Autumn

Yesterday morning, early. Ella (5) and I were on the couch.

Ella: "What's that noise?!"

Me: "Um...the dishwasher?"

Ella: "No, not that noise, the *other* noise!"

Me: "Okay, is it the fan in the bathroom?"

Ella: "NO, mommy. Not that. It's a different noise."

Me: (Listening for "different" noises, now.) "Oh! (excitedly) Honey, that's our HEATER coming on!!!!"

Ella, suddenly remembering what that meant, scurried over to the floor vent to situate herself on top of it. [One of her favorite spots in the house when the weather is cooler.]

The weather is indeed cooler. And I love it.

Reading Jodi's post yesterday got my mind to whirring about all the reasons this is my favorite season. So here is my own list of some of the things I love about Fall:

eggnog lattes (and i could *almost* stop right there i love these so much)
homemade chex mix
pumpkin bread
scented candles glowing around the house
our feather bed
hot cocoa with marshmallows on chilly mornings
grandma slippers (lovingly knit by Mark's 91-year old grandma)
hot bubble baths
the changing colors of leaves on the trees
spiced cider
"treasure" walks- collecting acorns, chestnuts, and an assortment of leaves
butternut squash
Bath & Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar scent
watching leaves drift into our back yard from the neighbor's tall trees
soft molasses cookies
the heat kicking on in the early morning hours
rubber-boot clad children
SmartWool socks
grandma's knit stocking caps
adding onto our Thanksgiving journal
pumpkin pie with a dollup of whipped cream
easy meals of hearty soup and homemade bread
making giant piles of leaves at our favorite park
a hot rice bag tucked under the covers to warm my feet
decorating for fall
the pumpkin patch
the giant maple tree at the end of our street

I asked the kids, too, for their favorite things about Fall.
Here's Ella's list:
"The leafs turn colors."
"...and because the leafs fall."
"...and because it's just so cold."
"...and when we get to pick up different leafs and go on nature walks."
(And yes, later sometime I'll remember to talk with her about the plural form of "leaf".)

And Isaac's list:
"When we went in the fall place with grandma" (upon further questioning, I deciphered that the "fall place" meant the farmer's market, which is where we were last Saturday morning.)
"...and because I saw one pumpkin with another pumpkin sitting on top of his head." (grinning)

I'd ask Isaias, too, but he's sleeping at the moment. And he doesn't really know what Fall is, so it would actually be Ella answering for him, and you've already heard hers.

Last night I asked Mark. And here's his list.

"Football."

To be truthful, he *did* say something about "brisk mornings" and "seeing your breath in the air". But both of those list items were just a segway into more on football (ie: "The brisk morning air. This cool weather just makes me want to get to the park for a game of football.") So I think I'm safe saying football, as a whole, is what Mark most likes about this season.

What about you? What would make your list?