Almost first thing this morning, the girls got invited to Hiwan Pool, which felt nostalgic—Labor Day pool party, like a send-off for summer. I packed them snacks and PBJs, and then Trevor and I spent the morning on the deck, reading. The air had the same nostalgic feel. It was uncharacteristically windy for our canyon, and it kept the temperature down. The sun, though, was blazing.

Midday, we straightened the house and started food prep. I used the no-tomato barbecue sauce to make nightshade free baked beans, which were actually delicious. Trevor fired up the grill and boiled brats in beer. About 3:00 my parents and my sister-in-law and niece came over for a Labor Day cookout. We sat on the deck and ate and chatted until the sun sank behind the house.

I noticed later in the evening, when the girls were getting ready for bed, how early it got dark and cool. Something about this year feels true to the seasons. I put them to bed, closed up the house, and cozied up in sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a cup of tea.