Can you believe I’ve done this nonsense for 250 weeks? Caroline wasn’t even BORN when I did the first one. So I suppose I can’t even think about quitting, despite the fact that I can barely remember to do them. This one is late and I had to check my dates three times because it’s so hard to believe a week ago we were still on vacation. Real life happens SO FAST.

Sunday:

Evan is doubtful that 3 people in a one person kayak is wise.

Linc loves vacation

Caroline is ALWAYS ready for more pictures

Monday:

If you look hard enough, you can almost see New York down the river

I liked the reflection in the back of that tanker

Linc is happy to see all his stuff again

Tuesday:

Caroline is writing a song

Grumpy pants needed a walk to get ready for bed

I really, really love this front porch.

Wednesday:

The zoo was so fun.

I will never get tired of these photos.

I had three ladies tell me they liked my hair and none of them even notice I was nursing a baby.

Thursday:

Lunch at Quincy Market should always involve a lobster roll

Boston Children’s Museum

Linc was over Boston (and I was over my poor choice of shirt on a 90 degree day)

Friday:

SUPER COOL PRESS EVENT POST COMING SOON

I was really good at juggling, if my really good you mean terrible

Red Lantern at Foxwoods = ORDER ALL THE SUSHI

Saturday:

They must have bought those water bottles at Target. Poor confused children.

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaap

What? I’m hungry.

I forgot I had Virginia vacation photos to post, plus I have the post about our fun date at Foxwoods, so as long as I don’t die of heatstroke (we’re on day 5 or 6 of 90 degrees plus) I’ll have more new blog stuff up soon.

Summer summer summertime! So much summering going on around here.

Sunday:

When there is a sleeping baby on you, you sit.

I tried to tell him biting an inflatable was a poor choice, but he didn’t listen.

Fruit pizza is my new favorite kind of pizza

Monday:

A++++ WOULD RECOMMEND

He’s becoming a Stage 3 leaner

Big kidding big kidding around!

Tuesday:

Making sure we got enough sticks in with the blueberries

Having big kid friends who can read is cool.

My husband made a table.

Wednesday:

Practicing her name while we wait for car repairs

Blueberry almond cakes

Took a walk ALONE because that’s not happening again for a while

Thursday:

Buying a toilet seat LIKE A BOSS

We picked up a friend from horse camp so Caroline could meet some horses

Surfer Dude

Friday:

Linc smashed it 10 seconds later

Cool kids wear hats

The view from the hill behind my house

Saturday:

Lake…

…Target…

…Ice cream. REPEAT.

Linc turns 1 on Thursday and I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. His party is Saturday, and I have a bazillion things to do before then, including create a menu. I have never been this unprepared to feed my guests. I’m keeping my everything crossed that we have beautiful weather for the party, because I am counting on the bounce house and some bubbles to keep the kids entertained all afternoon. I don’t know what I’ll do if we have to be inside.

If you need me, I’ll be keeping as busy as possible so I can IGNORE THE PART ABOUT LINC TURNING 1.

It looks like I spent the WHOLE week at the lake. Which I guess I did.

Sunday:

Lake food

Lake view

Lake naps

Monday:

WATCH OUT FOR THE PINK FLOATY IT WILL RUIN YOUR KID

Love our BityBean in the water

Party countdown is on

Tuesday:

Lashes

Loaner wrap is super cushy

Star Wars, kids playing, me editing = mom life

Wednesday:

This baby is finally learning to sleep in his own room

He doesn’t know how to use that phone yet. Probably.

SO GOOD

Thursday:

Linc’s bouncy house makes him popular with the girls

When he can’t find his own blankie, brother’s will do

They are both very pleased with themselves

Friday:

Linc slept in his room. I woke up to this on my vidoe monitor.

Someone should watch that baby near the water

Gorgeous evening for a walk

Saturday:

Wore my lobster wrap down to the lobster docks

Double chocolate cake for lunch

Cards for dinner

My goal for this week is to get the kids to bed BEFORE 10 pm every night. It’s finally getting dark almost early enough for a real bedtime – no one will sleep when the sun is still up at 8:30. But I need 2 kid free hours after they all go to sleep and right now that means I’m still awake at 11:45 pm. Why can’t kids and grown ups switch? I will go to bed at 7:30 every night and they can stay up until whenever? Oh right, because then nothing would ever get done.

This week’s agenda includes two farmer stands, more lake, a horse barn, blueberry picking and car repairs. One of those things is less exciting than the others.

One of the reasons I keep up my photography business, if only on a very very part time basis, is because it gives me a tiny bit of truly disposable income. I can spend that little bit of income on whatever I want, whether it’s new photography equipment or getting my hair done or an investment in something else. That last one is what I did with my first quarter income from 2015 – I invested it in my family in the form of a membership in the Amos Lake Beach Club.

So far, it is proving to be a very worthwhile investment. The lake has shade, so much shade that I don’t have to wear sunscreen. The lake bottom is mostly sand and no rocks. There are picnic tables and grills so we can sit and play cards and stay for dinner. It is approximately 15 minutes from my front door to the parking lot. There are swings and climby things for the kids, fish so plentiful and fearless you can catch them with popcorn and a net, and there are almost always other children there for my children to play with but it is rarely crowded.

To be honest, I was sort of dreading the summer and all the free time we would have to…stare at screens and ignore each other. I am not good at saying no to iPad time when it’s only 10 am and the kids are already whining. The lake solves the “should we pack up and go somewhere or stay home and relax” problem. We can do both! At the lake! And we can bring beer! I enjoy my family the way I imagine people are supposed to enjoy their families when I am at the lake with a beer. I mean, I love my family all the time, because they are my family. But there are definitely moments where all I want in the whole world is the freedom to go do something FUN that doesn’t end up being incredibly stressful. But when you’re relaxing only 15 minutes from home, it’s easy to relax. As long as no one breaks their leg (KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD) there are no emergencies at the lake.

I feel really really lucky we can live the #lakelife this summer. It’s going to be good for all of us individually and good for all of us together.