Fall

This morning feels like the first real fall day. A chill in the air this morning as we read the paper on the porch reminded me that we will be pulling out our sweaters soon. It motivated me put up our autumn decorations, bake a squash (for Bo), and a pumpkin pie. All the while, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much I love fall.

I think my love for the season began when I was a child and first saw Winnie the Pooh’s Blustery Day. The leaves blowing in the wind. Tigger bouncing through the forest. What’s not to love?

Probably one of the best parts of living in the Midwest is that we are able to see all of the seasons in all of their glory. We experience the nasty heat of summer, the beautiful hues of fall, just enough snow in the winter, and a gorgeous spring. All of the seasons have specific memories that I will forever link with them — specific foods that taste best when prepared during the appropriate season – holidays and celebrations that just wouldn’t feel right if they were in a different season.

I’ll admit to always feeling a bit melancholy this time of year because I was unable to have my fall wedding. Mike and I originally planned to be married on Halloween — and then I screwed up our plans but I wasn’t willing to postpone our wedding a full year. So Valentine’s it was — but I still mourn the beautiful fall wedding I dreamed of — the pumpkins and gourds lining the table. The Halloween treat bags. Even the pumpkin colored bridesmaids dresses I so adored. Alas, that was never meant to be but I’m thrilled that Bo is a late fall baby. Thrilled that I now have a new holiday to enjoy in the middle of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

When I think of fall, there are so many aspects of the season that make me happy. The beautiful hues, the crunchy sound of leaves, the smell of spiced cider. Just thinking about fall makes me crave Mike’s chili and Bears football.

Roll back the clock to 6 years ago — before Mike and I were even engaged…

We were young and cute – amazing how life can age one so quickly… My tummy will never look like that again — no matter how many sit-ups I do!

On the day these photos were taken we enjoyed a Sunday afternoon at the pumpkin patch and then continued on to Fox Ridge State Park to play in the leaves.

Six years later, we’re married, we’ve lived in the same home and worked at the same jobs for five years, and most importantly, we’ve been blessed with a son. While our life has been good, it’s also taken paths I could never have imagined when the photographs above were taken.

I can’t wait to introduce Bo to fall — from the fun of jumping in the leaves to the taste of pumpkin pie — I hope he’ll love it just as much as I do.