Just got back from a weeklong road trip! (Photos on Instagram.)

Although the reason for the visit (dropping my kids off at college 1600 miles away) was a sad one, the trip itself was great. It offered a much-needed step away from a crazy-busy summer, work, worry, etc.

We all got to unplug for hours on end, stare at some great scenery, have all of our meals together, listen to some great tunes, recount some summer stories, and just have a great time together, our family of five. (Which became our family of three on the way back!)

And — BONUS! — it gave me some great daydreaming time to stare out the window and plot Book 3!

Now on to catch up on a crazy amount of email …