It started with the arrival of my eldest from the UP. She came down with a few friends to both see us and to tour U of M, Wayne State, and MSU for their medical programs. She is still leaning heavily towards MSU (where she wanted to go for her undergrad), but was impressed by U of M (although she's concerned about being accepted). Wayne State was not receptive to their attempts to contact them for a tour or their arrival without a tour set up.
Anyway, Alex came home Monday afternoon, bringing her friend Harmony. As always, the house (which can be quite lively anyway) was full of energy with her arrival. We played games, watched shows, ate Janelle's amazing buttermilk fried chicken, and just had fun.
We decided to celebrate Rowen's 5th birthday on Tuesday, rather than his actual birthday on Wednesday, as Alex was planning on leaving before the boys would be back from school on Wednesday. My parents also came over for the opening of his presents and eating of cake. Rowen loved his party, but was clear that it wasn't his actual birthday.
Unfortunately, Tuesdays are rather packed, and became more so when one of my friends needed a ride for him and his daughters to JC. Taxiing them, taking the boys to CCD, voting, and getting too expensive of ice cream (although delicious) quickly filled the evening. Knowing that I was taking Wednesday off to spend more time with my daughter as well as cosign some of her loan forms and help her switch phones, we stayed up a little later than normal once we returned from our various activities.
I felt a little guilty not coming in to school on Wednesday. In general, I don't like missing work, even if it is necessary or for good purposes, but I felt worse than normal as it was my student teacher's birthday and also only a week before my AP students' main test. That said, I enjoyed running errands and going out to lunch with Alex. Her friend and my father also joined us for lunch at Arby's, and aside from a moment or two when I got depressingly political, we had a good time.
Rowen, meanwhile, seemed to really enjoy turning five. Our living room filled with toys, both his new ones and ones that we have had for a while. He and I played a number of games of Goblet Jr., and he was quite a hug-y little boy. We had his favorite meal of pancakes (with strawberries and syrup), sausages, bacon, and eggs for dinner.
Alex learned that her car's exhaust system needed to be replaced, which would take another day, so we had another good afternoon together. Despite her attempts to lure both me and Katrina away from choir practice that evening, we went anyway (I was goofier than normal). The girls hung out after we returned and I stayed up late to say my goodbyes.
It was a busy couple of days. I still hadn't fully recovered from my illness over the weekend, but I had a great time anyway.