Is it just me, or is this week dragging by as slowly as possible? It seems like time stands still when there’s something to look forward to and that it rushes by all too quickly the rest of the time. Sigh.

It’s probably a good thing that time is standing still (or close to it) for now because I’m still packing our bags. Now, I won’t name any names when it comes to who is holding up the process (cough, Wes, cough), but there’s still one suitcase left to go. Since he’s the only one who actually leaves the house during the day and goes to work, I guess he can’t live like the rest of us (ie, in our pjs because all of our clothes are already packed). I plan to do one more load of laundry tonight, pack the bags, and send him off in swimming trunks tomorrow, since I’m pretty sure that’s the only item of clothing not going with us. (It IS Florida, but it IS January.)

The girls and I have been cleaning the house today so that when we come back home with all those suitcases full of dirty clothes, we’ll have a clean house to roll them into. Ahhh… Ana and Emma have been super helpful in this process by bringing all of their toys into the living room and plopping them right on the floor. I gave them the immense privilege of cleaning it all back up again and also sent them off to their rooms to dust their furniture. They were very excited about using the feather duster, but I’m still not sure if the furniture was even touched what with all the sister-dusting, floor-dusting, and, yes, dog-dusting that they were doing when they ran to their end of the house. Sometimes a good effort is really all that you can expect from toddlers, and they certainly gave it their best.

On a totally different topic, Ana was really distraught the other day. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, “I gonna marry a little boy one day, but I don’t know his NAME!” (Y’all, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.) I told her that it was okay and that she’d find it out when the time was right, prompting Emma to tell me that she’s going to marry Papi. Which I said was a fabulous idea since he’s quite the catch. On the continuing theme of futures/names, Ana told me last night, “I love babies.” I asked her how many babies she’s going to have one day, and she said, “Three. I name them Ethan, Jonathan, and Hayley.” There’s an Ethan and a Jonathan both at our church, but we don’t know where she came up with Hayley. Oh, to know the mind of a three year old! (She just told me, while I was typing this, that her baby doll is named Princess Cleotasha. Again… what?)

The weather is pleasant enough today that I’ve turned off the heater and opened the windows. Beautiful weather, will you please come on vacation with me? Because I love you!

Hope you have a great end to January, y’all… see you in February!