The last few days have really felt to me like a shift from autumn to winter. Here’s why:

*Saturday morning, Lydia woke up at 6:00am and wouldn’t stop crying, even with me holding and rocking her.  So we went to the doctor as soon as they opened their doors.  She’s got an ear infection, in both ears.  Welcome cold and flu season.

*Once we got home from picking up Lydia’s antibiotic prescription, she zonked out for hours.  Poor baby.  But since Alethea spent the night at Gramma and Poppa’s (thanks John and Denny!) Peter and I were child free for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon.  We got major yard clean-up done.  In fact, I think this is the most prepared for winter our outside spaces have ever been.  Goodbye leaves!

*As you can see from the above picture, we didn’t get our yard clean-up done a second too soon.  While we were moving the last bags to the curb, it started snowing and kept snowing for most of the night.  Alethea was just dying to get out and play in it, so that’s just what we did on Sunday after church.  Welcome snow!

*Sunday night I made Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup.  It’s one of our favorites!  Welcome soup weather!

* Yesterday I did some more work on my budget Christmas decorations.  This time it wasn’t painting branches though, it was peeling labels off of wine bottles!  Welcome Christmas decor!

* That afternoon my mom came over and we took the girls to Menard’s to visit their Enchanted Forest.  Alethea and Lydia both thought all the lights and trees were pretty wonderful.  And I actually found a lawn ornament that I would consider putting in my yard.  Yes, really!  Welcome twinkle lights!

Goodbye Autumn!  Welcome Winter!