Fall, as we traditionally know it — cool weather and vibrant changing leaves — is just now here. And I love it. I was thinking to myself the other day that should we ever buy new trees to plant, we must choose them based on how they will look in the fall.

When we came home from NYC, it was dark, and as we pulled into the driveway, I could see a dark hole on the side of the pumpkin I had placed on the mailbox. I thought, “Hmmm, I don’t remember carving a jack-o-lantern.”

But sure enough, there was a squirrel-sized, perfectly-formed hole eaten right through the pumpkin.

Caught in the act! I’m thinking that if only I could harness the power of the squirrels’ ability for good and not for evil . . .

Nearly six months after our ridiculously devastating hail storm, we are all put back together. New windows were installed last Monday. I had almost forgotten what it was like to see completely out of the windows without looking at our broken glass patched over by cardboard pieces.

The roof is completed and new gutters were installed. We chose black gutters over the white we had previously, and I love the effect. Who would’ve thought I could get excited about gutters? But they really did make a difference.

Rainy days call for rainy weather boots, courtesy of my sweet mom who spoils me rotten.

The rain had finally stopped on Friday so I thought we might take a walk in our rain boots, hats and scarves. The temperature had dropped more than I realized, so much so that Jude said only five minutes later, “Mommy, I want to go home! I’m so so cold!”

And finally, the funniest school picture (school picture?!?! Really?!?! When did they get so . . . so .. . glamorous?) ever.