"How did it go?"

I had to laugh at the number of people who asked me that today! Clearly at least a few people are "keeping up with the Joneses" on our blog and saw that I was quint-wrangling on my own this morning. I have to say, today went pretty well! When Gavin walked out the door and I turned to see all those little faces looking up at me, I said out loud, "You guys are sooooooo cute!!" And I was very happy to get to spend the morning with them. They definitely love being right at my feet. They "helped" me do the laundry, empty the dishwasher, put on my makeup, and mess up everything in their path. Wow, the house was wrecked!! But I did indeed get dishes done and bottles washed and a load through the laundry. However, in exchange for that I had to vacuum/sweep up a bowlful of dry Cheerios and a package of broken cookies that had been spread all over the living room and carried into the adjoining areas. Mr. Seth saw the package of cookies up on a little table and made quick work of pulling them down and dispersing the contents far and wide. He was a wild man today!

Helping me clean the lint screen. Marcie's way of helping always includes eating. (She spat it back out again. Besides, what could be cleaner than lint?! It's been washed and heat-dried!) They really did a bang-up job! Note the lint in Seth's hands and on Gracie's right ankle. I think some is also protruding from between Will's pacifier and cheek.

I was still in my pajamas when sweet relief arrived in the forms of Hallie and Lyneé at 1:00. :) But it really was a fun, busy morning with no time to feel tired or bored, for sure! It helps that I have the world's five most endearing babies. Case in point: Gracie was laughing so much I wondered what she could be laughing at, so I turned around and saw she was laughing at her own reflection in the oven door. She thought she was so funny! And Will toddled all over with hesitating but proud steps, complete with flapping arms and ecstatic vocalizations. David briskly cruised the halls and rooms with his treasures (see below), Marcie climbed up into her throne of toys a few times, and Seth used furniture, walls, gate, anything to avoid having to actually crawl. He wanted to walk all the time if at all possible!

Gavin asked me this morning if I had seen his cap, but I hadn't. He said, "Well, it's floating around here somewhere." Shortly after he left for work I noticed David climbing onto the coffee table, and I wondered what specific toy he was so intently pursuing. When he started yelling with joy and pride I turned to see him holding Gavin's cap. A prize indeed!

An old picture of David hiding between pallets at Costco. He's barefoot and in his pajamas because we had to whisk him out of bed and into the car seat to take him to the pediatrician for a last-minute, urgent appointment. He had a double ear infection, so we took the prescription straight to Costco, and of course he wasn't content to sit and wait and in the cart. :)
Sam took this picture before she left. God bless you, Sammie! We miss you!!!!