Wade is home from Alaska, where he saw a bear but was not eaten by one (thank goodness). He has been regaling us all day with stories of his week in the wild; he has also been struggling to stay awake because he’s had basically three hours sleep in the last 36 hours.

It’s good to have him home.

We spent the afternoon thinking of things to do that would keep Wade moving, because we’re big believers in just pushing through to bedtime and not napping — we like to think that this makes it easier to get back on a normal sleep schedule. We also like to think that there is such a thing as a “normal” sleep schedule. We’re optimists that way.

To burn as much daylight as possible today (ht to Melissa) we took the boys bowling and to the arcade at the mall and then cooked a nice dinner. And I may have done a wee bit of shopping at the mall, too, because the arcade makes me feel like I’m going to have a seizure. Oh don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. You know you do.

Five things I am thankful for today, not including my husband not getting eaten by a bear.

1. Bowling an actual strike, without using the bumpers at all. It only happened once, and Wade missed it because he had gone to get us a soda, but the kids are my witnesses.

2. Michelle Obama-inspired white ruffled blouse from Forever21 (I know!) for under $20.00. Unfortunately, it smells like a teenaged hooker, so I’ll be washing it before I hang it in my closet. But it’s really cute!

3. Watching the kids play pinball at the arcade, and remembering when arcade games didn’t necessarily involve shooting at anyone or wrecking pretend cars. Just lots of flashing lights and dinging noises! Still seizure-inducing, but far less violent than the alternatives.

4. Realizing that my most favorite pink suede J. Crew flats can probably be dyed some other color and thus made wearable for one more season. Thank god because they’re totally trashed and yet I keep wearing them because dammit they’re comfortable.

5. Having everyone I love under one roof again. Nothing more to say about that.