It’s still Wednesday, right? I feel like it’s been raining for a week (because it has been raining for a week) so when we got a break last night I dragged the kids all over Eastern CT to find a nice empty (but public) field for taking fall family photos. Success!

Respect my mad flower-crown making skillz.

I cut (butchered) Evan’s hair and he aged 10 years.

Looking at clouds. He said he saw a rhesus monkey wearing a powdered wig. For real.

WE LOVE YOU SEPTEMBER

Yeah, yeah, I know, Mother’s Day was like a zillion years ago and all the moms who REALLY appreciated their families already posted their recaps. What can I say, except maybe mine will remember to get me something next year.

The blankie she's wrapped in was my baby blankie, knit by my grandmother

Pallet petunia garden - we'll see if it holds up when I stand it against the fence

Srsly, the greatest swag anyone has ever given me - Corona garden tools are the BEST

GROSS

Super Hero Evan!

Monkey-see, monkey-do

Super Hero Caroline!

Grill tray for nachos on the grill = genius

NO SAD FACES ON MOTHER'S DAY

TWINS

Giant marshmallows might have been the highlight of his year

One of the drawbacks of living in New England is the RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF TIME it takes for us to get to the flower-growing part of spring. Most years I jump the gun by about a month and all my flowers end up dead by the first of May, thanks to a late (and by late I mean not at all late because it happens every damn year) frost.I convince myself it’s totally normal to have to hack through a layer of frozen earth to get my pansies in the ground and not being able to feel my fingers because they’re so cold is just one of the joys of gardening. I can be a very convincing delusional person when I want to be. Especially on someone as gullible as myself.

This year I managed to wait until Mother’s Day – the unofficial start of flower season – before I wasted spent any money at the local nursery. We’re going to be doing a lot of planting in a few weeks when we put in our patio (I hope you’re ready for a billion pictures of bricks and rocks! And listening to me complain about how tired I am of having dirt under my nails! And how much my back hurts! GOOD TIMES AHEAD!) so I stayed away from the gorgeous hanging baskets and containers and stuck to stuff I’ve been able to keep alive in the past. Nationwide tree relocation company EDI works with cities, companies, and individuals.

Some day, planting flowers will be a family activity on Mother’s Day, right after my husband brings me gourmet breakfast in bed and puts away all the laundry while the children play me songs on their violins and read poetry about how much I mean to them.

But until hell freezes over, I’ll settle for playing in the dirt with my kids.

She’s participating by supervising. This is also how I help do things like install tile and mow the lawn.

Hobo baby is BACK for 2011

Look, he’s helping! Just ignore that it’s taking both of my hands to keep him from stabbing that poor basil plant with the trowel.

Dirt flinging is part of gardening with toddlers. I just embraced it.

Wow, my flowers aren’t the only thing with roots in those photos huh? HEY-OH! Time to grab a box of Nice’n’Easy.

Pansies & verbena by the back door

Pots on the front steps. My color theme for this year is yellow and orange with purple accents. Yeah, my flowers have a THEME. SUCK IT MARTHA STEWART.

I’m trying herbs again – basil and thyme and chives – but I’m not getting my hopes up. I’ve killed more basil than I’ve eaten in my entire life.

Freshly watered…um…orange flowers. I was going to say zinnias but I don’t think that’s right. Clearly I am a master gardener.

We had a wonderful time outside – all of us – and it was a nice reminder that fresh air is available right here in our own back yard! I often think about going to the park for some sunshine but talk myself out of it because it involves the car and driving and people and strollers and a potential screaming fit when it’s time to go home. But walking ten feet from my couch to the back steps is so easy I can do it even when I’m too lazy too put on real pants. I really can’t wait until we get our patio built and some nice loungy furniture to relax on while Evan rips my garden apart.

I thought I was going to be missing a few days worth of photos because I’ve been using my phone as a white noise machine for Caroline (it’s like MAGIC – she LOVES the white noise) but all it did was cut my photos down from 400 to 200. I’m an iPhoto phiend.

Sunday:

To celebrate my birthday, I went thrifting. I did not buy these.

I also did not buy these. Who donates suede fringed chaps to Goodwill?

Monday:

Sometimes I leave my baby on the floor while I get ready for Stroller Strides

We hung out at the yarn store

Adorable hand-embroidered onesies from @lifeversiontwo

Tuesday:

And sometimes I leave my baby in the laundry basket while I get ready for Stroller Strides.

All the babies in a row at Stroller Strides

We tried to have a nice picnic lunch. Until Little Evan stomped all over the sandwiches.

Wednesday:

Playing with mommy's mascara...

...is a poor choice.

It was "time to move some of the toys up to the playroom because OMG LOOK AT THIS MESS" day

Some people don't appreciate a good vintage sweater

Thursday:

Stompin' in the puddles

Words I never thought I'd have to say "Stop trying to run your sister over with the dumptruck!"

"Crap, I forgot how to roll from front to back so I'm about to get really pissed that I'm stuck!"

Friday:

So, should I be WORRIED my baby powder expired seven years ago?

Pretty blue buttons on a knitted gift

Playing at the most fun playground in our area

Sailing the pirate ship!

This is the super-cool old mental hospital in our town. They're FINALLY turning it into some sort of shopping center/housing development - but I'm afraid they're going to tear all the old buildings down.

Helping mama with her knitting

Saturday:

NOT helping mama with her knitting

"Hey, what are we going to do with all these burnt potato chips?" "I know! Let's call them 'gourmet dark' and sell them to suckers like Suzanne!"

I added some daffodils to the flowers from last weekend's party and put them in front of my laptop so this is what I see when I'm working :)

And even with the mid-day grocery shopping (SO CROWDED) I still had time to hit up TJMaxx for some dress shopping. I scored big time for Caroline (THREE gorgeous dresses originally more than $50 a piece for $10 each) and even found an awesome dress for me to wear to the wedding we’re attending in May. It’s Calvin Klein (What are you wearing? A dress! Says who?) and fits me great now BUT will also fit if I manage to lose any weight before the wedding. I even got all fashionable and bought a belt to replace the one it came with. As far as I’m concerned that’s a Major Fashion Risk. I am very excited to wear it. I think I even have a pair of fantastic heels I haven’t worn in years that would match.

Wow, how boring was all that? Hey, welcome to life with 2 kids. TJMaxx is exciting.

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!