One Down and One More To Go

Well, it's August. That means half of the summer is over. I always have mixed feelings about August. This year, I can't decide which emotion is winning: elation that we're halfway done or sadness that soon my summer warmth will fade to a memory. So I made a pros and cons list to help me decide:

PRO: It's a birthday month for my biggest "baby".
CON: He's turning 16. He'll expect to get a license. My car insurance will expect a crisis and charge accordingly.

PRO: We are one month closer to the kids going back to school (which Mom and Dad desperately need).
CON: That's another month of entertaining them. Now that the weather's cooling down , no one's happy with an impromptu, "Let's go swimming!"

PRO: Another month of no schedules and being able to fly by the seat of our pants.
CON: Did I mention another month of entertaining the kids? We're at the bottom of the barrel and coming up with things like, "Who wants to pick weeds in the backyard? Doesn't that sound like fun?"

PRO: There's one more month of (possible) eighty degree temperatures.
CON: If you're out after dark, it feels like fall. Pack a sweatshirt. Yes, I know that it's 82 right now but as soon as that sun goes down, wolves start howling and you'll wish for the comfort of a cozy sweatshirt.

PRO: We're one month closer to apple picking!
CON: Fall very quickly turns the reins over to that S.O.B. winter.

PRO: The kids will get back to a regular schedule next month.
CON: School shopping this month. For a teenager. And an almost teenager. Shudder.

PRO: One more month of picnics with grilling out and potato salad!
CON: I'm so full of cookout food that I'm starting to crave winter stews and casseroles. Lasagna anyone?

PRO: Going back to school will stop the bickering among the kids. They love each other, but not enough to spend endless days together.
CON: As the parents, Hubby and I get to be the ones to referee the fights. And we don't even get those cool stripey shirts.

PRO: I get to cross items off supply lists. I love crossing off items on lists!
CON: There's always that one item that you are certain a teacher made up just to mess with parents because it is not available anywhere within a 30 mile radius.

PRO: At least summer gets replaced by a pretty season, with those turning leaves and crisp fall days.
CON: Fall turns my husband into a "fan-iac". Sundays bring THREE televisions to my living room. (Yes, I agree, I really should win the most awesome-est wife award. Pass it on to the Hubs.)

It looks  like it's pretty much equally PRO'ed and CON'ed. I guess it means that this will be a bittersweet month of preparing for school starting and saying goodbye to our family's favorite season. Alas, parting is sweet sorrow or some such crap like that, right? Viva la summer!