Most years, I dread fall. I'm a summer kind of gal. But, when you throw in 100 plus degree weather nearly every day, I'm over it this year. I'm totally ready for fall.

We've had fantastic weather the past week and it just looks like it will get better. Tomorrow is supposed to be 70 and sunny. I'm so thankful for the cool down because it means that I can take Marin outside without cooking him. He really enjoys the park and we've been spending a lot of time there lately. He doesn't even seem too bummed that the pool is closed anymore, though he does still ask about it.

There are a few other things that have me pretty psyched.

1) The community wide yard sale for our neighborhood is this Saturday. I always set up to sell Marin's outgrown clothes. Plus, 2 of my good friends from college usually join me in hawking the wares, which is a huge bonus. We sit on the driveway and gossip all morning. Plus, we make money doing it. The sale draws people from all over Nashville, since there are so many homes that participate. It is a lot of fun.

2) We are going on a trip. Actually, 2 trips. Both of them to the beach. Marin is really excited about our trips too, which makes me grin. He randomly says, "Go beach, dig sand". When I showed him pictures of the hotel pool, he nearly lost it. All he kept saying was, "BIG pool! Go in there!" I'm sure there will be many pictures on Marin's blog of these getaways.

3) The first pre-season Nashville Predators game is in 5 days. Not that I'm counting or anything.

4) We have ordered Marin's Halloween costume. I'm hoping it is as cute as it looks online. I'm not sure if we'll post pictures of him in it before the big day, but we are going to have portraits of him made in it this year too. Marin understands the concept of trick-or-treating this year. I did not think he would "get it" but after I explained it to him, he got this big smile on his face and said, "Ring bell! Get candy!" He was a bit overwhelmed last year, but I think he'll really be into it this year. Of course Matthew is already planning his candy-buying spree. He's still a bit ticked off that I know what kind of candy that the kids like and he doesn't. Skittles are a big hit. Chocolate bars, not so much. You have no idea how vindicated I was when all the kiddos yelled, "SKITTLES!" and passed up his chocolate last year! ha!

5) Our "home" ice rink is back in business. Due to maintenance, we were not able to skate there the entire month of August. We made do with the "other" rink in town, but it is just not the same to us. We really like our rink. Along with re-doing some of the boards, they put down a brand new sheet of ice. With the drop in temperatures outside, the cooling system isn't having to fight as much to keep the ice frozen. This means that the ice is no longer "soft". The new "hard" ice was perfect last week. The sound of hockey skates cutting through the ice is one of my favorite sounds, especially when a really good, fast skater races past you.

I think I'll leave it at that......Talk to you soon!

We eat out a lot. Marin knows most of the restaurants in our town by name and the people that work there know him by name. I don't know if that is cool or sad. Probably a bit of both.

Tonight, we went out for steak. Actually, Matthew wanted the steak. Marin and I were undecided. But, let me get back to my story.

Matthew ordered a steak with blue cheese crumbles on it. When the steak came out, it had some sort of green paste on top of it that the wait staff said was blue cheese. Uh, no, that's not blue cheese. When it was put down at our table, the conversation went something like this....

Matthew: (too stunned to speak, looking down at the goop on top of his steak).
Me: "Dude, I don't know about that...."
Marin: (said at full volume in the best redneck twang he can muster...)
"That's nasty!"

O.k., I lost it. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to die. I could not breathe. Matthew is humiliated beyond belief at this point and I'm hyperventilating.

Marin, who has just used the word "nasty" for the first time in a sentence could not be more proud of himself. Since the word got such a positive reaction out of mommy, he keeps repeating it, louder and louder. Matthew sinks lower and lower into the booth. I am in tears at this point.

And, then, Marin throws in a "That's gross!" just for good measure. It was priceless. I gave Marin a high five and Matthew threatened to leave. Good times all around. :)