Several years and many visits ago, I started leaving my parents goodbye notes in the house that they were supposed to find and read after I’d left. They were containers for things I wasn’t ready to speak out loud; mostly good things that would have made me cry if I’d said them. Not because they were necessarily particularly deep, but because as I think we’ve established, I am a big sentimental crybaby.

This time I am leaving just these pictures. They’re a lot less sappy, and a lot prettier. I am sure you are all heartily sick of hearing about how adorable my family is, but honestly, you try getting a year’s worth of affection in nine days and see how you handle it. Next week I will attempt to return us to our regular schedule of ramblings of a greater variety.