I feel it in the air!

Fall is just around the corner!!! We woke up this morning to a grey sky, a cool breeze, and a temp of about 74 degrees, so I have all of the windows open--so nice! All of the little birds are in the yard talking to each other, and here I sit with my cup of hot tea. Sigh.
PDaddy and Jack are at the Life Center swimming laps for the first time this season. In the past, Jack really enjoyed doing that, but it was usually our idea to take him there. This time; however, he has organized the whole thing and has made himself a schedule. For a second this morning, we weren't sure if PDaddy would be home in time from his high school football team shoot to take him before the gym closed, and Jack was livid. It was sort of funny. PDaddy made it in time, though, so they are ripping up the pool as we speak. It's been neat to see Jack take ownership of this sport and to see how he has changed over the years. He has started looking at his times for each stroke and thinking up new time goals. I'm telling ya, he is getting pretty serious. I don't dare dream he would turn into a Michael Phelps, but I want him to believe that he can if that is what he sets his mind to. Who knows? If nothing else, it's giving him something to feel good about, and it certainly is contributing to a healthy body and mind. We'll see where it goes.
Along those lines, we've decided not to do soccer this year, and it's killing me. Jack is upset about it, but I just wanted to simplify my life and the hectic running here and there every night of the week. All 3 kids wanted to play soccer which would've meant 3 different practice nights, 3 different game times on Saturday, not to mention Jack's swimming before school, and Sophy's gymnastics. Instead of soccer, we're doing all 3 in the same gymnastics class for this school year, and that will be it. I decided to pick which sport benefited them the most all around and go with just that one this school year. The gym where we take gymnastics is very fitness oriented, so it's not all about handsprings and cartwheels. I notice such a difference in my kids when they've been getting regular physical activity. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like it affects them mentally as much as physically. Of course, Sam is about as coordinated as a giraffe, so any type of physical instruction for him is going to be very helpful. Anyway, I know once school starts back into full swing I will thank myself for cutting back. Jack and PDaddy will continue to swim 3 mornings a week prior to school at the Life Center, so I feel like we'll have just enough going on. Plus, once the year gets going, I am going to try to find a college student from our town to come to our house to give the red head piano lessons one night a week.
The mudroom is calling my name, so I better go get started on my morning project. I have been working on one closet at a time in an attempt to get ready for school to start. Our mudroom becomes Grand Central Station during the school year with backpacks, lunch boxes, coats, shoes, projects, etc. It's current state barely allows a foot path through much less the addition of all the things mentioned above. So, off I go.