We set the clocks back last night–I started mid-afternoon, actually; with upwards of thirty clocks, it doesn’t pay to leave things to the last minute–and it’s felt like a very long evening tonight. It only gets worse from here, of course, and within a few weeks I know I’ll be looking wistfully back to days like today when it didn’t get dark until five o’clock.

Other than the early end to daylight hours, today was pretty pleasant. It was another beautiful autumn day here, which made for a nice drive to town with Lydia and Petra for a girls-only lunch and shopping trip. The shopping itself ended on a sour note, unfortunately, with Lydia proclaiming it the “worst day ever” because I bought a few things for Petra but nothing for her. That girl needs some perspective.

Upon our return home, I discovered that the tooth that’s been tormenting Brynja for what seems like months now has finally broken through. I think that 8½ months is the latest that any of my kids has gotten a first tooth, so we’ve been expecting it for quite a while. I doubt anyone will be more relieved than Brynja herself, though, that it’s finally made an appearance.