Despite a stormy start to the week (and a complete lack of preschool – oh my how I missed preschool) we managed to have a pretty good week.

Sunday:

If our church wasn’t so pretty, I don’t think we would go nearly as often.

I lose a staring contest with this fish.

Who is ever unhappy at Five Guys?

Monday:

The wind was blowing the rain sideways into our screened porch

Windy

Hey, so when can we stop watching the boring news and go play outside instead?

Tuesday:

Weather checker

How do I look?

Time to take the baby cage down

Wednesday:

Oh no! A dragon has invaded gymnastics class!

Look, we caught a fairy!

COME HEEEEERE CHILDREN! WE HAVE CAAAAAANDY!

Thursday:

Block building is all fun and games until someone smashes someone else’s tower

These (in the 3rd floor master bedroom) are the only windows in the house low enough for them to look out of and they’re obsessed.

I swear I feed this child more food than anyone else in the whole house. She just burns ALL THE CALORIES.

Friday:

Boss of the mall hooligans

One of Caroline’s many wonderful friend-helper-playmates #cardigansforever

I like this movie sort of a ridiculous amount

Saturday:

I’ve been buying 3 dozen at a time but keep running out. This is what happens when you give up carbs.

Suspicious of being dragged out in the cold to look at decorative gourds.

A mind-blowing number of decorative gourds. I got some fantastic pictures for Monday.

I spent three full hours running errands blissfully alone on a Saturday – although I had forgotten how crowded everyone is on the weekend. I also forgot how expensive it is to do two weeks worth of grocery shopping at once, and might have had a tiny heart attack at the checkout. This is our last week before E’s schedule goes back to being totallycompletelymiserable for a while, so we’re splurging on doing nothing but enjoying our extra hour of sleep on Sunday. I have it in my head I’m going to brutally clean out of my closet – everything I don’t love goes! – but I suspect I’ll only get as far as putting away half the laundry before I lose interest.

Did you take iPhone photos of your week? Link up with one or several below! I’ve been doing this for more than 2 years now, and I’m a little sad it seems to be dying out now that Amy handed the linky off to me. So PLEASE please consider joining, even if you haven’t done it before. I’ll be around to read everyone’s posts and comment.

I know that’s a super long title, but I actually wanted to call it The 5 Best Memberships For Families In Southeastern Connecticut And How To Get The Most For Your Money (Also One Is Technically In Rhode Island But Just Ignore That). Brevity has never been my strong point.

Visiting these places is definitely worth it – they’re all fun, educational, and make a great day trip. Having a membership carries the added benefit of your day not getting ruined if it’s crowded, raining or your kid’s just not into it – you can just come back later. These spots are all approved for many repeat days of fun by me and my gingers:

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic Aquarium

1. Mystic Aquarium – I’m not sure how the aquarium got a reputation for being a must-see tourist attraction, but it’s a relatively small place and is totally packed in the summer. Luckily, once school starts (literally, the day after Labor Day) it’s deserted in the mornings and kids can have a private audience with belugas, penguins and a whole rainbow of fish. The inside building is carpeted (good for crawlers or early walkers) and very open (good for strollers). My 3-year-old and 1-year-old love the Titanic exhibit and the sea lion show too, although they’re a little young for the Sponge Bob 4-D movie. Since tickets cost $29+ a membership is definitely worth the price. Tip: If you have little kids, get a single membership with the add-a-guest option. Kids under 3 are free so you can bring your spouse OR a friend who also has small kids. I did that when Caroline was a infant and it made a great winter playdate. Another tip: They open at 9 am, which is GREAT for moms with kids who get up early.

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport

2. Mystic Seaport – The mini boat playscape and children’s building make visiting worth it even if you never board a single vessel (although you should, since they’re really fun!). My kids love the horse carriage despite never having ridden on it. There’s also a fantastic play room hidden on the 3rd floor of the Stillman Building, so we visit even in less-than-ideal weather. It’s a big place, so unless they’re holding one of the extra-popular events (avoid antique boat weekend!!) it’s never too crowded. And the normal events – Dog Days, Chowderfest, etc – are really fun. Children under 5 are free, so a dual membership can get you in if you have pre-k or younger kids. Membership also includes coffee, hot cocoa and lemonade in the Member’s Building, discounts in the store and the chance to visit Santa in December.

Children’s Museum

Children’s Museum

3. Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut – Full disclosure: we don’t actually have a membershipto the museum yet. We’ve been twice – once for an awesome birthday party – and it is full of creative play spaces and experiences for the kids. There’s an outdoor space for good weather and plenty of space inside for bad/hot/snowy/New Englandy weather. Their little gift shop is pretty amazing too, with lots of cool educational toys perfect for birthday gifts. We’ll be joining this winter, to add another indoor play space to our rotation.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Roger Williams Park Zoo

4. Roger Williams Park Zoo – OK, so Providence isn’t in Connecticut but it’s only 40 minutes from the border and the drive is totally worth it. During the hot summer months the water features in Hasbro’s Big Back Yard were a huge hit with the kids and the tree house is really fun. The zoo is a great size for kids to walk, the animals are all close enough to enjoy and the staff has always been super nice and helpful. Did I mention there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts IN the zoo? Membership is pretty affordable and the add-a-guest is only $10 more, so it’s a great place to bring friends. In the summer we aimed to be there at 9 when they opened and left around noon for naps and it was never crowded.

5. Your local library! – I know all these memberships can add up really fast in a tight budget. The good news is many of the local libraries offer free or discounted passes to these locations. That’s the link to my town library but the ones in other towns have similar or better options. It would be worth checking these places out for yourself to see if you like them before springing for the full cost – and if you see us while you’re there, say hi!

Am I missing anything, friends? Where should we go next?!

My week was going really well until Caroline’s accident on Friday. (In case you missed my Tweets/FB updates/Instagrams she fell at the playground and broke her collar bone.) It was pretty traumatic for all of us. It’s also put a damper on our fall plans, our playdate schedule and Caroline’s budding gymnastics career. Poor thing. So we’re taking things easy and cruising right through our Disney DVD collection.

Sunday:

He insisted my boots fit him just fine.

We made it to church! And it didn’t burn down or anything!

I love this stroller but it REALLY NEEDS A CUP HOLDER.

Monday:

MORNING toothbrushing? Whose children are these?

Lion fish are badass

Hi Beluga, I love you.

Tuesday:

Sewing helper! Tuesday was GET THIS DAMN COSTUME DONE Day.

Mostly done…

…THERE’S my magical pixie!!

Wednesday:

Color matching uneven bars foot bean bag toss – he rocked it.

BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY – Caroline

He transferred from a car nap to a couch nap that lasted 3 hours. I have NO IDEA why.

Thursday:

Easily distracted by things in the dirt

22 lb baby vs. 10 lb kettle bell. She is SO STRONG.

Scenic, tragic waterfall

Friday:

I took a picture to commemorate NOT wearing yoga pants.

That slide in the background is what she fell off the top of, 2 minutes after I took this photo.

Sponge Bob in the ER – I hate the damn show but it certainly kept Evan quiet for 2 hours.

Saturday:

The patient demanded a popsicle for breakfast, the patient gets a popsicle.

Tired from a day of doing…nothing.

Cheerful enough for a bath. Thank goodness, she was covered in popsicle.

So if you need me, I’ll be over here feeling like the world’s worst mom. Good times.

Did you take any camera phone photos this week? Link up with one or lots using the linky below and grab the code (so it shows on your blog too!) over at Amy’s . It’s really fun!

You know what the cure for a sad-for-myself kind of week is? A so-busy-I-barely-sleep week.

Sunday:

Daddy attack!

Jam thief

He is very suspicious of those blue things in his pancakes. Mommy never does anything that fancy.

Monday:

Evan: Uh, Mom? Someone took a bite of this Styrofoam apple. Caroline: My bad.

Dropping off some more money for safekeeping at the marina. Too bad they don’t ever give it back.

Don’t hold my hand Mommy, I’m a big kid.

Tuesday:

Caroline’s new favorite book: The Sailor Dog

He insisted I buy the BIG carrots and couldn’t even wait until we got home to eat them.

I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of my empty uterus crying.

Wednesday:

My nice healthy lunch – before Caroline stole it and ate the whole thing.

Peek a boo

Where we go when the kids request the aquarium at 6 pm.

Thursday:

Loves

That’s Caroline’s “WTF Whale?” face

Peace out, Connecticut!

Friday (Sesame Place!):

Helping a friend

Elmo’s World Live was the best day of her life (also, proof I didn’t actually torture her the ENTIRE weekend.)

I command you to buy season passes! (OK)

Saturday:

This was the farthest away the characters were for this entire show – usually they were literally touching distance.

Hot, super tired baby did NOT like her beloved TV characters 7 feet tall.

We accidentally watched the parade for the 3rd time. Now I will NEVER get the song out of my head.

Despite Caroline being pretty miserable for large chunks of the trip we had an amazing time with Kim and her boys. I’ve already decided we’re going back ASAP. But after playing “family of four” all weekend I might be rethinking this third/fourth baby situation.

Oh wait, I just went to link with Amy and the pictures of her tiny, squishy newborn made me totally forget all the hard parts of my week. Carry on with plans to expand the ginger army (eventually).

I’m not going to lie, things are not going great around here. We see E for less than an hour a day (which will happen every day for at least the next 36 days) but to see him at ALL means we have to skip our morning activities. Caroline has decided napping is for the birds, but so is going to bed before 8 pm (those last 2 hours in the evening are ROUGH). And Evan is still three, which means he recently learned the word “attitude” – literally, he now tells me all about his attitude – and I’m about ready to sell him to the circus. Our week felt a bit like Groundhog Day – the same things over and over and over – so I’m REALLY looking forward to the end of this coming week, when we head off to Long Island for an end of summer adventure.

Sunday:

Exhausted from a weekend with friends, THANK GOD.

HAHA JAY KAY MOM! I’m not exhausted I’m trying to give you a heart attack!

Hand washing device aka drinking fountain

Monday:

Fish through a fish-eye lens are fun

Giant Oreo cupcake is no match for two toddlers

Then I almost killed myself trying to do C25K Week 5 with a stroller on a hilly path.

Tuesday:

Cheeeeeese!

Filling out pre-k applications for NEXT year. Cross your fingers (it’s a lottery).

Dream big, little ginger

Wednesday:

I asked her to put her jammies in the laundry basket. At least she followed directions?

That blur in the middle is Evan jumping off the tumble track all on his own for the very first time!

Not impressed with BJ’s

Thursday:

Oh no it’s a ghost! A friendly ghost – It goes “woooooo!” and tries to tickle you.

Evan is obsessed with his shadow. Time to watch Peter Pan, I think.

Those popsicles were a mistake.

Friday:

So happy to be back at Stroller Strides!

Sharing!!!

I’m starting a diet challenge in 2 weeks. Guess I better order BOTH of these sandwiches NOW!

Saturday:

He says this is much more comfortable. Whatever.

Me: That’s you Caroline! The baby in the pictures is you! Caroline: *mind blown*

After ALL THIS she still refused to nap.

In case that last picture isn’t clear, it’s Caroline in MY BED with two dollies, two blankies, two stuffed mice, her water, her baby laptop, her sound/light machine AND Daddy’s iPad. She insisted I drag it all up to my room and then lay in bed talking to herself for 90 minutes (even after I turned off the iPad). It was a really long day. So now I’m going to bed – good thing I never took off my pajamas! – and hoping we can get out of the house tomorrow for something that takes a LOT of toddler energy.

I’m guessing since Amy had a baby (!!!!!!!) this week, the linky will be off for a while. But feel free to leave links to your iphone posts in my comments, I love looking at them!