My Vitality Does In Fact Leap In The Autumn

“September has come, it is hers

Whose vitality leaps in the autumn,

Whose nature prefers

Trees without leaves and a fire in the fireplace."

It's September and October that makes me sad that I don't live in a part of the US where there is a noticeable difference in the weather and the leaves actually change colors instead of one day being a vibrant green on the trees and the next dirty brown and dead on the lawn. I try to make the best of it by enjoying every minuscule  drop on the thermometer and reminding myself that cold COLD weather is only fun if you don't have to leave your house. 

It's taken all of August to come to terms with the fact that I have a child in high school and who is also eligible to get her learner's permit in two weeks. School started way back on August 9th. 

Madeline loves high school so far. She's doing home study seminary for a year because of transportation issues. (Getting her set up to do that pretty much required an act of Congress for all the hassle it caused.) Isabella is enjoying 8th grade. By some crazy fluke, she got all of the teachers Madeline had last year. The middle school split into two schools this school year, and Isabella was assigned to the new school, which used to be a former elementary school. She said all of the toilets and sinks and water fountains are very low, so she feels like a giant when she uses them!

James had been under government-ordered sequestration since the beginning of July, but it *finally* ended last week! Hooray! It's a very rare thing that you will hear me complaining about James' job and/or the fact that he works for the government. We went too many years without stable, reasonable employment to complain about anything, really. I have to say though, this furlough with the close to 40% pay cut was a tough one to deal with. But it's over, we survived and all is well. 

Jed has been gone TEN WEEKS today! He's still not in Brazil, though. He's hanging in Pleasant Grove, UT while waiting on that dang visa! I just love how confident and enthusiastic he sounds in his letters. 

I turned 36 last month. That sounds very different from 35. The family I sit for gave me a very generous gift card to a local restaurant, and I nicely took James and the girls with me out to dinner. I just love spending time with them! Mom and Dad came over a few days later and took me out to lunch. Clearly, I like my birthdays to revolve around food. ;)

I love the time I'm spending with "my" boys. They are such a treasure! It's also a good reminder why I personally was smart to have my children while I was still young and stupid. I'd be so lazy as a parent of young kids now! 

Christopher is in school during the day, and I pick him up in the afternoon. He goes to a private Catholic school, and the it was SO FUNNY when he was telling me about his first Mass.

Michael is getting so big- sitting up by himself, eating solid food and trying to scoot around. He just gives the best smiles and snuggles. Nature's Prozac, I'm telling you!

Nic is too funny for words. He's constantly trying to figure out ways of outsmarting me, and only occasionally succeeding. 

I think the best part about getting older is figuring out what you really care about, and ignoring the rest of the busy work. Right now my life is so busy work free and I'm so much happier for it.