As I look outside my window: It’s bright and sunny with a decent breeze. I had a lovely morning read before it got too warm in the sun.

Right now I am: Making a grocery list. I really hate the part of returning from vacation and you realize that no one is going to make you food or acquire food or even tell you what there is to eat (because there’s nothing in the fridge at all). Guess I need to get working on that.

Thinking and pondering: Where should we go next year on our family road trip? And when? I’m thinking early May at least (fall is so busy around our house). Maybe west-ish?

On my bedside table: Foundation’s Edge by Isaac Asimov (the penultimate book in the big Foundation series) and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

On my tv this week: Nothing as we were away on our family road trip. I am hoping to catch up on Bachelor in Paradise this afternoon or tomorrow.

Listening to: We spent the road trip listening to an audio book and almost all of the second in the series. The kids really enjoyed it and I loved not listening to a movie they wanted to watch.

On the menu for this week: Crap. My family expects at least two meals a day…

• Monday - General Tso’s chicken with rice, edamame, and egg rolls

• Tuesday - Buffalo Chicken sandwiches and fries

• Wednesday - ???

• Thursday - ???

• Friday - ???

• Saturday - ???

• Sunday - ???

On my to do list: I have almost put the house back together after our trip. Now I need to check out my big to-do list and get it updated. I know that one of my next big things it sorting out Aetna and CHI to get well-check visits for the boys scheduled. I also want to get flu shots taken care of soon.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Picking up our glasses, Board Games playdate, groceries?

• Tuesday - Field Trip to the pedestrian bridge across the Missouri River

• Wednesday - Normal home day

• Thursday - Coop Day

• Friday - Home day

• Saturday - Home day

• Sunday - Home day

What I am creating: Working on a few small craft items fro the bookish retreat. I hope to finish at least one or those by Thursday.

My simple pleasures: Quiet on the back deck, my own bed (seriously hate hotel mattresses), clean laundry

Looking around the house: The kitchen is a bit of a mess after unloading the uneaten snacks, but everything else looks good.

From the camera: We love looking at fossils. We took a detour, but finally made it to Ashfall Fossil Beds to look at. the ancient rhinos in the volcanic ash. Very cool!