This morning Caroline was doing push ups – incline push ups, with her feet on the couch and her hands on the floor – and I realized I had been sitting down for like 4 hours straight. So I had a cup of coffee, pounded this out and then went to do something productive. Nothing like an exercising 1 year old to make you feel like a lazy ass.

Sunday:

The kids built steps to reach the clementines. Evil geniuses.

“Mommy, why don’t we have ponies???” “Because your father isn’t Mitt Romney, honey.”

Painting the dining room seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Monday:

Sorry, can’t get up, it would disturb the cat.

We went to terrorize, uh, visit my friend Megan’s yarn store.

I love you, iPhone panoramic thingy.

Tuesday:

When you clean out the toy box, you discover toys you forgot about and it’s like getting NEW TOYS (p.s. My aunt made me that dress when I was a baby)

I got the box closes and we haven’t opened it since. TRUE STORY.

Pretty much how I feel every night by 8 pm.

Wednesday:

Caroline chose to sit on the bench with her blankie instead of doing gymnastics for the first half of class. Then she remembered OH YEAH I LOVE GYMNASTICS.

SUPER GOOD BRAVE BOY at the dentist

Clean teeth make you very tired.

Thursday:

Hmmm…do I look 8 years old today? Yes, I think I do.

What do you mean I can’t do pull ups on the stroller???? I hate you you’re ruining my life!

Cat nap (sorry Instagram friends, I just love this one)

Friday:

Trying to climb into the house

The only time we saw Daddy all week…and he’s leaving for work.

My Friday nights are very exciting.

Saturday:

Insisted on getting up at 6:30 am, only to climb into her brother’s bed and insist it was time to go to sleep. That face says “I DARE YOU TO DISAGREE”

3rd batch of scones in 2 days. Recipe on Tuesday.

Oops?

I can’t believe this week is Thanksgiving already – it’s so early this year! – but I love that I get to enjoy our Christmas decorations for a while longer. I’m crossing all my crossibles that E gets out of shift work in time to help us pick out a tree on Friday (FRIDAY!!!!) and I can’t wait to put up our combination Caroline’s party/holiday stuff. Winter sparkle snowflake woodland fairies FOREVA.

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.

1. Paleo pumpkin bars so I’ll be less tempted to eat the Oreos.
2. Our patio is prepared for the storm.
3. The last of my Halloween decorations that probably no one will see.
4. Glued to the TV for updates.
5. Giant tree less than 7 feet from my back porch. I heard from the previous owners this tree’s twin on the other side of our yard fell during a hurricane a few years ago so it’s my biggest worry.
6. Guest room ready in case local friends are evacuated.
7. Brutus is pretty worried.
8. Bathtub full of water for emergency toilet-flushing.
9. The kids just think it’s awesome that Daddy has the day off.

This is our second storm in as many years, but Irene didn’t do much more than make a mess. We’re hopeful Sandy isn’t any worse, but the updates from the new stations and weather channel are starting to sound serious and not just in the standard OMG-END-OF-THE-WORLD exaggerated way we’re used to in New England.

We aren’t in danger of flooding or being evacuated ourselves, so we’re just waiting for the winds to pick up later today and praying we don’t lose power for too long or have a tree come through the roof. Luckily E took care of his last urgent work thing this morning and none of us have to leave the house again until at least tomorrow. I’m trying to balance being reasonably concerned with not freaking out, but when the governor closes the roads – like, ALL the roads – it’s hard to keep my anxiety at bay. For now, I’m cheerfully eating Halloween candy and enjoying frivolous electricity usage while I still can. Sending safe thoughts and prayers for everyone in the path of the storm. As long as our house is still standing you’re more than welcome here if you need somewhere to go.

4 pm Update: Still good, still have power. The wind is getting sort of crazy and we’ll be “camping” on the main floor tonight instead of sleeping upstairs tonight but so far we’re OK.

10 pm Update: Power still on, just a few flickers so far. Sent the kids up to bed because we were going CRAZY with all of us in one room all day and the way the wind is blowing means our two scary trees would fall away from the house. We are still HAPPY to host anyone who needs somewhere to go tomorrow, although I’ve heard a ton of roads are blocked by downed trees. Stay safe friends!

8 pm Tuesday Update: Hello friends! I forget sometimes that I’m not real-life (or at least Facebook) friends with everyone, so I forgot to update here. We made it through the storm with no problems. E even had to go into work today although Evan’s preschool was cancelled. We’ll have our porch light on tomorrow for trick-or-treaters (after a quick stop at Target to replace all the candy we ate!) and we’re hoping the neighbors do the same for our first time out!

We’re battening down the hatches for the tropical storm/hurricane/once in a lifetime Frankenstorm disaster that’s headed our way, but right now I’m too hopped up on the Halloween candy I broke into early to feel too worried. That’s probably a mistake, but let’s just enjoy some pictures.

Sunday:

Birthday party sugar hangovers makes for grumpy children.

Last time we visited, Caroline HATED this dog. Now? BFFs.

My children are attractive.

Monday:

The dog is judging me. Dogs don’t understand Mondays.

That’s what you get for judging me, DOG.

Mad sewing skillz.

Tuesday:

Shopping with Caroline has become…challenging.

Someone talk me out of buying this.

Out of control baby mullet

Wednesday:

Chillaxin’ – she’s an expert

That doesn’t look like gymnastics.

Puppy love

Thursday:

Working out is WAY easier when this is your view

Sliiiiiiiiiiiide!

NO YOU CANNOT EAT MY PHONE

Friday:

If I wear a backpack I get to go to school too, right Mom?

Trying to figure out how to change NPR to The Fresh Beat Band.

Wild Things at Mystic Seaport

Saturday:

Caroline has recently become obsessed with Brutus’s…uh…undercarriage.

Thousands of books inside the library…and they’re staring at the empty train tracks that run behind it.

Emergency storm rations

Do you have camera/iPhone photos from your week? Link up below and grab the code for your site too!

At BlogHer, Kim and I made slightly tipsy plans to get together in real life as soon as possible. Amazingly, we actually DID and our kids are new BFF’s. We’re doing it again in a week, this time at her place.

It’s been a really picture heavy week on the blog. Let’s keep going.

I take a lot of crooked pictures.