Hello, all! I come to you today with a heavy heart. I know fall is my absolute favorite, but for some reason this year, I’m so sad to see summer end. Harlow starts fourth grade today, and it is really hitting me hard. I have high hopes for her school year (because last year was… not great) and her teacher seems amazing; energetic, excited, genuinely engaged, not just there for a paycheck, kind, and fun. Those were not things she experienced last year. So she was understandably nervous, but I really think it will be a great year for her. Me, on the other hand… I’m struggling. Both with her being away from me (although my “to do” list is a mile long) and with her being in FOURTH GRADE!!! Forget asking where my baby is… where is my LITTLE girl??? Ugh. Like everything else, I’ll adjust, but it’s hitting me hard.

Anyway, the obligatory “back to school” photo.

As I said, I have a ton of things on my to-do list. We are actively planning a family vacation (as opposed to just talking about it) and I really want to get as much of my Christmas list done before we go. I don’t want to be scrambling and trying to do everything after we get back. So that’s a huge priority (which normally wouldn’t be a huge deal, but I’m planning to make a lot of it, because I’m stupid and apparently love loading myself with extra unnecessary stress). I also have to figure out Halloween costumes (because we are planning on going to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney). Harlow wants to be Moana and wants me to coordinate. So I’m trying to figure that out. I love Grandma Tala, but… eh. She IS my favorite character in that movie, but I’m just not that interested in dressing like her. Maybe Te Ka or Te Fiti. Both of those would be hard, though, too. Ugh. Again with the unnecessary stress inflicted upon myself!!!

Inspiration. I love Te Fiti, but dang, that looks complicated. I’m definitely leaning toward Te Ka.

Other things I want to accomplish now that I have my days free:

• Clean out and replant my Aerogarden
• Clean out my sandy car, including unloading and putting away all the beach stuff living in the hatch.
• Christmas stuff (ugh)
• Tend to my weedy garden
• Start Abbey back on her daily walk schedule
• Clean out multiple drawers and closets

That’s just off the top of my head, in addition to many crafts I’ve been wanting to make for Halloween and Christmas. And fall. I am excited for fall and Halloween… I just wish it were a little more in the future.

Okay, well, I’ve officially spent my first “free” morning doing nothing but looking up costume ideas and writing this, so I have to go pick up the kiddo from her first half day.

Have a great day!