we were supposed to go to the zoo today, but it was nasty and cold and rainy and yucky outside. so we spent the entire day being lazy inside. john had to work late so we ate dinner late, throwing off the normal time that we have to go shopping or do something as a family. so we bundled the kids up in their mismatched pajamas and went on a drive, because that's what Mama wanted to do for her MOM moment. E, who is often our whinner, decided herself that she was going to make it fun family time without whinning. it was quite lovely. when john and i were first married we would drive around for hours looking at architecture and planning out our dream house. so that's primarily what we did tonight. and normally this would completely bore our children to tears, but E kept on saying things like, "I like the fence around that house, it is quite cute. F, what do you like about these houses?" he replied that he liked the christmas lights on the businesses. and i came home feeling refreshed and invigorated.