PaDOW!

When you make a habit of pushing people around, at some point you're going to bully the wrong person and get what's coming to you.  Well August 26th was the day... Jasmine took a toy away from some 6-year old in Sunday school class, and BAM... just kidding.  Bruised and battered from a fight? Nope.  Not even an unfortunate fall off the bike, trip down the steps, or sibling dispute can claim this victory (although I believe I heard Naomi taking full credit for Jasmine's shiner).  Of all things... a spider bite. Post doctor's visit, a $65 spider bite, to be exact.  And suddenly I'm just a wee bit less fond of the great outdoors.

My catch and release policy for all things creepy and crawly found in the house has officially been suspended.

Luke Warm

This time of year drives me crazy.  As a phenomenally frugal individual, it's bad enough when summer creeps around and we have to crank the air conditioner up for the next 3 months... or likewise, when the last leaf has fallen and the thermostat stays glued on the heat setting until the birds come back in March.  During those months, if you listen closely enough, I think you can actually hear the electricity bill going up 12 cents every 15 minutes.  tick...tick... nickel...tick... tick... dime... But that's nothing compared to the dreaded in-between stage that fall and spring bring.  Jacket or no jacket?  Am I hot or am I cold... wait... I need a coat when I leave the house in the morning... but I should pack some shorts in case we go to the park after school.  Yep, it's that financially inefficient time of year when you have to use the heat AND the cool setting in the same day.  Can I get an amen?!  Oh it's horrible.   AC in the day... heat overnight.  And somewhere, the general manager of your local electric company is slapping mother nature high five.  Evil little man.

But there's one good thing that almost makes it all worthwhile... despite the financial trickle that the in-between seasons bring, they also bring with them the perfect weather to enjoy a backyard fire and some "mushyellows" on a stick.  Highs in the 80's.  Low's in the 60's.  And somewhere in the middle, the warmth of the fire feels nothing short of magical.

And as the fire crackles, the wood goes snap... crackle... pop... tick... tick... dime.

Room to Run

It started drizzling before we even pulled out of the driveway, but we kept it moving anyway.  There was no way we were spending another minute indoors with this herd of crazy people.  So off to the pumpkin patch we went.  Fenced-in environment, room to run, swings, tunnels, and plenty of pumpkins for us to hide behind.  Sounds perfect.