Well, fall is definitely here now. It wasn't exactly cold or even brisk on the day I made the apple crisp... that was just a craving thing. But now it's pretty brisk, even chilly at times, and our warm days are tinged with a cool breeze. I really DO love this time of year.
My apple crisp turned out fantastic, by the way... it was all I could do to keep my face out of the pan! This past weekend, I tried another new recipe: Striped Delight. Mmm! That one was made for sharing, as it's so rich, even I found myself getting too much. I made it for when we had some of Jim's family over to watch the USC game. What a bummer... but the food was awesome! We had chips & dips, plus some breadsticks, fried mozzerella, onion rings, potato skins, etc. It was a regular pig-out!
Our Little Lump is growing steadily (of course, given my obsession with food), and he's a regular dancer! I swear, he's got the Boogie Fever! It's not just a few kicks here and there... when he decides to get moving, he's all over the place. It just cracks me up. I don't even mind when he starts in at night, as I'm lying down to sleep. It's a feeling I'll never grow tired of, and I know it's one I'll miss once he's born.
The girls are really getting excited for the birth of their little brother--Josie, in particular, is very excited and is even protective of him already. They're torn between being excited for Christmas because of presents and being excited for Christmas because it means their little brother will arrive shortly after! They helped Jim and me clean up the crib and get it set up in what used to be the Computer Room--said computer has been moved downstairs, across from the fireplace. (I'm learning to like this set-up, as it's cozy down here PLUS I'm more productive with my time upstairs, rather than running to the computer every five minutes to check for e-mail.) We need to get a rug in that room, move the spare bed out, move the rocking chair in from the girls' room, and maybe get a little dresser. Still, the crib is ready, so I'm not as worried about the rest. NOW I just need to go through our old baby clothes and pull out everything that's not too "girlie". There's always something for me to do! :)

I LOVE Fall!!!

I've got an apple crisp in the oven (I'm so excited--it's my first time making one, hope it turns out!). The Huskers won their first game. It's been so cool out the past few days, we've gone without Air Conditioning and haven't needed heat. School is in session and the girls are just loving it. We're starting to discuss ideas for Halloween costumes (and I'm already starting to think longingly about miniature candy bars). This is my absolute favorite time of year!!! When the leaves start changing and then falling, and you walk to school (okay, walk your kids to school), you can shuffle your feet through the leaves on the sidewalk. There's a smell in the air of grass and leaves drying up and dying, sometimes you can smell people burning leaves or other woody debris or maybe someone's got their fireplace lit already. Oooh! I LOVE having a fireplace! And I always think of the smell of pencil sharpener shavings and school supplies--brand new Crayons, fresh notebooks, crisp new #2 pencils with no teethmarks! Then there's the food! (Have I mentioned the apple crisp and the Halloween candy?) Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, because of all the good foods and the fact that we're all getting together simply to eat! I'm so happy! The girls are happy! Jim is happy! Hooray for Fall!!!