Fall: a Hate/Love Relationship

Honestly, I hate the Fall. It is simply a means to an end. Summer is over and Fall is just a nice way of saying that Winter is quickly approaching. What bothers me the most are the people who love Fall. Take the following conversation for example:

People who love Fall: "Oh I love how the leaves are changing colors."

Me, aka, voice of reason: "The leaves AREN'T changing colors. They are DYING!! Fall means DEATH."

But, I do love some things about Fall this year.

I love Tyler who sits on the sofa (beneath open windows letting the mild Fall temps in) surrounded by his most prized possessions.

l-r: blanket, shin socks, and yellow Hummer remote control car

The shin socks have been going everywhere lately...including Lauren's dance class on Tuesdays.

After dance class Lauren was able to buy herself a remote control car using her piggy bank money. Who knew the R/C cars could drive through bushes?!

I love that Fall brings Fall Festivals. We had Lauren's Fall Festival this weekend. I didn't take any pictures but L and T had fun playing the games and winning lots of candy. I worked the ring toss booth sponsored by Lauren's class. It was a good opportunity to meet some of Lauren's classmates and their parents.

Fall also brings races to the Senoia Speedway. Our friend (and neighbor) Gabriel races and we took the opportunity to watch him Saturday evening. He took second place and it was very exciting to see him speed around the 3/8 mile track.

Tyler climbs to find the best view possible.

the cheering section

Tyler shows the appropriate amount of Thomas underpants.

more of the cheering section

the race went a bit long for Tyler's attention span

but he got a second wind on our way down to the track.

Mr. Gabriel let the kids sit in his car.

So much FUN!

Today (Sunday!) Matt left for a business trip to Memphis, TN. We would have gone with him if it weren't for a little thing called "Lauren's School." Apparently, the public school system frowns upon pulling kids out for vacations. Bah Humbug. (Now I'm swaying back to the Hate part of my relationship with Fall.)

But it wasn't all bad today. The kids and I did a lot of baking. We made some "energy bars" from one of Lauren's cookbooks and also some sugar cookies with powdered-sugar orange-tinted icing.

Lauren's pumpkin shaped cookie with sprinkles.

the rest of the cookies...and yes, they all are Halloween shapes...(just nod and agree.)

The rest of the evening was spent outside. Lauren wanted a leaf pile but the trees in our yard haven't released many of their (dying) leaves yet. Instead, Lauren took a bucket back and forth to Mr. Buddy's death filled er...I mean leaf filled lawn and brought them back home to make her little leaf pile. Hours of entertainment...let me tell you. (The socks are covering up over 20 bug bites she received yesterday.)

The Amazing Race is finally on after a 45-minute delay from the football game. So gotta go. I hope y'all had a great weekend...despite it being the depressing Fall.