S.A.D.

The cool breeze this morning reminds me that summer is coming quickly to a close. Though this is TJ's favorite season, I am having a very hard time with the transition. I struggle a bit with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and am so depressed about losing the sunshine and warmth!

I've been trying to think of fun things we can do to make the fall and winter more enjoyable - any suggestions? One thing to note - we're both working and going to school full time, so we're pretty much limited to half days on Saturdays (the few hours that we're not doing homework).

The Mazda

As I was writing feverishly about my country bumpkins TJ asked if I was updating the world on the car. :) I probably ought to.

We got home early last night, around 6:15, and TJ realized he'd left his car door open all day. :P Oops. He tried to start it and, of course, no luck. He grabbed jumper cables from his home teaching family and came home to give it a try. After a few minutes of unsuccessful attempts, he realized (oh dear) that my positive and negative sides had been marked incorrectly... And so, an hour later, his car still hadn't started.

We made do today driving each other back and forth between work and school and his sweet parents agreed to buy a new battery while we were gone (we're both away from home during logical car store hours - today's hours were 8-7 and tomorrow's are 8-10).

When I got home from work, though, I found Gem in the driveway, working on the car. It was NOT the battery, it was his main fuse. Gem had spent an hour in traffic getting the car part that we needed, but it was the labor that we were stuck on. It was impossible to get the fuse box opened to switch out the main fuse.

By the time TJ was home from work, it was after 7. I decided to get out of the way and served everyone dinner and made cookies. The boys set up their flood light (thanks, Papa) and went to work. Eileen came inside to chat and we sort of deemed the outside efforts were maybe for naught...but let them be. :)

But - THEY DID IT! They figured it out all by themselves. And now, his car starts. He even drove it up the driveway into his parking spot. :) I'm very proud, and happy to have Big Blue back (okay, we've never actually called it that, but it seems like we needed a name in that sentence.) Happy day!

Country Bumpkins

I've been walking around the house for a few days talking about my "Country Bumpkins." I don't even know what that means. :) But I did spend a fair amount of time yesterday and today working on pumpkin decorations for our house. These are the results, adorning our kitchen desk. I'm actually quite pleased. :)

Despicable Me!

On Friday night all the girls went to see Despicable Me. I knew nothing about it and was a little disappointed to see that it was a cartoon. But now - it's my favorite movie. :) I sat between Bopper and Moo in the theater and Bopper laughed so loud that EVERYBODY in the theater could hear her. :) We thought it was just such a fun movie to watch, with so many quoteable lines that we've all been repeating non-stop since ("It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!!")

We liked it so much that we all went again on Saturday night and took TJ. Ha. What a way to spend money. :)

When Sasso Comes to Town!

My sister Julie left me a voice message this week saying that Robert had surprised her with an airplane ticket to fly home! She arrived yesterday about noon with little Max and it is SO fun to have them here. We went to dinner at Cafe Rio last night and just talked and talked. Then we picked up Belle and took her to see Max, who LOVES dogs (he pats his chest when you say "dog," his way of signing it). It was fun to watch Max just grin while he touched Belle, chased Belle, and watched Belle. What a cute little one. He looks just like his dad.

Today we have the big family dinner at Danny and Tara's and then Mom planned activities almost every day this week to do things before Julie leaves next Sunday. She's due in December, so it will be several months before we can see her again.

How I love my Sasso Molasso!

Emily's Room!

This post is really mostly for Emily, who walked through our home long before it was finished. Even then she told me which room she wanted.

True to my word, it is now her room! We brought in a queen bed from a sibling (she told me that a queen bed would be the best option) and borrowed a beautiful, homemade bedspread. TJ set up the bed and I made it with clean sheets and the colorful bed spread.

TJ has his guitar in the corner, but besides that, decorations are yet to be finalized. I have several plans, and just a couple months to finish before the big sleepover.

I can't wait.

First Day of School :)

Last week TJ had his first day of school for the semester. I was rushing out the door to work (as always) but realized it was his first day. :) I interrupted his bowl of cereal to make him smile for a picture. He was a good sport and even put on his backpack (my Christmas present to him last year).

Since he started school we pretty much never see each other. We're both gone 12-15 hours ever day and it is VERY busy. We're both pressing on, believing it will all be worth it! :P

(PS Please note TJ's grin when I'm standing in front of him, treating him like a child, pleading "Smile!")