Must say, it was a delight! We ferried merrily, we did the town, we treated ourselves to ice cream, this monkey practiced swinging on more bars, we imaginary fished, she bath-bomb-bathed, and we fell asleep to Frozen.
When we walked off the ferry, Meryl mentioned that Bainbridge didn’t look like what she was expecting. What vision might that have been? “A bridge, with something on top that looks like a brain.”

Wasn’t long till the boys joined us! (That was the plan.) Plus, it’s Frank’s BIRTHDAY today! TODAY! Bainbridge smash burgers for lunch and an extended celebration into the weekend.

And like every great adventure, we’re overstimulated and tired of the car and glad to be home! It was great to be somewhere else, and it’s great to be home! And, we finally watched Frozen II.

At least that’s what we call it. Pretty cool, huh?

We have been through a lot of clothes lately. Turns out, discussions on saving the environment with fewer loads of laundry have no impact on the need for multiple wardrobe changes to adapt to all the environmental changes inside our house.

Admittedly, both of them are enjoying the liberty of picking out their own clothes and we are enjoying their choice picks.

Holmes has been treating nap time as an exploratory exercise session lately. (Structure and boundaries are meant to be tested, right?) Lola had the magic touch today, and didn’t mind the side-by-side slumber one bit:)

Meryl is FIVE! And we all made it into the picture!

Forget ‘surround sound,’ we’ve got ‘surround scene!’ Gotta see the moment from all angles, physically and digitally:)

“A Frozen birthday. It’s just what I wanted!” - Meryl

Such a big day, despite not physically seeing many people! We’re all thankful for Meryl’s birthday dinner request: Beefaroni. Cheese powder is the MVP yet again. She Zoomed with her preschool classmates and teachers for a school year farewell and birthday celebration. Her favorite pianist (yep, you read that right) FaceTimed her to play “Let It Go.” She received a myriad of Elsa mania (hello, coronation shoes from Xanna!) and more mania she never knew she desperately wanted. And we forced upon her, and us, Elsa Blue Family Shoes…matching Nikes in pale blue. Because, we like to walk on air:) Happy Birthday, Meryl!

Trying out the twirl factor of the Elsa dress Lola made for Meryl:)

Five-year check-up today! Darth Vader and Boba Fett joined in with tea and a knitting project. What’s normal or average anymore? Meryl walked out exceptionally exceptional.

Forever and ever, Meryl and cousin Lainie are birthday twins! Happy Birthday, Lainie! And there’s no one better to celebrate today together in all of its sparkly royalty:)

Walking out like a boss! (He’ll be back in a week, when he gets to claim alllll the limelight upon his return with Meryl elsewhere at Kindergarten!)

Holmes loves Jenga!