We got home yesterday from our trip, emptied the backpacks, washed them, and repacked them for school today. You can go around the world in a summer, but it’s a little surreal when you get home.

Thrilled to see Derek and our doggie. Our dog was thrilled to see us, too. Honest.

After the first day of school, go out for ice cream as a family. But everyone was pulled in different directions this evening, it simple wasn’t possible. But tradition is not easily ignored. I asked Cali where she and I should go, and she said IHOP. Instead of ice cream, she ended up with a chocolate shake and a pile of celebratory dessert pancakes. There may be no going back from this.