Tell me it's not winter....

We went for a late fall hike a couple of weeks ago (before the snow came to our house!) and it was gorgeous---but freezing.  Sometimes that comes with the territory, I suppose.  And I just noticed that I took three different pictures of the exact same mountain.  But they do look kind of different...different angles....they're all pretty, so I'll just leave them.

The higher we drove up the canyon (Little Cottonwood) the more winter-ish it got! 

Perfect view of "Devil's Castle".  Eerie, isn't it?

But, we didn't drive up here for nothing.  We got out and bundled up and set out to find Secret Lake

Turns out it's a really big secret.  We never found it.  But we're pretty sure we know what we did wrong.  When the winter snow, that has since fallen since I took these pictures, melts away we will set out on our search again :)

Did I mention yet that it was really really really cold?  Well, it was.  Part of me really wanted to stay with my seat heater (best invention ever!), but I didn't want to be a party pooper.

Bridger is wearing his camel bak and his moose hat.  The moose hat is a must for him--we told him a while ago (when a fear of bears while hiking started to surface) that bears were scared of moose.  Now he is a believer and wears it everywhere!  The little antlers are tucked in his yellow hood  :)

Saw our first patch of snow for the season!  I was kind of excited and took a picture.  As soon as Kennedy saw it she stomped her chubby little foot in it.  Wow.  Thanks for that.

And the trusty compass.  No, we weren't technically lost.  Although, Jeremy and I have a slightly different sense of direction.  My east and his east were in different places.  Hmmmm.  Poor Jeremy, it must be sad to be an eagle scout and not know such basic principles... :)

Us.  Licking snow.

Do you see the woodpecker?  It's right in the middle, and very well camouflaged!  Well, except for all the noise!

Oh, and I took this picture to remind me of what it smelled like up there.  It smelled like Christmas.  That evergreen smell is the best!  I was breathing so deeply I almost hyperventilated!

And is this not the cutest chipmunk with his cheeks full of nuts?  Love love love it!

We never really saw anyone up here.  Probably because A) it was freezing and B) we never found the lake.. But I loved the serenity of it.  Serenity Now!

Charlotte loves being toted around outside.  She was so happy the whole time, I just couldn't resist taking so many pictures of her!  And Kennedy and Bridger have such a way of making her laugh.  I just love it!  It makes my heart happy.

And a cold "winter's" hike just wouldn't be complete without hot chocolate!  Jeremy was a little excited to try out his fancy new stove--he had that water boiling in minutes!  And it was delicious!