Today was the first day of school here. We're down to just one back-to-school kid at our house but it still seems just as much of a turning point to the year. Goodbye lax summer schedule, hello routine and early mornings and (dare I say it?) productivity. 

Of course I had to take the obligatory back-to-school photo.  I've grown accustomed to seeing everyone in shorts and knee socks but I know it takes some getting used to at first (someone commented on Instagram that it looked like a teenage Christopher Robin and that's about right).  For half the year the boys wear summer uniform (which is this one, below) and the other half they wear winter uniform, which is a blazer, shirt, tie and slacks. As a new Year 11, Sam switches to black shoes rather than brown (kind of weird with the shorts in my opinion but whatever) and in the winter to blue slacks instead of tan. 

I'm feeling the need to buckle down, too. Summer has spoiled me and I'm in need of a self-discipline intervention, transplant, something, stat! I made goals in January but it was more like pulling the starter on the lawnmower over and over without any turnover. February is the month I'm going to get serious about them. 

1. Write and/or research every day. Show up, give it my best focus, then get up and do other things. [edited in April to say: I've been doing this! Mostly. I've scheduled a dissertation defense in mid June so the adrenaline is kicking in and I HAVE to do this. It feels really good...and is a big reason why I haven't been able to write blog posts lately. I'm spent!]

2. Walk/hike 1500 kilometers in 2015 (this works out to about 28 k or 17.5 a week).  We've got some ambitious plans for doing some family hiking trips and I want to get some mileage in so I know I can keep up. Plus it just does me a world of good to do it. [edited in April to say: really really didn't happen but I'm going to do my best to get back on track.]

3. Have more fun. [True sign you're taking your life too seriously: having fun is a resolution. But Fun and I are going to tango this year. In a good way.]