Might have a few days off

Right now, I am not scheduled to work the rest of the week.  That almost doesn't seem possible.  I won't work Friday because Catherine made the honor roll, and the breakfast is Friday.  Andrew doesn't think he can get anyone to cover his class, and I'm not missing this.  I'll be honest, I really do love being off on Fridays because it leads right into the weekend!  We'll just see if anything comes up for tomorrow or Wednesday.  I would love to pick up another day tomorrow, but it is out of my control.  I am already scheduled all four days next week (there is no school Tuesday) and four of five days the following week, so I'm not going to stress about the rest of this week.

I'm happy to report that Thomas is back in school.  He felt pretty good by the time that I made it home (Andrew left earlier to be with him).  By the time I saw him, I could tell that he felt much better.  He stayed down though, and we had him go to bed early just to get some extra rest.  Hopefully the rest of us don't get it...although if Andrew does I know where he can get a sub for his class!

I hadn't planned on it, but it worked out

I am working today, just as I do most days.  And what happened this morning is exactly why I love being at our high school.  It really is what works best for our family.

Right at the beginning of 3rd period, I received a phone call from the nurse that Thomas was in the clinic and had vomited.  He obviously needed to go home.  Not only am I working, but I am covering for a second teacher who had to leave unexpectedly so I know they would be really short if I left...or if Andrew left for that matter.  Fortunately, 3rd period has another adult in the room.  That meant I could leave and go check on Thomas.  He definitely needed to go home, but was running no fever.  I consulted with Andrew, and we decided he was old enough to be alone for a few hours.  I found another teacher to cover and I ran Thomas home.  The schedule worked out perfectly in that I was able to run him home and get back, all during that period.  I would prefer to be home with him, but this is a situation working parents deal with all the time.  I don't get paid if I don't work...it's that simple.  There is no fever, and it's actually going to only be about five hours, and Andrew could even be home about an hour earlier.  Yes, I am trying very hard to justify that I have left my sick kid at home.  I don't like it, but it will be okay...it will be okay.

Ultimately, I'm so grateful that our entire family is able to be in the same building.  It makes these instances so much more manageable.  I hate having sick kids, but this is going around and it happens, and we can deal with it!

Hopefully next time

Catherine didn't pass her driving test.  She was absolutely devastated.  She cried for almost an hour.  I felt so awful for her.  She had marching band this evening though, and I'm grateful she had something else to think about.  She will be able to take the test again next week.  Fingers crossed it goes better next time.

Ironically, this happened on the same day that our invitation to her honor roll breakfast arrived.  She worked hard, and really wanted to make the honor roll.  We are so proud of her!  She really is an amazing young lady!

The last Friday of October

The last weekend of October...I just don't understand how we got here so quickly.  I can't believe it has been four weeks since we've seen Robert at his graduation at the end of September.  It's really crazy.

The last Friday of October means the end of football season.  Normally it would mean the end of marching band is close, but we still have another two weeks due to the competition schedule.  This is not only an entire week later than normal, but swim practices are beginning a week earlier as well.  So while we normally go directly from marching band to swim with no break, this year we actually have two full weeks of overlap.  Nothing I love about that!

Catherine is taking her driving test after school today.  I'll be honest, I am absolutely terrified at the thought of her having her license.  Generally speaking I think she is ready, but I don't think I am.  While Robert often made poor choices in life, I was more confident in his abilities behind the wheel.  I am concerned that Catherine sometimes doesn't pay attention to the world around her.  I'm not necessarily hoping that she doesn't pass...I just can't imagine this whole experience!  My biggest concern is Thomas being in the vehicle with her and causing distractions.

It's really looking like fall around here.  The leaves are nearing their peak color (about a week late) and it's very pretty outside.  It's also been much cooler than average.  While I enjoy cooler weather, I miss the days of fall when it's the perfect temp outside.  We haven't had too many of those this year.

It's been a crazy week with subbing every day, and it's also the culmination of our band fundraiser, so I've been working on pretty much nothing but that in my "free" time.  I should be finished with that by tomorrow morning, and then I can pick up the house and take of laundry...and all those other "fun" things that are waiting for me!

Where did October go?

I can't believe we are in the last week of October...this time next week will be November!  I feel like October has just absolutely flown by.  It could be because the month began very warm and summer-like, and now it is almost early winter-like.  I felt like September drug on forever, and now October has flown!

Definitely not the answer

I have been attempting to make healthier choices.  One of the biggest changes I feel I could make that would be helpful is to stop drinking so many soft drinks.   I pack one each day that I have to work at the school.  I know it isn't overly healthy, but I really don't like water.  Finally this week, I saw numbers on the scale that don't make me very happy at all.  I remember being in high school, and my best friend's family always had seltzer water on hand.  I liked it at that time.  I did some research and it seemed to be a good compromise.  I thought maybe this would be the solution I wanted.

It is not.  At least, not the kind I tried.  I stood at the grocery earlier in the week and looked over the various selections.  I decided to give a go to the most popular brand name, although it wasn't the one I knew from my high school days.  Next I needed to chose a flavor.  This proved far more challenging.  I don't care for citrus flavors, and those were predominant.  I'm a much bigger fan of fruity flavors, so I finally settled on cran-raspberry. 

I took a can out of the fridge this morning and put it in my lunch bag.  First, having them in cans is a problem because they can't be closed up again.  That also means once I open it, it has to remain on my desk because I can't put it back in my lunch bag, and of course that means it is also going to get warm.  So, I need to keep looking for another packaging solution.  In the meantime, I opened the can and it smelled wonderful.  Unfortunately, it most certainly does not taste wonderful.  In fact, I kind of feel that it tastes like medicine.  I'll manage to find a way to drink this and the seven remaining cans that I've paid for, but clearly this is not the answer I was looking for!

We aren't going to be billionaires

Yesterday I had several errands to run after I was done subbing at the school, and I also had to go spend some time at the church at that job.  I was pretty exhausted during the day, so I stopped and grabbed a cup of coffee at a convenience store.  Since I was there, I decided to grab a Mega Millions ticket.  I know the odds, but $2 was worth the 24 hours of dreaming.  I wasn't even overly interested in winning the entire jackpot, but felt as though $100,000 would allow us to replace the van, take an ocean vacation, and still replenish our savings.

Alas, we don't live in South Carolina (where the winning ticket was sold), and we woke up this morning having not joined the billionaire club!

Visiting with Robert

Last evening we were able to FaceTime with Robert.  I'll be honest, it was really nice to be able to do that.  We text often, and Thursday evening he and I even chatted on the phone, I enjoyed being able to see him.  At the same time, he looks so tired that it is very worrisome.  I'm sure he is fine, it's just as a mom it is my job to worry.  Thomas and Catherine especially enjoyed being able to chat with him.  It was only about 20 minutes, but we were able to see the room he is in, and just communicate together as a family for a few minutes.  I understand this is our new normal, but it makes me miss the family times with all five of us.  At the same time, so many of the times with Robert living under our roof were less than great, and this is better for all of us.  Most importantly, he is exactly where he wants to be right now, and I'm very grateful for that.

It was brutally windy.

Today Catherine and Thomas had a band competition where our dear friends live.  We decided to venture to dinner with them and then attend the competition.  Our friends even came to the competition with us.  It's chilly out...in the mid-40's when the band took the field.  The wind was unlike anything I've experienced...maybe ever.  There was trash blowing everywhere, and even props were falling over.  It was crazy.  I feel terrible for Catherine.  I know she had to be miserable.  She suffers a great deal in the cold and we are fairly certain there is a medical condition that causes it.  I can't imagine sitting in the wind another couple of hours.  It was brutal...just brutal.

On the upside, we thought the band looked pretty good.  I'm not sure if they placed anywhere or won any awards, but we enjoyed watching them.  Hopefully they weren't penalized too much by the wind which was beyond their control!

A quiet and early Saturday morning

Catherine had to work at 8AM this morning.  We were up at 7AM in order to get her there on time.  Thankfully, last evening no one had to be at the football game, so I was able to be in bed at a reasonable hour.  I don't love being up that early on a Saturday, but I did enjoy the peace and quiet that came along with it.  Catherine needs picked up at noon, and she and Thomas have to be at the high school at 2:00.  We will leave later to head to dinner with friends, then we are heading to the kids' band competition.  It's cold and rainy, but I am grateful for fall Saturdays!

It will be different this year

I officially learned yesterday that Robert won't be able to be here for Thanksgiving.  Once we found out his training was moving forward and that he would be over 1200 miles away, we were pretty sure that would be the case.  I'll be honest though, the fact that the holiday will be spent without all of my kids sitting with me at the table gives me pause.  I've always known this was a probability, but yesterday, the confirmation made it very, very real.  We are still hopeful that my in-laws will come for the holiday, as we don't want them spending the first holiday without my brother-in-law alone.  The logistics of it are challenging, and there is a possibility we will just go there, but it is't what we're planning.  Perhaps "planning" is overstating it though, because Andrew and his mother haven't really discussed it.

And then comes Christmas.  This holiday is really up in the air.  At this point, Robert is hoping to be here for a couple of days, although we aren't exactly sure when.  We know all of the family is going to want to see him, which would mean getting his parents back here again, but since we don't know when, we don't know what to plan, and there is both my mom's and dad's sides we also need to plan.  For someone who likes to be a planner, this is stressful, but I know it will all work out.  As I say about so many things, "Just because it has always been done that way, isn't a reason to keep doing it that way."  This is part of having our kids grow up!

A tough way to end the season

This week was the end of middle school football.  Neither Andrew nor myself are particularly sad about that.  Unfortunately, the season ended on a tough note.  For the last two weeks, they've only 15-16 players able to play.  Honestly, Andrew was against playing both a 7th grade game and an 8th grade game.  They just didn't feel is was safe for the few players they had to be playing so much.  However, the athletic director insisted, and this week was especially awful.  The other team ran the score up on the so badly that the Varsity coach of the other team actually came over and apologized to our coaches and stated he wasn't planning on them returning next year.  While my husband was talking to his team after the game, a parent came and basically threw a temper tantrum.  My husband was pretty irritated when he got home Wednesday evening, and learned yesterday that the wife of this guy was having a meeting with the principal yesterday.  We can only assume it is an attempt to make sure Andrew and the other coaches aren't rehired.  For this family, it is literally all about winning.  The child played quite a bit so they can't be complaining about playing time...they just are ridiculous about this.  It would be comical if it wasn't so sad.  It's sad for the young man who is their son, because he isn't learning how to handle things the right way, and he wasn't able to play football with his friends when he was younger because his father couldn't get along with anyone.  It's also sad for the coaches who have given so much of themselves, and taken so much away from their families.  Andrew was contemplating not returning next year, and this kind of encourages that.  He won't make a decision anytime soon, but I understand his feelings right now.  It was tough enough that the season ended with such a rough loss in a game that shouldn't even have been played, but to have a parent behave this way makes it so much worse.

We enjoyed our long weekend

It was so nice not to have any school Friday.  Thursday evening Andrew had to work at a soccer game, so he brought the kids home from band practice.  We hung out and watched some Modern Family, our family's current binge preference.  Friday morning we slept in, then Andrew and I headed to my hometown to sign some legal papers.  That evening we all attended the very wet football game.  Of course it rained, it was senior night after all!  We were getting blown out so I sat in the press box with Andrew and left after half time.  When everyone came home, we again binged watched TV.

Saturday morning was the league cross country meet.  Andrew had to work, and I wanted to watch the high school races.  I had so much fun.  Our runners did awesome, and frankly, our girls dominated.  Our lady runners came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 10th to capture the league title.  Our boys team came in second overall, but our friends' son won that race.  It was a great morning!  Catherine worked in the afternoon, then we had no more driving!  We were invited to our neighbor's house for a bonfire, but came home to eat dinner with the kids and more binge watching.

Sunday was church and Sunday School, and Catherine had to work again.  I was able to get a lot of things done around the house, and we ate a family dinner together.  Those are rare, and are going to get rarer with swim starting soon. 

I really enjoyed our weekend.  Sometimes I feel guilty that my kids don't have more of a social life, but I so enjoy hanging out at home together!

It's still really green

We are half way through the month, my favorite month of the year, but it is still way too green around here!  We are starting to see some lighter green and a touch of yellow, but still mostly green!  Since our summer heat just ended last week, the trees had trouble getting the message that it was time to get colorful.  This week we are well below average with temps, and our lows at night are actually getting close (way too close) to freezing.  The meteorologists are saying we may not get much color this year because of the weather patterns.  It's disappointing, but I still love this weather!

It's been a frustrating day

This day has been so frustrating!!!  I had to take the day off work because the windshield in one of our cars needed fixing.  It's lovely that they will come to the house and fix it, but not so lovely that the appointment frames are either all of the morning or all of the afternoon.  I took a morning appointment knowing that it should give me some time in the afternoon to get other things done.  The guy was here, it took a little over an hour, and by 11:00 I was out the door to run some errands.

One thing I needed to do was renew my driver's license.  I had decided that even though I hate flying and would avoid it at all costs, with Robert in the military and living all over, I should have a new compliant driver's license.  I had heard it was super challenging to get in our state because everything had to be official, but I was thrilled when I found our certified marriage license.  My birth certificate also had an official seal, and I was pleased to be all prepared.  Except of course I wasn't.  They wouldn't accept my birth certificate because it was issued by the hospital and not the county.  I pointed out it had an official seal, and they said it still wasn't an official county birth certificate.  GRRRR!  I had to just take the non-compliant license, and I'll have to work on getting the correct documentation and eventually replacing my license...which of course will cost money.

As I was driving to the license bureau, the plastic and rubber moldings on the new windshield began coming apart.  Well that's not good.  I was pleased however, that the company we used was out of the town to which I was headed, and drove straight there after the DMV...except that it isn't really there.  It's really just a storefront address, and there isn't actually a presence there.  Of course not!  I made a phone call, was told the technician would call me, and after 2-1/2 hours called again and was told the same thing.

This has proven to be so frustrating.  I'm grateful I'm getting some things done around the house, but it is so frustrating that everything has been such a hassle!

Maybe it is a little too much togetherness

This week, I have worked in my husband's classroom wing on Monday, Tuesday, and today.  Monday and today I am right next door, and Tuesday I was across the hall.  I've been able to eat lunch with him each of these days, and we appreciate that.  Today and Monday, I've been able to have Thomas in class.  In fact, it is the exact same period during which Catherine is a student assistant in Andrew's class.  We laugh about the fact that all four of us are literally within 100 yards of each other during that time.

I am thinking though, that perhaps it is a little too much togetherness.  I don't think that Thomas particularly loves me being his teacher.  Andrew seems a little annoyed that I sometimes walk into his room to borrow something I might need.  And I am incredibly annoyed at a phone call I just received.  Apparently Catherine is refusing to go to the nurse to have her vision and hearing checked.  Now I have to spend my plan period getting her out of class and escorting her to the nurse.  This infuriates me!  I don't understand why she won't just get it done.  Perhaps this is just too much togetherness at school this week!

I am so looking forward to this weekend

Today is Thursday, but because of fall break, there is no school tomorrow.  I am so incredibly excited!  We have an appointment in my home town, but we still get to sleep in at least three hours from today.  Andrew and I both need it, and I'm sure the kids do as well!

We all need to attend the home football tomorrow evening because I have some band responsibilities.  Saturday morning Andrew and I will attend the league cross country meet and Catherine will work that afternoon.  We have nowhere to be that evening though, and since Ohio St and Notre Dame both play in the afternoon, I am planning a fun evening of Modern Family for the evening.  We haven't been able to do this in over a month and I'm so looking forward to it.  Because the temps are dropping rapidly (Saturday will be 30 degrees cooler than Tuesday) we might even be able to have a fire in the fireplace Saturday evening or Sunday.  This is exactly what I've been hoping to happen for a while!

It doesn't feel like Wednesday

Today very much feels like a Thursday, and yesterday very much felt like a Wednesday.  The good news is because there is NO SCHOOL on Friday.  So even though today is only Wednesday, it is kind of a Thursday in our world.  I am looking forward to a little extra sleep on Friday!

It is such a relief!

Yesterday at the end of the school day, I received word from Robert...and it was very good news!  All of his paperwork has come through, and he is able to continue his training!  We are more relieved than I can put into words, and he is so excited that he gets to continue moving forward.  He will be in Texas for the next several weeks, then we aren't exactly sure what comes next.  Please know I will continue to be rather vague when it comes to Robert and his experiences, but I wanted to share this very good news!

It's a little overwhelming

We are in a tired and tough season of life right now.  I think we get this way pretty much every early October.  It doesn't help that the days get shorter, but it's just a little tough.  I know no one cares, but here is a run-down of our week...

Yesterday all four of us came to school together.  Right after school Thomas and I ran an errand, and Andrew went to football practice.  Early evening, right after Andrew arrived home,  I dropped Catherine and Thomas off at band practice and then went to do my weekly grocery shopping.  I came to work on band reports and Andrew was grading.  I picked the kids up from band and returned to continue to band work.  Thomas had a lot of homework and had to stay up working on that.

Today we are all again at school together.  The kids have a meeting right after school, and I have some band errands to run.  Andrew will have football practice, and then needs to head back to the high school for an assistant a/d responsibility.  The kids have the swim pre-season meeting this evening, and I will have to miss a meeting in order to transport.

Tomorrow we are all going to be at school again.  Andrew has an away football game so it is going to be pretty late before he gets home.  Catherine begins her new job tomorrow afternoon, and I am hoping I am able to get some church work accomplished.  I have a band meeting tomorrow evening.

On Thursday we will all return to school yet again.  Andrew will again have football practice, and then needs to get back to the high school for another assistant a/d function.  The kids have band practice, and I am cautiously optimistic Andrew might be able to bring them home so that I don't have to get them.

Friday we get to sleep in since there is no school!  We do, however, have a morning legal appointment in my hometown so we'll still have to get up and moving.  I also need to get some band things done, and that evening is a home football game.  It is senior night, so I have responsibilities as well.  The kids will march and do their show, and Andrew will help keep stats.

Saturday Andrew has to work at the league cross country meet, and I am hoping to attend as well.  Catherine will work in the afternoon, but then I plan a blissful evening of nothing!

On Sunday, I am both the nursery volunteer during church, and the Sunday School volunteer after.  Catherine will work in the afternoon again, and the kids have youth group that evening...and then we get to start all over again.

All of this though, pretty much pales in comparison to the swim schedule I just saw.  Those practices are starting even earlier this year, and because marching band's season is one week longer, there are two full weeks of overlap.  UGH!!!!!!!!

This should be the end of the oppressive heat

Today the high is supposed to be 85...ridiculously hot for this time of year.  Over the weekend, I would occasionally text Robert after having noticed that his temp was thirty degrees cooler and tell him how jealous I am.  He claimed it was too cold, but it sounded heavenly to me.  I turned our a/c way, way low last night in an effort to help me sleep and perhaps be a little less grumpy today. 

Tomorrow though, a cold front comes through.  We woke up to a temp of 71 this morning, but Friday night's low is forecasted to be 39.  I am so excited about this weekend's temps!

I feel irritated by everything

Honestly, this ridiculously hot weather is really starting to affect my temperament.  This morning when our alarm went off at 5AM, Andrew turned the TV on to see the weather for the day.  Folks, at 5AM on October 8, it was 70 degrees.  You have got to be kidding me!  We have had our a/c on since Friday.  This needs to end.  Thomas and I participated in an Alzheimer's fundraising walk on Saturday morning and I couldn't believe how much we all sweated.  By yesterday, I was pretty much all out grumpy.  Where are my colorful leaves and cozy clothing?  Nowhere to be found.

The evening of our engagement

Today is the anniversary of our engagement.  We became engaged exactly one year and one day after our first date.  We couldn't go out on the one year anniversary because that was a football game.  We went out the next evening to a lovely restaurant.  Andrew arrived late to pick me up.  Later I learned it was because he had stopped at my parents' house to ask for their permission to marry me.  My dad said Andrew needed to talk to my mother, who said it was entirely my decision.  I tease Andrew that he never actually asked me to marry him.  He simply said, "I want you to be my wife."  He maintains that since my response was, "Yes" it must have been a question!  Anyway, the ring (which he had just purchased that morning) was entirely too large, but of course I wanted to where it anyway.  After all, I had just become engaged to the man I love.  After a lovely dinner (this restaurant also catered our wedding) we stopped to buy some gas before we made the 40 minute drive home.  While at the gas station, I called my parents to let them know I had said yes, and I put my left hand down beside the seat...actually between the seat and the console.  The ring slipped off, and I remember hearing it "ping" as it hit metal.  I could feel it, but in the process of trying to retrieve it, it fell deeper.  Andrew went inside to get a flashlight to make sure it hadn't fallen on the ground, and we didn't see it anywhere.  I wasn't terribly worried as I was sure we would find it in the light of the next day.  We got back to my house and made some phone calls to tell people about our engagement, but Andrew was clearly annoyed by the ring situation.  I was completely convinced we would find it the next day.

The next day was a bright and sunny day.  We began looking for the ring...and looking for the ring...and looking some more.  My dad came over, and I was beginning to get upset.  We even took the front passenger seat out and pulled the carpeting up.  I still couldn't find it.  Andrew's irritation from the evening before began to soften as he realized how upset I was becoming.  My dad ended up taking the car home and using a shop vac with a mesh covering.  In spite of the fact that he called a mechanic who assured us there was no way the ring had fallen out, my dad was convinced we weren't getting it back.  Later in the week, we replaced the ring, and this time we had it sized before I could leave with it or wear it.  I love my engagement ring, but honestly I like the one Andrew picked out himself better.  Ultimately though, all that matters is I am married to Andrew.  Whenever we have a disagreement and I am proving my point, Andrew will say, "You lost the ring."  It's his zinger!  I am so grateful for our marriage...even if the engagement evening itself was less than ideal!

The anniversary of our first date

Today is the anniversary of our very first date.  Before we had kids, we made a bigger deal of it.  The first anniversary was spent at a very, very wet football game (hurricane remnant rains) so we went to a very nice restaurant the next evening.  It was the night we got engaged.  That evening is a post I should write some day!  Anyway, we don't always make a big deal of it, but when it falls on a Thursday, we always try to go out.  Our very first date also fell on a Thursday.  Andrew was coaching football at the time, so Fridays were out, and we had many Saturday plans so that was out as well.  Thursday was the day that football practice ended earliest, so that was the day chosen.  Tonight while Catherine and Thomas were at band practice, Andrew and I went out for Mexican.  I'm so glad we went out all those years ago!

Her first paycheck

About a month ago, Catherine's friend Austin decided he and Catherine were going to study together and then she was picking up an application at McDonald's.  We had been encouraging Catherine to look into getting a job for quite some time, and nothing...but Austin says to do it and it's done!  We laugh about the friendship of Catherine and Austin.  They are truly just friends, but sometimes fight like an old married couple.  It's really adorable!  Anyway, Catherine was pretty much hired on the spot, but with everything happening in life she is just now getting started on actually working.  Tonight is her training, but last week she was able to go through orientation before we left town.  With the way the pay periods fell, she was paid yesterday for orientation.  We had opened a bank account here in town for her a couple of weeks ago, and she received her first direct deposit.  She was excited and we are happy for her.  The kiddos have grown up so fast!

Sibling relationships

One thing I have come to understand over the years is the uniqueness of sibling relationships.  In my own sibling relationship, my sister and I would certainly not be friends, but we are sisters.  There are shared experiences that no one else has.  Regardless of anything else, she has always been my little sister.  We love our children unconditionally no matter what, and we understand the parent/child relationship on both ends.  Spouses, significant others, friends...they may come and go.  Sibling relationships are unique.

It was especially evident to me this weekend, seeing how excited Catherine and Thomas were about their brother.  Catherine tends to keep her feelings a little close, but Thomas is an emotionally sensitive child.  He has been excited about all things military, and especially Navy things for quite some time now.  As we left Robert on base Friday evening, I asked the kids if they had enjoyed seeing their brother.  They both responded yes, and Thomas added, "I wish it could've been longer."  I'm glad we were in a dark car, because my heart broke a little and I had to fight tears.  For all of the crap the kids have been subjected to because of Robert's poor decisions, he is still their big brother and they still look up to him.  I hope someday Robert comes to truly understand not only everything he put them through, but how important he is to them.  I think he is on that path now, but I truly hope it happens someday!

College visit

In addition to the excitement of Robert's graduation this weekend, we also took Catherine on a college visit.  Andrew had taken her to a local small school over the summer to begin the search process.  We had received an invitation to an open house from Andrew's alma mater and thought this would be a good opportunity for Catherine to check it out.  There were lots of things I loved about it, but to be honest, I don't see this as the school for Catherine.  As Andrew and I sat and talked last evening, he agreed with me.  One thing I did realize though, she needs to get started on this.  Waiting until senior year is not going to work.  While she has a decent sized savings account, she is going to need to start researching financial aid and getting things together.  The hardest part is that she doesn't really say much about her thoughts of things.  It will be fun to share this experience with Catherine, but I really can't believe how quickly we got here!

I love October

October has arrived!  October is definitely my favorite month of the year.  I love the sights, the sounds, the smells, and it doesn't hurt at all that October is my birthday month.  To me, October is such a cozy month.  It has a nip in the air, and sweatshirts, jackets, and light blankets are often necessary.  The smells of apples and fireplaces can be enjoyed, because it isn't yet too cold to be outside.  And of course the changing of the leaves is absolutely gorgeous.  I love almost everything about October.

However, Mother Nature doesn't seem to have received the memo.  Today begins a strings (of weeks, not just days) of weather in the 80's, and by later in the week, we will need to turn the a/c back on because the humidity will be creeping up as well.  This is not how October is supposed to be!