5 ON A FRIDAY: End-of-week stuff and nonsense

 1. Harry and Jack were gone all week visiting their grandparents in Naples. On the one hand, we missed them desperately, and I can’t believe this is my last year with all 5 kids at home. WHAT. On the other hand, we only had to run the dishwasher once a day, and my laundry app tells me that I only did 6 loads a day while they were gone, down from my normal NINE LOADS A DAY. Ben and I also got about 45 more minutes of sleep per night because we lived on Old People Time, and the boys were thrilled to tell us that their grandparents stay up over an hour later than we do when we are staying up late. BUT THEY ALSO DON’T GET UP AT 5 AM, BOYS. They had so much fun, and I am so grateful they got to have the time with their grandparents and traveling together as the life partners they are.

HOME

2. I know I pulled Minnie from preschool early for winter break because the germs were outrageous, but also! She can play by herself at the park while I sit on a bench, and this is a delightful development. She also felt the influence of peer pressure and potty trained in one single day, so that’s awesome. It’s amazing what a tiny tot can learn from 8-11am while viruses and bacteria are taking over her system.

3. Cooper really stepped up as Ace Big Brother while the other boys were gone. Piggy back rides. Games, Errands. EVEN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS.

That picture is from 4:30 pm, when it is PITCH BLACK OUTSIDE. Thank goodness the darkest day is behind us. Literally. Metaphorically, who knows?

4. The kids want to bake cookies today. Gah. It’s fun until it isn’t, and the cookies always kind of gross me out because they require so much touching. But! I will be SO JOLLY you guys. SO FREAKING JOLLY. Possibly also a tiny bit drunk. Kidding. Maybe.

5.  Behold! The most realistic photo of relaxing with a whirling dervish three-year-old: