The Cliffords go to West Point
One of the beauties of the autumnal parent visit is the trips upstate with all the gorgeous fall leaves. After our fun-filled Halloween in the Hudson Valley, the folks and decided to go back to the valley the following day to see the area we were lost in that night. Actually, we have a family friend who lives in West Point, so we decided to go up and visit her family and see the fortress-like military campus. Besides seeing good friends, this was an appropriate activity for dad, who is a retired army officer.
That day that we went was also the day of the Army vs. Air Force football game, which we didn't go to, but were treated with a military review and skydivers.

After the soldiers marched off the field, we walked around campus and caught the views of the colorful Valley.

West Point Academy is also part war museum as the grounds contain cannons from each of the military conflicts in which our country has participated. Here is a picture of my dad inspecting the weaponry.

The usually closed-off campus library was open to visitors on game day. The building, named after our country's third president (that would be Thomas Jefferson), contained his old desk, a pair of his boots, and his letter-writing invention. There was also a really nice statue where I learned that Jefferson had an interesting way of tying his bootlaces.

The library was lovely, but I had the most fun showing my friends three-year old daughter how to use the camera. (Aren't digital cameras a lovely toy?) The following images are her masterpieces. I think she has a gift. (I did erase about twenty pictures of one car.)

Here is the parental unit.

This is the artist's self-portraint. I can't even do self-portraits this well.

Her little, itty-bitty shoes.

That would be me.

And those are my feet.

After our lovely fall day in upstate New York, my parents and drove through the valley checking out pretty homes and quaint villages, and increasing our ability to not read NY road signs very well. Oh yes, we got a little lost again. Fortunately all roads lead to NYC.