On our way back to the hotel after visiting my grandfather we stumbled upon a beautiful park that was completely empty.  

I didn't want to miss sharing midwestern autumn with the kids no matter what the circumstances.  Fall on the Colorado prairie arrives without this colorful fanfare. It slips in unannounced.  The changing of the leaves is virtually absent.

from there we drove a few miles over to the Lake Michigan shore. To landlocked kids the great lakes look for all the world like the ocean. This visit was even colder than our last great lake opportunity.

The clouds were already thick and threatening but we braved the wind so they would at least get a glimpse. 

Then the rain settled in and I was too distracted to think of the camera again that week.  It was a little window of respite for which I was so grateful. Breathtaking.