Despite the fact that this WASN’T a typical week (hellooooooo single parenting) it was about as typical as any of our weeks are. Stroller Strides, playground, errands, cooking, lots of sleeping babies. But we survived and had fun and no one’s eyes rotted out because of too much Nick Jr. or starved to death because all they ate was Goldfish crackers.

Sunday:

Yes, Hello, We will buy ALL the pumpkins.

The portabello mushrooms were really just a goat-cheese-face-delivery device.

Late night toddler party

Monday:

I ruined a beautiful morning by exercising.

Playdough playgroup

It is a universal truth that water from a faucet tastes better than water from a cup.

Tuesday:

Does this LOOK like the face of someone being naughty?

I refuse to let him even try the big kid swings. He's not allowed to not need me!

Bebeh toes

Wednesday:

Baconface

So close, yet so far away. Victims of a cruel mother.

Dreaming of a quiet bath of his own

Thursday:

No YOU were just dancing to the Olivia theme song

She loves this book.

Riding dirty (on the side of the shopping cart).

Friday:

Too busy playing dollhouse to get dressed.

I like this.

Fine, if you won't let me eat those Oreos you snuck into your cart I'll eat my shoe.

Saturday:

My husband brought me a nice healthy salad for lunch...

...and then I went shopping for CARBS AND MEAT. Caaaaaarbs.

Caroline says "Gimme the boobs or I'll pop a cap in you, Mama".

The coming week is going to be ALL CRAFTING ALL KNITTING ALL BAKING ALL HALLOWEEN ALL CLEANING ALL THE TIME. It’s E’s last week before he starts design school (spoken lots of time out of town in a hotel) and I have a Halloween party that miiiiight have gotten a little out of hand to prepare for. It’s going to be super fun (and super bad for my diet) and if you’re reading this you should definitely come too. I’m forcing my whole family to wear Halloween costumes. Come back on October 31st for some EPIC pictures.

p.s. I’m also probably maybe sort of thinking about upgrading my iPhone so these weekly roundups aren’t such a blurry mess. I think that would be a good way to end my FULL YEAR of iPhone photos.

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!

E had this past week off, but instead of doing tons of super fun stuff I made a list of every single I-should-really-get-that-done-but-I’m-exhausted-from-chasing-the-kids chore I’ve been putting off for the past 3 years and started crossing them off. Hang pictures! Sort clothes! Organize the attic AND the basement! Get a new eyeglasses prescription! Wind and store all the yarn I’ve been hiding behind the elliptical trainer in the guest room! Do ALL the laundry!

I’ve got today and tomorrow to finish the rest of the list plus give the house a once-over cleaning, decorate for Halloween and finally make the loaf of almond bread and the pear-gorgonzola tart I’ve had bookmarked for weeks.

Sunday:

What do you MEAN this is the only picture you took all day? I'm freakin' ADORABLE!

Monday:

Friends who hold your baby enough that your baby likes them are the best friends

Dino nuggets taste way better than regular nuggets. Just ask my toddler.

I restarted C25K and felt like I was going to die

Tuesday:

Second to last CSA pick up makes me a sad panda

Giant carrot for lunch. Gotta keep that hair orange.

Obviously, she's mine

Day 1 of act like a grown up and take care of my skin. I even bought EYE CREAM.

Wednesday:

Breakfast of Champions: egg wrap-up with hot sauce, banana, Diet Dr. Pepper

Sleepy girl

Epic Michael's trip for Halloween decor. I decided the terrifying skeletons would be a poor choice for a kid's party.

Thursday:

I patched, sanded, and painted the walls going up the stairs.

Pair on the left cost $300. Pair on the right was free. I got both.

Picture gallery on the upstairs stairs

Friday:

I thought this baby looked like Caroline so I bought this book. I'm going to knit the crap out of that sweater.

Chilling at the yarn store

The ice cream stand was shockingly uncrowded on a Friday night. Maybe because it was only 60 degrees out.

Saturday:

Stop lookin' at my waffles like that.

My friend from @CostaFarms sent me a giant box of houseplants because she thought I'd like them. My goal is to keep them alive at least a week.

Bye-bye Back-yard-gans! Sing song! Bye-bye!

Time to go finish knitting Caroline’s fall coat, bake, mop the floors, play legos with my kid, catch up on this week’s TV and read all my friend’s blogs that I’ve been neglecting all week. I’m looking forward to all of it.

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!

From Wikipedia: The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair”. The Big E serves as the de facto state fair for all six of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. The Big E is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.

From my experience: A huge ass fair where people lose their damn minds and stand in line for hours for a baked potato. Also, giant slurpies, beer, fried things, horses, crazy people, rides of questionable safety, good times.

We went on Friday, which was a Good Idea because although it was busy it wasn’t unable-to-move busy like it was last year on a Saturday. The weather was fantastic and the kids were 99% angels and even Mr. I Don’t Wanna Go There Are People There And I Hate People had a pretty good time.

Each state has a building showcasing the best stuff from their area. Maple things and seafood are in all of them.

What is this, a carousel for ANTS?

Best baby ever. We just fed her kettle corn the whole time and she barely made a peep.

No corndog no!!! Oh wait, that looks delicious. NOM NOM NOM.

I had the veggie platter for lunch and called it a healthy choice because it wasn't fried butter.

Duck Quack Quack

To make the day even more extra awesome, we met up with one of my long-time internet friends Leah (long time meaning since before I had any kids at all and her oldest kid was only a teeny weeny baby), who normally lives in Chicago but was visiting her family in Massachusetts. Little Evan immediately decided her son Calder was his new best friend, which meant he was allowed to borrow his dinosaur toy. Calder was too busy feeding popcorn to Caroline and sucking down the rest of my slurpie to care, so they got along GREAT.

Dinosaur RAWR

Driving buddies

This ride went WAY TOO FAST around the corners. Obviously Evan is terrified.

Choo choo train

Hey girl.

The boys practically mowed down the ticket taker carnie to be the first ones on and secure their spot in the engine. Calder then invited a cute little girl to sit with them. Mad skills for a 3 1/2 year old.

Hands up the whole time. This kid is fearless.

Isn't it nice when people you know online turn out to be awesome in real life too?

At one point, Leah had to go get some poutine (because, obviously) and I watched her sleeping baby and Calder. When he asked where his mom went I said “To get some food. You just stay here with the random person your mama met on the interet.” “Ok” said Calder. The people in line with us looked a little more concerned, but they must have thought I was joking. AHAHAHA jokes on them!

I love you Big E. See you next year!

So I was just linking to last year’s post about our trip and awwwwwwing over Baby Evan looking like a baby when I noticed I wore the same boots last time. I wonder if I came home and thought “Wow, those were a POOR CHOICE. Next year I’m wearing sneakers!” Because that’s what I thought this year. I win at forgetting things. Wait, what was I saying?

I went to bed at 9 pm twice this week but could NOT figure out why I was so exhausted. I mean, sure, the baby has been getting up twice a night while we transition her to her nursery. But why would that make me tired? I’m a stay at home mom! I obviously don’t DO anything all day. I must have gotten a super heavy box of bonbons this week.

Oh wait, or maybe I did a zillion and one things.

Sunday:

Splits!! And I just spent 15 minutes trying to remember what it's called when you do a split with your back leg bent like that. I still don't remeber.

I think he likes his hat

 Monday:

Caroline wants to know if Twist is actually ON meth or just ACTS like he's on meth

If you're wondering where I find the time to craft new decor for my upcoming Halloween party, the answer is "There's PLENTY of time in the day when the baby gets you up at 5 am"

Those are my teeths. Why does posting this x-ray feel like posting a naked picture?

Special lunch with a very handsome daddy

Tuesday:

My toddler can't hold his pee for five minutes until we get to a bathroom but he knows that Tuesdays are TRASH DAYS

I ran out of this red yarn to finish Caroline's fall coat, so let's just hope it doesn't get cold before next week.

Husband: What's for dinner? Me: I don't know. Let me go check Pinterest. Pinterest: Buffalo chicken rolls and parmesan fries.

Wednesday:

It's cute she's helping, until she grabs a knife. She ALWAYS goes for the knives.

I wore real clothes AND real bra. It gave me a mild case of mastitis. That'll teach me to be fancy.

This is the cart of groceries I had to abandon at BJ's because I forgot my wallet. AGAIN.

THE CUPCAKES.

Thursday:

And this is why my family is going to survive post-zombie apocalypse. We've got skills.

Friendly's for lunch??? NO WAY!

She plays with this toy correctly. It blows my mind that she understands it already.

 Friday:

Women's shoes and a guitar. Future rock star??

Evan almost got whiplash on this ride at the fair...and he LOVED IT.

Fair food, you are in me.

Pink cheeks from a long day of fun

Saturday:

Geez, what a lazy ass

Yes, those are my feet. Yes, I went for a run. Yes, I could have been sleeping. Yes, I am an idiot.

On my way home I found this in the trash. I carried it 5 blocks. Expect to see a LOT of play kitchen inspiration on my Pinteret boards.

And now it’s time to feed everyone lunch, read a little bit and then nap for AT LEAST three hours. Tomorrows plans are the same. You might call it boring and lazy, I call it saving up my energy so we survive the winter. IT’S SCIENCE.

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!

I was GOING to write a post about how potty training is going, but the Rule of the Internet* bit me in the ass BEFORE I EVEN WROTE IT so my update is this: GAH.

Wednesdays are my day off from Stroller Strides, but my day on for ALL THE OTHER THINGS. I clean and do laundry and meal plan and grocery shop and go to BJ’s for toothpaste because somehow we each have five unopened deodorants but zero tubes of toothpaste left. To round out my homemaker-y day I usually bake something. Baking (and cooking) is my love language, and even though no one in my family knows what that means they certainly appreciate pie.

But this week I made cupcakes.

Pumpkin cupcakes (based on a recipe I’ve seen on Pinterest and on Nicci’s blog this week and on the Weight Watchers message boards). Pumpkin cupcakes with mini-candy bars in the middle (an idea I will FULLY ADMIT I got from a rerun of 30 Rock last night – Liz makes them for the crew when she’s trying to be a Cool Boss and I jumped up off the couch and shouted “OH MY GOD WHY DIDN’T I KNOW THAT WAS A THING???”)

These might be the easiest cupcakes you ever eat way way too many of.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes

1 box yellow cake mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
12 mini candy bars (I used Milky Ways and Snickers)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix first three ingredients in a bowl. Line a muffin tin with cupcake papers (or just spray the cups well with non-stick cooking spray). Use a measuring cup to fill each liner half way with the batter. Set a mini candy bar on top of batter, fill the cup the rest of the way. Bake for 23-27 minutes, until the tips of the top start to brown. Let them cool a little before you eat them, so you don’t burn your mouth on the melted caramel inside.

I made exactly 12 cupcakes and they puffed up pretty large. You could probably make 18 by filling each cup a little less, but I worked out the Weight Watchers points for 12 and each cupcake ends up being 7 points. Not too bad!

Review from my husband: Oh. These are interesting.

Review from the ladies at my knitting group: OMG THESE ARE THE BEST THING I’VE EATEN IN MONTHS I NEED TO MAKE SOME RIGHT NOW GET IN MY FACE.

Then I made mini pumpkin pies. Because, why the hell not? (Plus I had half a can of pumpkin left because I bought the big kind.)

p.s. Food photography is NOT my forte. I took approximately 500 shots to get these 5 pictures and they are STILL terrible. I need a class or a workshop or someone to just come do it for me so I can spend my time baking more things while they artfully scatter pumpkin seeds and half-folded napkins around a pure white plate.

*The Rule of the Internet: As soon as you write about how your baby sleeps through the night/eats tons of vegetables/never cries on your blog/never bites his sister, your baby will stop sleeping through the night/eating vegetables/start crying all the time/bite everything all the time.