I’m getting so excited for fall, I can hardly stand it. I’ve been pulling flowers out of the garden this week & cutting back perennials, as well as putting my Vinca and other potted plants in the ground to winter. I’ve harvested all but the giant marigold seeds, and that’s because there are several huge yellow jackets that seem to be camped out on the blossoms. A few tomato & pepper plants remain in the vegetable garden and the rest of the ground is ready for a rest.

The weather has been beautiful & cool, in the mid-80’s all week. The kids have played outside & the swings haven’t been too hot or the slide melting to their skin. However, Eden wants one last hurrah in the swimming pool and I say, “No, too cold!”

Little Baby Lars is now Tall Toddler Lars. His 2^nd Birthday was Friday. He is finally on the growth chart for height, at 10% and is almost on for weight, at 22#. I was not planning on doing anything extraordinary for his birthday, seeing as that he’s only two. However, when my Mom heard that, she was seriously feeling sorry for him. Then, when Laura chimed in and said, “Am I going to have to make that poor child a Birthday Cake?!” I said, “Of course not, I’ll make him a cake!” Thus, the almost blue M&M was born. Of course, he couldn’t eat any of the M&M’s, but the cake was dairy free and he settled for frozen fruit bars in a bowl instead of the strawberry ice cream everybody else got. I don’t think he noticed that everybody else’s was slightly a different color.

Our ‘back to school’ routine is now in full swing. Daddy drops Eden off & picks her up at preschool on Tuesday and Thursday’s, as the building is less than a block from church. Lars has OT on Tuesday mornings, just before Eden gets home & then Speech on Friday mornings first thing. I teach EMT class on Monday & Wednesday nights still and teach Piano Lessons on Wednesday & Thursday afternoons, when school lets out. Pastor has Confirmation class on Wednesday afternoons & I lead Sunday School music on Sunday mornings. Voice choir practice is Thursday evenings, which leaves Tuesdays for all voters/elders/council/building committee/EMS meetings to squeeze in. It’s a good thing Eden doesn’t want dance lessons or anything.

I’m about sick of canning tomatoes, but I know I’m going to be grateful as the winter progresses. I put up 12 quarts of tomatoes yesterday & made some spaghetti sauce today for spaghetti & meatballs tonight. Eden’s favorite.

Not too much excitement in our house this week. Spent some money to buy the preacher a new clerical, alb & cross for the November dedication of the new sanctuary. Those things don’t come cheap, but its run it’s course. Also started gathering some stocking stuffers & having them shipped to Michigan for that big holiday that happens in December, in which the kids and I are traveling by train for two days back home.

Eden is learning a lot all of a sudden. She brought me the soap dispenser from the bathroom and, following the pictures on the back, read me the ‘Rictions’ (directions). “First, get your hands wet, then get one squirt and scrub ‘em together, and then rinse. That’s how you wash your hands!”

And no matter what the activity, her favorite line seems to be, “I’m four so I can do that myself”. Of course you can, Eden.