Mt. Etna in the autumn (or... hiking with kids)

The weather these days in Sicily is just perfect in every way.  Clear, refreshing days with big bowl-of-blue skies and light breezes.  Rain once every week or so, just enough to turn the earth green again and give you reason to break out your cooler weather gear.  And then there are the hints of changing color on Mt. Etna, which we are taking every opportunity to see.

Last Saturday we joined our dear friends the Arthurs for another hike on Mt. Etna.  It was a perfect day: a picnic, a fireplace (even if we forgot marshmallows), a beautiful climb, and a magnificent view.  Oh, and kids wearing themselves out with happy play!

Elise in her new hat 

Mama Arthur and her brood

Lena and Lucas

The fire builders and their helpers.  (Josh: "It's easier to wear Elise's hat than carry it for her.")

How young families hike.

 

The final push and then the summit.

Beautiful Sicily!

"There's our town, guys, can you see it?"

my gentle husband

we three and Mt. Etna

fall color in Sicily

Ever since I returned to Sicily last week, I've been feeling sad about leaving beautiful fall color behind in Virginia.  We love living here, but there's just nothing like autumn on the East Coast.  I think it's the rich color saturation of everything: leaves, clothes, sky, scarves, apples, boots, lipstick, pumpkins. 

Last week my friend Becca mentioned that there is fall color on Mt. Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, which is just a 45-min drive from our house.   Quick, gather a crew and let's go hiking!  With two of our closest family friends here, we drove up to the slopes of the volcano, picnics packed and children in tow. 

Aren't the kids cute?  Elliott and I got to see what "hiking" will look like in a few years when Lena's a little older and we add a babe or two to our family!  These are some rockstar parents, folks.

 I'm linking up with Weekend Update Blog Hop and The Weekend File.