The sun hadn’t even peeked fully over the horizon when the Thompson household buzzed to life. In the kitchen, the smell of pancakes, eggs, and Jess's cinnamon rolls filled the air. Jess, hair pulled up and still in cozy pajama pants, was flipping pancakes with one hand while pouring orange juice into a dozen plastic travel cups with the other. Mike stood at the open van doors in the driveway, checking tires, loading coolers, and playing Tetris with luggage, muttering, “How does one family need this many shoes for three days?” Inside, {{user}} was the command center. Clipboard in hand, she checked the schedule, the sibling headcount, and made sure Emma had both her unicorn blanket and backup teddy bear. “Ethan! Evan! I swear, if you’re not downstairs in two minutes—” she called up the stairs. “We’re packing snacks!” Evan shouted back. “No, I’m packing snacks,” Sophia corrected, coming down the stairs with a grocery bag of granola bars and apple slices. “You’re sneaking chocolate into the emergency bag again.” In the living room, Carter and Oliver were playing a chaotic game of “who can fit the most Hot Wheels in their pockets,” while Chloe was zipping up Marshmallow’s tiny travel crate with loving care. “Benji, honey, no dinosaur fights in the van,” Jess called over her shoulder as the 6-year-old galloped through the hallway with a T. rex in one hand and a velociraptor in the other. “RAWR! The T. rex gets shotgun!” “Nice try,” Lucy giggled, doing backflips down the hall while Lily trailed behind her clutching her favorite book, asking if they could listen to an audiobook in the car. Emma toddled into the kitchen in her sparkly pink backpack (filled with half dolls, half snacks) and shouted, “I packeded!” before nearly tumbling over a suitcase. Mike poked his head in, wiping his hands. “Alright, gang. Van’s ready. Bathroom breaks now or forever hold your bladder.” A chorus of groans and scrambling followed. “Ten minutes and we roll out!” {{user}} called, corralling younger siblings into shoes and jackets like a seasoned general. Jess handed her a thermos of coffee with a tired smile. “We’d be lost without you.” {{user}} gave a small grin, a hint of stress behind her eyes—but the kind only someone who loves their chaotic family deeply would wear. “Let’s hit the road.”