Fall Favorites

Man I love fall! Every year, starting back in college with Bev, I've celebrated some version of "Fall Day." When the stars are aligned, Fall Day actually coincides with the autumn equinox. But usually it doesn't.

In our little town house in college, Bev and I would make a batch of Wassal (hot spiced cider) and banana bread. I'm thinking of one year I was a Big Sister, and my Little Sister was not impressed with our efforts to celebrate pumpkins and the like. Remember that, Bev? I think she just wanted to go to the mall or something lame like that. Oh well.

Last year I celebrated fall with little, tiny Margot and Bob's parents who were in Washington to visit.

But this year, it was wonderful to have my little family back together again. We've actually celebrated Fall Day a couple of times this year! We went to the apple orchard one weekend, and the pumpkin patch another.

Who knows what kind of autumnal activities I'll find for my family to do together this weekend? Stay tuned...

Corn Maze 2010

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Today we met our friend, Kim, and her boys (and their friends) for a tour through a corn maze. Despite growing up in Indiana, I'd never been to one before, and it was a lot of fun.

I admit, I gave zero input on which direction we should turn at any given point. Bob was all over the map reading, and he ensured we reached our destinations in a timely manner.

Poor Margot was not a huge fan. We went right after mass, and she was ready for a nap, but she gamely hung in there for an hour and a half or so.

All in all, it was a great Sunday fall activity for the whole family.

It's Tricky

Run DMC had it right: It's Tricky. I'm home today with Margot who has had some degree of intestinal issues for the last four days or so. Yesterday her school called and asked her not to come in today. -I certainly felt chastised! (In my defense, she hasn't run a fever, hasn't been grouchy, and the dirty diapers aren't soupy). So I went on the assumption that no fever meant she wasn't contagious. -But I've been wrong before, so I made a pediatrician appointment for this afternoon.

But the REALLY tricky part is this: Of course I love my baby more than life itself, but I have really important things to do at work. I NEED to be there, and things don't go well when I'm not there. And why is it that the mom stays home from work? Why is her career less important than the dad's? Moms out there, if your husband stays home with the sick kids- then I'd love to know about it.

But especially in the Army, for some reason- the wife is the mommy is the stay at home nurse. It chaps my ass and insults my equality as a woman. And to add salt to the wound, when Bob is asked what he does at work during the day, he ALWAYS says, "Oh, not much. I went to some meetings and did some other stuff. Not a big deal." That's fine. But I DO have big deals I should be working on right now!

But while I'm home, I'm making the best of my womanly stereotype- so if you'll excuse me, I have pumpkin bread to bake, laundry to fold and put away, and toilets that won't clean themselves.