Previously: 2016, 2015, 2015 (part 2), 2014,  2013

I can’t remember when I started calling this the best weekend of the year, but now that’s the official name in our family and we celebrate as if it’s a holiday. Four kids out of the house all weekend isn’t easy but we had a great time as usual and the food makes up for the stress.

Greek Food Festival:

Ledyard Fair (with friends!):

Taste of Italy:

Mystic Eats:

After we went to the food festival in Mystic, we hung out at the Seaport, then went straight to a birthday party, then straight to cheer practice. Operation Keep Them Busy is going along just swimmingly, although if Finnegan keeps waking up at 2 am I’m not going to be able to keep it up every weekend.

Hopefully he let’s me get enough sleep to make it to The Big E next Saturday, because that’s like the whole Best Weekend of the Year rolled into one day.

It is very cold and gloomy today. One fourth of my children are napping, but unfortunately it’s the only one who doesn’t really NEED to nap. But I got a bunch of cleaning done this morning, there’s chili in the crockpot for dinner, and I have secret chocolate to eat when they eventually do go to bed. So it’s not the worst Sunday.

Sunday:

He loves his lovies SO MUCH

Pokemon hunting

Local architecture

Monday:

So stylish

When Linc crashes, he crashes HARD

WHAT IS THIS BATH THING I NEVER HAVE THEM???

Tuesday:

We are both a total mess in this photo

Diapers, cat food, giant bag of jelly beans

Sitting down while someone else vacuums is my favorite

Wednesday:

Ridiculous baby outfit

The cat is SO DESPERATE she sat with the toddler

Sure, why not bring a giant stick inside?

Thursday:

Weirdo

But a happy weirdo

I can deal with happy (ps in the stroller, not the car, don’t send me car seat hate mail)

Friday:

Baby friends playing nicely. It was very confusing.

I shut him in his room for being a monster, obviously he was a tired monster

Finn likes Zootopia too

Saturday:

Zoo fun

Gorgeous weather

Target life

My throat sort of hurts but I absolutely refuse to acknowledge it could be ANYTHING except for very dry air in my house. We have important Thanksgiving plans, there’s no way I am letting germs ruin them. Fingers crossed I can get enough sleep in the next couple days to be back to 100% by Wednesday. It’s a tough time of year to stay well, especially when you’re only getting an average of 4 hours a night.

One of these days, I will completely forget what having a newborn is like and I’ll have to come up with something else to whine about. I can’t wait.

This was The Bad Week. I’m going to do the most recent week’s post tomorrow so I bump it down the page quickly. I still don’t want to talk about it.

Sunday:

Mini sessions day 2

Photographer life means ALL the throw blankets

I have the best clients. This had Boston cream in it.

Monday:

He was so excited about the fake oranges he needed real oranges

These are not outside shoes

Hates everything

Tuesday:

Nope, don’t want to talk about it

They’re having fun, I promise

Wednesday:

He’s OBSESSED

I “found” Everest, if by “found” you mean spent a crazy amount to replace the lost one

His hair makes me happy

Thursday:

D0N’T JUDGE ME I CAN BUY CHRISTMAS STUFF

More appropriate bus stop shoes

Her response to “Can I take a picture?”

Friday:

Kid Chess has very different rules than real chess

Always so judgy

A bin of baby clothes I haven’t seen in 6 years

Saturday:

Another gorgeous day at the seaport

Outdoor nursing in November

Very focused on stacking

I need at least 3 more weeks of outdoors weather before I’m fully ready to commit to my winter hibernation. Or at a minimum, it needs to not be frigid until after we get the Christmas tree and the lights up. IT’S SOON. SOOOOOOOON.

Late again. Honestly, for most of the week it was a miracle I kept my family alive, there was no chance of me blogging. I don’t talk about politics much here, partly because it doesn’t come up when I’m mostly sharing photos of my family, partly out of a desire to avoid conflict and partly so my parents don’t have to constantly pray for my soul (we have…very different opinions on many things). But in this case I feel like I need to be clear: I am devastated and shocked, to a degree that has surprised me. I wasn’t at all prepared for these feelings and I’m struggling. I don’t expect my blogging schedule will get any better in the next few weeks.

Sunday:

Caroline’s favorite hobby

Still gotta catch ’em all

The location of one of my best photoshoots to date

Monday:

Couch naps are happening here more and more

Sure, why WOULDN’T you hit me with a stick?

Trick or treating

Tuesday:

This bear was such an excellent purchase

Bus stop hand holding

Edit all day, edit all night

Wednesday:

We really like fall

One of the last days where the sun doesn’t set before 5 pm

Rolls on rolls

Thursday:

Snuggle all day

These pants tho

Evan’s face when Linc meets him at the bus

Friday:

His head is SO ROUND

Someone found the donut holes

Card night

Saturday:

Every kid at mini sessions asked if this was a haunted cabin

I love working

I do not love this new hairstylist

I’ve spent the last two morning in Mystic, enjoying the fall weather and sunshine and refusing to let myself wallow. They also sell fudge. That might be the real reason I’ve managed to drag myself out of bed.

This was two weeks ago. I keep failing at this “post more, in a more timely manner” way. But I finished my photography work this weekend – at least the shooting part, now I just have to edit – so hopefully I can catch up and finish the four posts I have in drafts. Although they’re all about how having 4 kids is hard, so maybe I’ll make it one post.

Sunday:

One of my favorite fall spots

Beautiful evening for a photo shoot

I came home to video games and no pants

Monday:

This is why I hardly blog

They’re obsessed with our Halloween decorations

I’m not crying, you’re crying

Tuesday:

Smirk captured by Lincoln

CHUBS

His hood has fox ears

Wednesday:

Portrait mode – cool, but lousy in low light

He fell asleep on me…

…but didn’t budge when I got up to make dinner

Thursday:

Shenanigans

Lap naps

Edit edit edit edit

Friday:

These are my favorite jammies

Hand me downs are her favorite

Movies in the car during piano lessons = game changer

Saturday:

SNACKS ARE HIS FAVORITE

End of soccer season reward

Pumpkin shopping

Oh look, I’m almost finished and now the baby is awake again. One day I will get a full hour of free time.