Dear Mark and Chloe,

Overall, today went pretty well. None of the children had major meltdowns, and I don’t think we lost any of them. Not for an extended period of time, anyway.

Our biggest difficulty today was when we tried to take the kids to the SuperHappyFun-atorium. Someone looked up directions to the wrong -atorium. After a 45-minute drive, we pulled triumphantly into the parking lot of a fitness center. Not a SuperHappyFun-atorium. Then, with the three older children in various states of sadness and with Piper actually whimpering with weariness, we went back home. We’ll try for SuperHappyFun again tomorrow.

Fortunately, the Navigation Complication was the most frustrating part of the day. Here’s photographic evidence that the rest of it wasn’t half bad …

Graham enjoyed his first taste of rice cereal this evening. As you might expect from Alex’s son, he took to “real” food quite well.

Also as you might expect, Sam had a mild case of the Unusuals today.

Piper and Sophie had lots of fun playing Pizza Parlor with the wooden pizza set and Sophie’s little cash register.

Did I mention they had lots of fun? It was a giggly evening.

Sam invited some of his ‘droid friends over before dinner, and things got a bit out of hand.

If you’ve never been to a ‘droid party, you’re really missing out. They’re much better dancers than I’d been led to believe.

I’m not sure where Piper and Sophie were heading here, but it sure looks like they meant it, doesn’t it?

Claire spent some quality time in the bouncy seat while Grandpa watched the Valpo game on the computer.

Then she busted out of the bouncy seat and smashed Tokyo. It was really something, seeing someone so cute wreak so much havoc.

Sam played a little piano for us. He dubbed himself “Samthoven.”

Grandma made meatloaf for dinner. Sophie loved it. She would like it if you got Grandma’s “family hamburger” recipe.

Rice cereal wasn’t Graham’s only “first” today. He also took a spin in the bouncy seat. Or a bounce in the spinny seat, if you prefer. Whichever it was, he did it under the watchful eye of Wilson.

So as you can see, we’re doing pretty well here while the two of you are living it up in the sunshine. Wish you were here!

Love,
Nichole

p.s. Really. We wish you were here. When do you get home, again?