I would see if there are any neighborhood teens willing to work as a Mother's Helper for a couple hours while they are home from school. Someone 12 or 13, not yet babysitting but interested in getting some experience. Offer a decent hourly rate for just 2 hours at least a couple days, from say 3-5 PM or 4-6 PM, to pay with one or the other of the younger kids, especially, and give you a little bit of a break.

They can play board games, do dress up, dolls, whatever one of your kids likes to do; they don't have to occupy all the kids.

Are you new to the area? You don't know how to be a parent to your kids alone? Weird question. Do what you normally do.

Making pizza

I love when my DH travels- we break all the rules!

Picnic meals on the floor
Extra messy crafts
staying up/out late
baking sweets
extra loud music for dance parties

Lots of screens

They are pretty little, so I would stress about making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Do something fun and easy! Breakfast for dinner? Buy pizza dough and add fun toppings at home?

Wednesday let them chill while you prep food for Thursday. For Friday-Sunday: nicest day go for a hike on Roosevelt island, great falls, or pick a place you’ve never been. Afterwards you stop for hot chocolate, ice cream, a donut shop, cupcakes— take your pick, but something special. Another day do an afternoon movie then an early dinner someplace casual.if you celebrate Christmas, spend one day making Christmas gifts and cards for the grandparents. Painted tiles are always great for trivets. And get them to help bake cookies for when dad gets home.

Long playtime bubble baths. At least one movie at home per day. Breakfast for dinner one day. Build a big fort indoors. New books from the library. Walks around the neighborhood looking for cool rocks and leaves. This also sounds crazy - but I love to organize all the toys while the kids are around because they suddenly develop an interest in toys they forgot about.

You got this OP! And if there are a little more screens than you’d prefer, it’s okay. They will be fine. My teens are living proof. They are awesome and had (and have) plenty of screentime.

Head to the movies!

Check out kid friendly DC blog for tons of ideas! But you guys can go for a Thanksgiving walk, collect leaves, do a craft with the leaves, go explore downtown DC on Friday while all the malls in the stores are packed with the shoppers, get started on Christmas crafts to make for family members, spy Museum, get a jump on holidaydecorating, etc.

Raking piles of leaves and jumping in them.

If it’s cold a lot of the skating rinks are opening this weekend

Trains at the botanical garden.

See if someone can include you in their Thanksgiving dinner. I'd invite a friend under these circumstances!

DH needs to travel out of the country around thanksgiving holidays for a family emergency. Not the thanksgiving we had planned but it is life. I find myself home with 3 kids from ages 5-8 looking for ideas to keep them entertained outside of food and screen time. We are in the DMV area. He will be gone from Wednesday until Monday. thoughts?

TIA