It's beginning to look a lot like...

Ahhh!!! We love this time of year. Is there any time better than mid-October through mid-January? Halloween, day after Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and of course, Festivus!

There is something magical about the end of the year. In our part of the world, we get to watch as the world slowly nods off and falls into a deep slumber. The colors are brilliant, the air fills every part of you with excitement and nostalgia for year past when you were a kid.

I remember trick-or-treating as a kid in Illinois, and we got apples and pennies, sometimes homemade cookies. I also remember having a Halloween birthday party as my birthday was so close to Halloween.

But, above else, I love the closeness I feel with my family during this time of year. We are all hunkering down for the winter, harvesting if you will, and things about one another that we never knew before. For instance, Alison is apparently boy crazy. My little Ali Rose, 12 years old on Friday, and she says she has a boyfriend. She has also kissed him. Am I ready for the talk? No, but it is time.

Well, it is my birthday tomorrow, the 21st. I will be 35. Funny, but when I was 15, I never thought I would make to 35, now I can't wait until I make to 65 with Melissa. And of course, the monkey, Tobey Jude. 35 years is a long time. They say that when an object makes it 25 years, it becomes an antique. *sigh* Antiques roadshow, here I come. Unfortunately, I will be in one of those scenes where the antique is not worth as much as the owner thinks it is...Happy fall, Y'all!