This trimester is going faster than any other trimester! I ended up coming back to Illinois this week from Maryland, even though we don’t have to be back until week 10. I wanted to be able to get settled back in (I had been gone for nearly 3 months) and get back into the groove of life in Illinois before classes start. It is so strange being back on campus! My apartment was exactly how I left it, but campus is different. The willow tree near the lake has fallen over, or at least part of it. There aren’t any swans in the lake, and there are surprisingly very few geese (which I am super thankful for!).

Lily is going nuts looking for all of her doggy friends, many of which aren’t here right now. It is so quiet on campus, and I am sort of loving the calmness before the storm! Although I have to admit, life on campus is usually fairly quiet. It is one of the things I love most about living on campus–the quiet atmosphere. 

As crazy as home life was, I sure am going to miss being so close to family! Here is a photo of some of my nieces and one of my nephews in my parent’s pool. I’m glad I was able to get in one more swim before hitting the road for Illinois! Lily loved sitting by the pool, in one of the padded lawn chairs. (She is a little spoiled).