Could It Be Fall???

I used to be one of those kids who wanted summer to last year round. I lovvved swimming, and being in the water all day long. I loved that I could wear shorts and flip flops, and I loved that it meant no school! However, for the first time, I am absolutely sick of summer. It's hot, it's humid, there are no more summer breaks, and swimming now means swimsuit season... ugh. So you can imagine how overjoyed I have been lately, relishing in the little signs that FALL is approaching.

I think I've decided fall will be my new favorite season. It's cool, but not bitter cold. The nights are perfect for wrapping up in a blanket. You can eat soup and not feel like an idiot. The spice scented candles are everywhere. Hoodies get to make their way out of the closet. The leaves begin to change colors. And it pushes us gently into the holiday season.

Last night, for the first time since spring - we got to sleep with the windows open! Praise Jesus. I love the fresh, crisp breeze... and the smell. To me, fall smells delightful. There is something so cozy about having to bury under covers knowing that a blanket of cool fresh air is waiting right above you. Aaaah, bliss. That's not the only sign that fall is approaching though. It's also that wonderful, yet annoying time of year when the heat goes on in the morning on the way to work, and the air goes on in the afternoon on the way home. It's really unfortunate, however, when you find yourself sweating on the ride home only to notice that the heat is still blasting just as you left it in the morning. Dew is now on my car every morning. It's a pain in the butt to get off, but I'm happy knowing that in just a few months it will be ice, and at least I don't have to deal with that yet! Thoughts of hot chocolate begin to creep back into your mind. Kids go back to school. Pools are closing left and right. The isles of wal mart are filled with ghosts and pumpkins, and even some turkeys. Those things are all pretty general signs that summer is ending, and fall is approaching.  There are a few, however, that are special just to the Proebstings. And these are some of my favorite:

We have a very special friend that specializes in knitting booties. She even showed me how to do it, and I made a pair for Zoey when she was a newborn. I decided then and there I would never knit another thing as long as I lived. I take full advantage of the fact that she loves it though, and we have received several pairs over the years. Tonight I came home from getting dinner - yeh, I'm a bad wife, I didn't cook - and Kyle was wearing a pair of his booties! This is a pretty funny sight in itself. Kyle wears size 13 shoes, so can you imagine a booty that big?! I loved seeing him in them though, it reminded me that I'm not just dreaming it up, and there is actually a chill in the air! Another thing that is a special signal of fall to just us Proebstings is Fall Ball. Because spring and summer softball just aren't enough!  And thank God these games are double headers - I don't know what I would do if I only got to watch ONE game on a chilly, fall night. (That's complete sarcasm). At least the mosquitoes aren't as bad. And the final, and my personal favorite sign that it is fall in the Proebsting household is the entrance of football. Not just on TV every Sunday, although, don't worry - we wouldn't dare miss a game. It is also alive and well in the fantasy world. You might be wondering why I have some much free time to write a blog like this. That's simple. Kyle is upstairs in a "fantasy draft." Why is he not downstairs using the laptop? That's also simple. He doesn't trust it. He told me that today. He doesn't trust my computer enough to draft players for his fantasy football league. I suppose it could ignite on fire. I suppose it could crash. I suppose the battery might run out. So I mean, why would he trust it? He got third pick though, so I think he's pretty happy about it. Why do I not have a fantasy team? Oh, that's easy. Last year he actually talked me into it. I had a team lined up, and was ready to share this passion with him. I got to his house promptly 30 minutes before it started just like he asked, and with my laptop in tow. When the draft actually started, however, the internet connection failed. What a freak accident, right? Nope, there is an explanation which was given to me by Kyle. It was MY fault. I caused the internet to crash. Me and my laptop simply cannot be trusted. Needless to say, we excused ourselves from the draft and promised Kyle we would never enter another one so as to keep all of the internet connections in St. Charles in proper working order.

So here we sit. Just my laptop and I. Eagerly anticipating the arrival of fall. Enjoying all the signs that it is coming - and hoping that summer is behind us. Hoping also that we might see Kyle before the night is over. For now, we'll leave him be - he would want that.