7 Quick Takes: Fall Is in the Air!

FALL IS HERE! Seven reasons why I love fall (or autumn as my son prefers to say):

1. Weather -  I am one of those weirdos who much prefers cold over hot weather (much to the chagrin of Mr. ADM). I am loving the cool temperatures that don't quite require a coat, but I can wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt without sweating. I also enjoy the changes in colors of the leaves and watching them fall and even raking. Yes, I realize I do not actually have a yard, but the few times I've lived in a house with trees that were big enough to produce enough leaves to cover the yard (or helped out my in-laws with their beautiful yard), I've enjoyed raking leaves.

2. Pumpkins - Pumpkins are fun to carve. Pumpkins are fun to eat. Pumpkin pie is something I grew to love as an adult and pumpkin bread, well, enough said.

3. Apples - Really, you can make 1,000 different things with apples. My mother is great with apples. Each fall, she buys a ton of apples, accepts offerings from friends and neighbors and rescues apples from abandoned apple trees locally. And she fills her kitchen (or refrigerator) with apples and spends days upon days making various apple delights. Applesauce is one of my favorites! She also makes apple butter, dehydrated apples, not to mention the desserts!  Along with all those delicious treats, she shares her apples with us and my kids (and husband) LOVE apples! Our newest favorite snack is apples dipped in chocolate almond butter. We also enjoy apple cider coming into season - I bought my first jug of it today. I wish I had a picture to post. We are also hoping to make it to a local Applefest, which I've never been to. Apple donuts, here we come!






4. School Days - My boys have begun homeschooling with their grandma. They are learning SO much and all 3 are having a ton of fun with school. I am so blessed to have a mother who's been willing to do this while I work. I look forward to the day when I can take over, but until that time, I know my children are in capable and enthusiastic hands. My favorite part of the day is when they show me what they have done in school that day. Their little faces light up when they tell me about their projects and what all they learned. I hope and pray that they continue this enthusiasm as they grow.

5.. Halloween and All Saints' Day - One goal I have this month is to make my children more familiar with the saints. Halloween is an easy holiday (and a non-religious one for us) that the boys are familiar with. They love it and have chosen their costumes and are looking forward to trick-or-treating with friends and family and getting candy. All Saints' Day is one religious celebration we have not had the chance to celebrate with full-force. I am looking forward to doing that this year! I hope that they remember All Saints' Day with the fondness I do from growing up Catholic. And I hope they grow to love the saints and crave to follow in their footsteps toward holiness.






6.Hayrides and Bonfires - These are two parts of fall that both Mr. ADM and I both love. Mr. ADM loves fire in general, but a BONFIRE. Now, that's big (literally and figuratively). Both represent such great memories of my childhood that I want my own children to experience and remember with the same fondness.















7. More Fire! - I am so thankful that we chose an apartment with a fireplace. There's something so relaxing about having a fire to warm you up. One of my favorite traditions is to light up a fire and say a family Rosary. I hope we have many of those this fall.

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