Just like heaven

After school today, Will's buddy Jack joined us for a walk through the Friendly Forest -- also known as Maple Grove Forest Preserve -- where, Will tells me, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer lives in his off time.
I can hardly imagine anything more stunning than the woods on a 70+ day in November. Seriously. Except maybe, say, Bonita Springs, Fla., or Pinehurst, N.C. ;)
Everyone found huge leaves aplenty.
And sticks aplenty, too. They were steam rollers, Clone Trooper weapons, you name it. There's nothing a mother likes more than children brandishing sticks. Hockey rules apply: no high sticking! The boys also were tracking dinosaurs through the woods. Ignorant me thought a T-Rex track was a great find, but I didn't take into consideration that they eat Triceratops and Brachiosaurus!
Ahhh...
Isn't the landscape surreal? Like a movie set. I'm beating myself over the head for not taking advantage of our local scenery more often. Easy for me to say, now that the mosquitoes are gone!
You could hear the leaves falling. It was so peaceful, save for the, um, kids. ;)
Jack was a pleasure to have along. And he helped tremendously when I tried to make Will and Elle mug for the camera. You know, my children who look anywhere but at me.
Look at those laughing faces! Jack has a career as a photog assistant/ham. I'm bringing him everywhere. :)