Some of my weekend plans got derailed because the US Navy doesn’t actually believe skipping work to attend the Eastern States Exposition (aka The Big E) is a priority. They are obviously wrong, but that doesn’t change the fact that they wouldn’t let E go. But there was still plenty of weekend fun had by all.

Greek Food Festival:

One of the best parts about the Greek Food Festival is that we can walk there.

Linc ate more than anyone else (besides me).

Caroline was pouting, so Evan went to cheer her up.

Still loving our Joovy TooQool, even the 6 year old wants to ride in it.

Those things are called pineapple ground cherries and are actually delicious.

I wish I had taken more photos, there was so much cute stuff, but it was unexpectedly warm and I had a squirmy baby on my back and a 4 year old who needed to get to soccer practice.

I bought her that chair.

Norwich Auto Show:

A tiny train set on the train set! It moved and everything.

Slightly terrifying. Evan declined to go anywhere near them.

The handmade blanket that matches the car is amazing.

Poor Linc hangs out on my back, so he never gets to be in photos.

In the back of an old Chicago police car.

Mystic Garlic Festival:

Garlic ranch fries and clam fritters

Bacon & cheddar hush puppies that actually melted in my mouth.

We still haven’t even gone apple or pumpkin picking yet, on any hayrides, to any corn mazes, or any of the other fun fall stuff. Technically fall starts tomorrow though, so we have time!

Once again I DID a lot more stuff than my photos show. When I have my big girl camera with me I have a hard time remembering to use my phone to also take photos so you get a lot of babywearing selfies in this post.

Sunday:

When you are a grumpy mess by 7 am, you get to hold your blankie even when you’re wrapped

Monkey see, monkey do

Caroline looks like she’s about to fly right off that swing

Monday:

Airplane watching

He rode the whole way in the stroller, but is too tired to walk 10 steps to the car

They have a case of the Monday’s

Tuesday:

That’s a really brave fishing spot

Little boy in the big woods

He really, really loves my wallet?

Wednesday:

His first time ever in the mall playground, poor deprived child

WATCH OUT IT’S A BOUNTY HUNTER

We’ve been eating a lot of pasta salad

Thursday:

He’s not a huge selfie fan

STILL NOT A FAN

Sqeeeeeezing out one more beach day

Friday:

He loves traffic

Editing is fun again, because I get to do it kid-free during nap time

AND I can edit while watching EXCELLENT MOVIES

Saturday:

He kept trying to play peek-a-boo behind the chain link.

OH GOODY WE’RE DOING SOCCER AGAIN

She wouldn’t even let me wash it off before bed

This week is our first full week with EVERYTHING: Judo, ballet, swim and soccer. It’s good and bad. I like keeping the kids really busy even in after-school hours because if they’re doing an activity then they’re not staring at the ipad or the tv. But when they get really tired they’re walking time bombs of tears and disappointment. We’re still working on the balance, especially because our weekends have also been really full. Maybe once the weather isn’t so fantastic we’ll stay inside and all take naps on Saturdays.

The Greek church in town went and moved their food festival to NEXT weekend, so my Best Weekend Of The Year is now divided into two weekends. But the good news it there is even more stuff next weekend (a vintage market, the Garlic Festival and THE BIG E) so I get two Best Weekends instead of one. I LOVE FALL IN NEW ENGLAND.

We started Saturday at the Ledyard Fair. They do free rides from 9-10 and since the kids love rides and I hate paying $75 to go on them, we skipped our first day of soccer in favor of the fair.

For dinner we walked downtown for Taste of Italy. I love that we can walk. I love the free bounce house. And I looooved my lobster mac and cheese.

While we were waiting for Evan to be done bouncing, we heard Sweet Caroline come on the sound system. This was her reaction:

Then on Sunday we headed out for lunch at Mystic Eats. It used to be called Taste of Mystic but now it’s…not? It was very dramatic and lots of small-town paper editorials were written. But it’s exactly the same as all the other years. Tons of delicious choices, with Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream for dessert.

Shrimp and corn fritters

All my photos are of the back of Linc’s head. Too bad he’s such a shy kid.

It’s a parrot. Obviously.

Now I will spend the rest of this week doing all the walking and eating all the vegetables so that next weekend I can eat even more stuff. Did I mention I love the fall? in New England??

I feel like our week was a lot busier than these photos make it look, but I can’t remember why.

Sunday:

I promise they actually enjoy the zoo

Evan said he made a rabbit art sculpture and requested I take a photo

Linc’s going to miss the lake

Monday:

GOOD BYE LAKE 2015

NO I WON’T GO YOU CAN’T MAKE ME

I de-laked the back of the minivan

Tuesday:

Free range parenting

Important cutting homework

Not a great sign on the way TO ballet

Wednesday:

Kettlecorn is everyone’s favorite

MY DADDYYYYYYY

I didn’t even have to fake the skies in my photos from this session

Thursday:

Boooooo bus stop in the rain

Off to explore the aquarium on his own.

AVERT YOUR EYES, I’M BREASTFEEDING IN THIS PHOTO

Friday:

One baby got to watch Elmo during her breathing treatment, so ALL the babies needed to watch.

My baby is the cutest.

But not the most cooperative with photos.

Saturday:

Caroline really likes carousels

I took the same picture last year but he was tiny and asleep in a wrap

Evan is obsessed with winning a giant stuffed animal

This week is Week 2 Of All The Fall Activities Starting which means we add Judo for Evan. I’m really hoping it helps with his ability to focus on something OTHER than an iPad and maybe control his body a little bit more when it comes to school. So now we’re up to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday activities. Next week we add swim.

My hope is eventually we’ll all be so tired we sleep 12 hours a night every night. I am totally up for a 6 pm bedtime.

First full week of school, last weekend of the summer. The transition is going as well as I can expect, which is to say the kids are taking turns being COMPLETLY exhausted and having breakdowns. And Linc thinks he’s suddenly grown.

Sunday:

PUMPKIN SPICE ATTACK

Babywearing runs in the family

Big kid doing big kid stuff

Monday:

Driving the playscape

Don’t look so judgy baby, it’s just a liquor store run.

Climber

Tuesday:

Apparently he’s allergic to…something? I think it’s the baby wipes.

School is EXHAUSTING

He’s obsessed

Wednesday:

I tried wearing lipstick. Linc thinks it’s a mistake. I think I agree.

OMG GUISE THIS BRIDGE THING BOUNCES

I joked that he was going to sleep in her bed and she was not amused

Thursday:

Jogging! For like, 4 seconds. But I want credit.

Connecticut ends here

I’M TRAPPED IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION

Friday:

His new favorite spot

Niantic is adorable

The kids were super excited about the babywearing in this book.

Saturday:

Apparently no one else wanted to spend a gorgeous Saturday at the lake. Idiots.

I brought all the car wraps in to wash them. Such a pretty pile.

So I guess he’s just big now.

We have one last #lakelife day tomorrow as long as Evan doesn’t sleep the entire day. Or I do. 8 hours of sleep would be a dream come true and because Linc didn’t get ANY nap today I have my fingers crossed he’ll let me sleep in. Our fall activity schedule starts this week and then goes into full crazy mode next week so I need as much rest as I can get. I’m already reminding myself that I did this to myself and it won’t last forever. I suspect in the spring we’ll sign up for exactly zero things to recover.