Sunday:

We went up to Plymouth, Mass to see E's family. Helloooooo lunch.

The Massachusetts relatives live in an old Cape a block from the beach that's FULL of fantastic antiques like this stuff, but still super casual and beachy. I have house envy.

TOTAL MELTDOWN on the way home was temporarily calmed with Mama's iPad.

Monday:

Delicious, healthy, Weight Watchers approved breakfast to start our Super! Fun! Day! at the Seaport!

And then this happened.

Hanging out in bed at 7 pm. Because I am lame. Literally.

Tuesday:

I put the toddler to work cleaning the house while I lay on the couch.

Nursing bebeh, sexy hospital sock

Wednesday:

That, my friends, is an empty laundry basket because my husband did all the laundry while I was injured.

Our nephew came to visit & entertain the baby

Then we entertained him with the Kinect (while wearing Evan's baby sunglasses of course)

Thursday:

Caroline watching The Colbert Report.

Maybe if I hide my new shoes behind E's stuff he won't notice!

I bought this dress at Target. It is very very comfortable and possibly makes me look pregnant.

Friday:

Are we ever going to leave this DAMN HOUSE?

Roasted sweet potatos for the baby. Note: 22 minutes is too long - they turn into mush and she can't grab them.

Bebeh toooooooes

Now I have TWO kids who keep trying to take my iPhone

Saturday:

Finally made it to the Seaport & Little Evan got to ride on a boat

Look what I got it in mail! More Uff Da goodness to add to my collection. I mean CAROLINE'S collection.

I found a local consignment shop. I am in love. These were SIX DOLLARS.

My ankle/foot/leg is feeling much better, thanks for all your well wishes and questions – and a HUGE thanks to my husband for letting me sit on the couch for 2 full days so I could let it heal. I’m still not going to be running for a while (or even walking very fast) but I think I can get back to my normal life on Monday.  I’m also going to have to get back to Pennywise in Mystic, the FABULOUS consignment store I finally visited today while I sent the rest of the family down to the Seaport. It’s a small shop but totally packed with awesome finds – besides the polka-dot Steve Madden wedges, I got a pair of super comfy black heels (also $6), a cool swingy tunic top ($9) and another bright colored maxi dress with pockets ($18). I was really excited Pennywise had lots of stuff in my (spoken: large-ish) size – normally there’s an abundance of tiny clothes but nothing to fit over my boobs. Now we’re all taking a little siesta before hitting the river for a little afternoon boating. I hope your weekend is going as well as mine!

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!

Sunday:

Waiting patiently on the stairs for daddy to get out of the bathroom.

HUGS!

He was SO GOOD during dinner, we actually enjoyed ourselves.

Monday:

Nooooo! Don't try to take off my Elmo PJ's!

Playing a new game called "Here's a swiffer cloth, go clean the walls"

Mommy's sunglasses are the best.

Tuesday:

As much fun as yogurt painting at playgroup was, it might make breakfasts a little messy.

I was doing push-ups over her face and she laughed at me. Way to be supportive BABY.

The big girls babysat for me after Stroller Strides. They are SO good with her.

Wednesday:

I got the spot. It makes me UNREASONABLY angry when people use it as a handicapped spot. There are LOTS of handicapped spots so don't take my ONE customers with infants spot.

OMG WHAT?! Sitting up like a big girl!? No way!

I made it to knitting group but managed to NOT buy every single one of these.

Thursday:

Minus the legs, she LOVES the play table.

Swinging siblings

He calls them his "Fast Shoes" - 50% off at Target, FINALLY

Friday:

Five billion organic, all natural toys and she likes the plastic dollar store ball and Evan's dirty sandal.

At Stroller Strides. I was supposed to be doing crunches, but instead was enjoying the sunshine.

It took a while, but he warmed up to the boat. Not so much the life jacket.

Saturday:

Are you kidding me with this hugging thing?

Banana hair. Someone should market it as the ultimate holding gel.

This was AFTER I cut a bunch to fill all my vases. Love this bush.

It’s a looooong weekend for all of us and we’ve got big, fun plans with water and sunshine and family and beaches and more. It’s going to take a LOT of sunscreen to keep us all from getting deep fried, but it’s going to be worth it. There’s also a pretty good chance I’m going to totally blow my brand new diet in the very first week – but calories on holidays don’t count, right?

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 those people who have amazing personal style and do crazy things with makeup and ride vintage bicycles to local farmer’s markets where they make 5 new friends and eat jicama salads with hand-shaved Parmesan and triple chocolate cake but still lose 5 pounds while homeschooling their kids and writing an incredibly successful blog and then do some long division just for fun?

I am not one of those people.

Almost nothing comes naturally to me. The last time I was just plain GOOD at something without really trying was dance class when I was 11. My teacher said I had perfect feet and fantastic arches. If you knew how often I thought about that compliment even now 18 years later you would laugh at me.

Most of the time it seems like everything takes so much EFFORT. Nothing is effortless – it is in fact, effort-FUL – and it all feels sort of overwhelming. Sleepless nights, raising a toddler, feeding my family, keep the house from devolving into TOTAL chaos, buying clothes that fit, making sure I don’t have mascara running down my face (I usually do), maintaining friendships, running, providing fun and educational learning experiences for my children…They all seem hard to me, especially when I think of them all at once. Thank God there’s no long division.

So last night I added one more thing that’s going to take some effort, but hopefully in the long run it will make a lot of things easier. I went to a Weight Watchers meeting and signed up.

Despite my skepticism and my determination to find SOMETHING to roll my eyes at, I liked the meeting. I like the plan. I like the fact that I get to eat more because I’m nursing. I feel very hopeful that even though it’s going to take some work, I’ll be able to finally get back to a happy place where I don’t cringe every time I look in a mirror. Because although “eat less and move more” sounds easy enough (perhaps even effortless for some people) it is not enough for me. I’m going nowhere without trying harder and I feel like until I can be happier with MYSELF I have no chance at being happier with my life in general. And who has time to be unhappy with themselves when there are vintage bicycles to ride?

p.s. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a weight loss blog and I’m not being sponsored in any way. I’ve just heard good things and seen friends and family have a lot of success, so when my friend Cheri asked if I wanted to come with her I decided I had nothing to lose. Besides 50 pounds. So, yeah.

My life is a pocket, being emptied before the endless parade of pants go into the machine.

A crumpled $20 bill. It’s enough for a day – a coffee, a burger, a pretty bobble from Target – but wouldn’t make a dent in a year’s worth of bills and car payments and mortgages. My worth as a mother isn’t paid in dollars and cents, so I am both worthless and priceless.

A rubber band. My patience being pulled and stretched and twisted further and further with each temper tantrum, each unwashed dish, each crying baby. Sometimes in breaks and someone gets stung, a hurtful snap I immediately regret and I vow that next time I won’t let it get so tight.

A paper clip. Holding it all together a day at a time. Doctor’s appointments, vet appointments, car maintenance, groceries, playgroups, laundry, dishes, bedtimes, start all over. Papers papers everywhere and that file cabinet I was planning to use still empty. I need an hour a day a month to organize before I’m buried alive.

A goldfish cracker. The compromise between having a hungry, cranky toddler and eating nothing but organic, locally grown produce hand-picked by virgins under a full moon. The place where doing what is “best” for my family meets doing what is best for ME when it comes to my family and the guilt I do or do not feel when I cut corners. Sometime delicious trumps perfection.

A band-aid wrapper, the band-aid long since peeled off a skinned knee. I cover up the boo-boos, deal with the pain, pretend it’s not a big deal. I’m glad the hurt is so small but the scars are still there even after the scrape is gone.

Lint. Dog hair. My hair that is still falling out by the handful thanks to post-partum hormones. Messes of all kinds invade my space. Bits of yarn. Crumbs. Pen marks. Dirty feet. Messy faces. Playdoh ground into the carpet. Drips of milk. The remnants of a day full of fun, sunshine and creativity.

A penny. For luck. We are all healthy, clothed, fed, loved and safe. So much luck.

At this point, I’ve talking about the NEW PATIO and the BIG REVEAL so many times I’m afraid this is going to be sort of a let down to everyone expecting a Yard Crashers style makeover complete with water feature and hot tub and 12-foot fireplace. It is not that crazy. BUT. If you consider this was all done in 1 week by hand by two guys, two women and a toddler, THEN it is impressive. Two guys, two women and a toddler, who, I might add, have never built a patio before. Now you can be impressed.

One more time, BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Good changes, yes?

The rock wall for the side garden is built out of the flagstone that used to be in our walkways. All the plants in this garden were transplanted – either from my own garden or from my friend Merin’s. The lights closest to the ground are actually solar powered. The lanterns on the poles are for candles – you put these little blue things in the top and they’re supposed to repel bugs (I think the definitely help).

Dining table from Walmart, dishes/glasses from Target. The adorable “floating” shelf was the result of a joint brainstorming session, where E and I decided we needed a buffet for dinner parties. E made it out of scrap wood from our basement and attached it to the fence with chain I spray painted green. Then I used some tape and 3 more cans of spray paint to make the design. It folds up flat against the neighbor’s our fence when we’re not using it and can easily be removed and stored in the winter. Roses & hydrangeas are from my garden, displayed in tin cans (spray painted of course).

Seating set, end tables & throw pillows from Target, firepit from Home Depot. Throw blanket is from Pier 1. Flower pots are from various places (including some I already owned & spray painted). Tray (that I spray painted) and mugs are from Goodwill. See that dark purple vine in the blue pot? It’s called “Sweet Caroline”.

Did you enjoy my attempt at a Martha Stewart worthy photo shoot? It’s been pouring rain for two days so everything is sort of damp and grey but it still looks pretty good. For a little reality check, here’s the patio during dinner on Sunday night:

And now for my absolute favorite part of the patio: nighttime.

String lights are from Target and plug into a super handy outlet right inside the garage window. The fire pit actually gives off enough heat to make a cool night comfortable and is PERFECT for s’mores making.

Showing my appreciation for all E's amazingly hard work

In case you were wondering, the total costs of the project were:

$2016.26 for the patio itself, including all the supplies, tools, stone, sand, gravel and plate compactor rental. (Not included: lots of pizza for the workers).

$1841.77 for EVERYTHING else, from the furniture and pillows down to the candles and plants.

Grand total: $3858.03.

We estimate that if we’d hired someone to do all the work for us, the labor and material total (not counting any of the decor or furniture) would have been at least $8,000. It was a LOT of digging.

Special thanks to my mom and dad who did at least 50% of the work on this and only had one night to enjoy it. I can’t wait until they come back again for more s’mores and wine on the patio.

Edited to add: You can see the much less glamorous doing-the-work photos and information here.