Anyone else finding sand in unlikely places? I haven’t walked on a beach in three days, but there’s still sand between my toes. After a month on Block Island it may actually be coming out of me. And, I’m pretty sure that there’s still plenty of wine in my veins. Oh, Block Island — I miss you already!

We had a great month away, but all good things must come to an end and I think the six of us are ready to return to reality. It’s a great feeling to be excited about getting home after a wonderful trip. We’re all recharged after weeks of sunshine, sand and family. If it weren’t for all the laundry, I could fully enjoy these first few days of reentry to real life. Luckily, I have Maria here helping me (she is a large piece of duct tape in our lives).

Yesterday Anna slept in and found Jack and me in the den just before noon (the life of a teenager). Jack was watching Zoe 101 and I was tackling a pile of bills. “There you are. I didn’t know where you guys were. I was kinda worried.”

Our house did seem to have grown during our month away. So many rooms and so much stuff. Not sure why we need all this space, but It is nice to enjoy the luxury of using the facilities without my family asking promptly, “How much longer?” or feeling the need to run up to my in-laws house in search of a little privacy. We love the tiny, hairy cottage, but this is our home. Four bathrooms may be a little excessive, but I wouldn’t trade this house for anything. I love every inch of it.

I have a few days to get this pile of laundry done and the sand cleaned up. By next week our tans will have faded and we will return to our school year schedule. Anna starts her sophomore year with a challenging course load and Jack is ready to face his “rehabilitate the gait” project. I’m looking forward to my next round of art classes and going to keep working on my writing. Dan will keep busy doing his thing — is it bad that I still don’t really understand what my husband does for a living? Even the dogs have fall projects. Keegan is getting retested (fingers crossed) and Finn is working on not biting people who approach our house.

The Maplewood Torreys are ready for the light to change, days to get a little shorter and digging out our jeans and boots. Wait — It’s 90 degrees outside. Maybe I will just focus on the fact that it is still VERY MUCH summer. I hope you all are enjoying every drop of these last days.

Love, Jess