and play in these leaves for hours on end. Can you see our little mound of leaves named Shayla? 

Our front yard is another story. I think I have to vote this tree in front of our house as the prettiest on the street. It's kind of an interesting tree with the half green half fall colors going on.

Side note: These two girls have turned in to complete little buddies ever since school started!

More fall clean up with Shay in the leaf bag.

Sydney was doing lots of the raking. I spotted her from my upstairs bedroom window just raking the morning away.

This front yard tree of ours has turned even more beautiful! I spotted red, orange, yellow and green!   

I went outside one night to get something and saw my beautiful tree right under a shining full moon. Sydney's been studying the moon this month in science, so I had her come check it out. 

And did you notice the nice black Honda Pilot parked in our driveway? This is Jeff's new ride he's so excited about. It's time to find a new owner for our Maxima, so if you know anyone... (I was half tempted to move both these cars so I could focus mostly on my fall tree).

The kids were happy to show off the big leaves they found.

Another neat thing was that I received a book in the mail on October 11th. It was a book that my aunt Pamela had put together of all the poems my Grandma Monson has written (so far). As I was flipping through the pages  I came across an untitled poem my Grandma wrote describing autumn in Denver. The cool thing is that I read this poem years later on the same day she'd written it--October 11, 1989.

The trees in mid October

Are dressed in fine array,

In golds and reds and hennas

They beautify each day

A breeze may tease them gently,

Or gusty winds may blow

To force the trees to stand undressed

And ready for the snow.

Oh autumn time, please linger

And let the trees display

Their brilliant hues of reds and golds,

Delay the wintry day.

-Helen Campbell Monson-

Hope these colors on this little tree can "linger" a little longer for us to enjoy!