goodbye, summer. hello, fall!

i don't know why i'm having such a hard time letting go of this summer.
i'm usually begging for fall to begin.
cooler temperatures, scarves, flannel, colored leaves, pumpkins, soups.
but, i guess it's because we had such a wonderful summer...my boys made it such a lovely summer...that i'm having a hard time letting go.
the heat is bearable when you have a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, two year old, looking up at you, asking if he can pretty please splash you with the water from the kiddie pool in the backyard.
summer is fun when the baby gets to toddle around, sans clothes, and shriek with joy when a ladybug lands on his chubby arm.
the sticky, damp weight of the air is welcome when your husband pulls you outside after the kiddos are down to light another sparkler, just for us.

but, it is the middle of september.
and fall is my favorite season.
so, here's to lovely fresh produce you can't get all winter, to summer dishes and summer soups never blogged, bouquets of fresh herbs, and farmer's markets.
here's to a wonderful, memorable summer and to hoping that next summer will be an even greater adventure.