While I am never quite ready to say goodbye to summer, I have to admit, I am enjoying this cooler weather.

I bought a new pair of fuzzy slippers to step into on these cold mornings when I don't want my feet to touch the floor. I have two new sweaters. I dug my boots out from last year; bought the kids new winter coats; I even bought myself a pair of gloves with the fingers cut out (so I can still use my smart phone.)

I have to say, bring it on FALL.

I love football. I love watching the sun set behind the mountains when the trees are bright reds and yellows and oranges. I love cookouts with roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. I even love stacking the winter hay up in the barn.

I love pumpkins and hayrides and wrapping up in a quilt. I love fall festivals and craft fairs and live music outdoors.

I love cooking this time of year. The kitchen smells like pumpkin pie spice and banana bread and cinnamon. We are drinking hot chocolate again.

There are purple and red and yellow mums on the porch. Two flowerpots have little straw scarecrows stuck in them. We bought our first little pumpkins. The kids decorated them with stickers. We'll buy a big one to carve for Halloween - maybe we'll buy two or three.

We're getting our costumes ready for Halloween. Zeb wants to be a cowboy riding a horse. Last year he was a horse (are you seeing a pattern?). Taylor hasn't said what she wants to be but I'm thinking a Disney princess or a fairy. Of course she'll hate whatever I pick out - it's already starting!

I haven't decided on my costume yet. One year I went as a mummy. I wrapped myself in toilet paper. It didn't work out too good. I left a trail of toilet paper everywhere I went. Things got even worse when it rained.

My birthday and my wedding anniversary are in the fall and it has been our tradition to hit the lake with a bottle of muscadine grape juice, some bologna sandwiches and one or two dogs and/or kids. Will's wooden lake boat is the best seat in the world on a beautiful fall day.

Just remember, things are only going to get more hectic as Thanksgiving and Christmas sneak up on us. I think I heard Sharon Livingston say something about Christmas being 11 weeks away!

Take the time now to enjoy sitting on the porch with a cup of warm apple cider, jumping in a pile of leaves, or going camping. It will be a whole year before we can do all these things again!

Melissa Kinton is a stay-at-home mom. She is currently rearing one son, one daughter, two cats, two horses, three dogs, and one husband. She may be reached at willandmelissak@hotmail.com.