1. We had our first day of homeschool co-op.

While I'm not sure we can say I love co-op yet, I did love how enthusiastic my kids seemed after their first day. One told me I should have signed them up for more classes. (And one didn't get a morning nap so he fell asleep in the van on the way home and then cried because I tried to put him down for a nap. Not sure how we're going to work that one out.)

The three oldest start their morning with Taekwondo, so that's why they're dressed that way. It was nice to see their teacher after a few years away from the last time we took lessons. (He's a very kind, funny man. When he found out I was enrolling three children he said, "That will be one million dollars." Fortunately, he was exaggerating a little bit.)

2. A fresh supply of tea.

I didn't run out of tea entirely(that would be hard for me to do), but I did run out of my favorite temporarily. My mornings seem so much nicer when I can have a cup of this tea.

3. A Caramel Apple Shake from Steak and Shake.

I know most of the blogosphere waits all year for the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I could take that or leave it: this milkshake is only available in the fall and I wait for it all year 'round. So, so good. (And no, I don't care to know how many calories it is. It's seasonal, so it's not like I have to worry about having one every day or something.) Philip took all of us out for shakes Tuesday night. It had been a busy day and we were kind of sad because we'd just said goodbye to family who had to leave for their home on the west coast.

We still miss our family, but the milkshakes helped cheer us up. (I'm not sure what that says about us, but hey, a caramel apple shake IS a caramel apple shake.)

4. Cooler temperatures.

My husband is lamenting the early arrival of fall, but I'm rejoicing in the cooler nights. We really had a lovely summer, with only a few truly hot, humid days, but I still like fall better.

5. A new to us piano.

We haven't had a piano in our home in almost two years. We gave ours to our church while we were moving because we didn't have room in our rental (and also, it was on the side of a hill, so getting a piano would have been problematic to say the least). Then we moved in here and had a lot of work to do on the house, a piano just wasn't a top priority.

I've wanted another piano for several months now. I was saving up to buy a piano I loved, but real life intervened again. We need to replace our van and we have a child who needs a dental procedure and braces. So, once again, piano went to the bottom of the list.

But one of my mom's aunts had a piano that no one in her family played any more, and she was ready to pass it on to someone else. This week my husband, my dad, my brother, one of my brothers-in-law and two of our friends brought this piano home for me. (And yes, it took everyone of them to move it. It is heavier than it looks.)

It's not my dream piano,  but it's in good condition and  it's going to suit us well. The oldest three girls are already asking me to give them lessons (the oldest has had lessons but the younger two haven't). I'd say that makes a change: if they're begging me to learn, maybe I won't have to nag them about practicing...

Maybe not. But we'll take the burst of enthusiasm. Funny story: the night we got the piano I hadn't really had a chance to try it out. So after the kids went to bed I did. The next morning one of my daughters said, "Mom, I just love when you play the piano. You should do that every night when we go to bed."

With this many of us needing to practice, it may work out that way more often than she thinks.

What are you loving this week?

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