And for the most part, without casualty. Unless you want to count the wake of destruction Ellie left in her path through our house, but what’s one new, striped, favorite wing-back living room chair more or less? I’m sure repairing the damage will cost less than it would have to board her somewhere, so I’ll try not to dwell on the very large hole chewed in our dining room carpet. I wanted new flooring there anyway and this has just expedited the process. So thanks, Ellie. We were crazy to leave you home alone for ten days with only baby gates to deter you from chewing up furniture and 3 neighborhood kids to run around with you in the yard a little every day.

We had a nice trip. We drove a lot. We stayed with family. We saw the ocean and some church history sights, played with cousins, went to a birthday party, listened to lots of books on CD…

After all the excitement, we are all VERY ready to sleep in our own beds.