I took a nap today, because I felt like I might actually die if I didn’t. I’m not even crazy sleep deprived or anything, I had just hit the wall of touched-out and busy and mentally tired of staying on top of everything. Caroline’s party is this Saturday and Christmas is next week and then we have one more visit to finish up 2014…and then I am never leaving the house again. 2015 will be the year ALL THE THINGS get organized and clean using only supplies I can order through Amazon Prime so I don’t have to wear pants.

Sunday:

The toys in Ohio are more fun than any of the toys in Connecticut

SHUT UP WITH THOSE EYELASHES

Thank you Aunt Sara and Uncle Sean!

Monday:

I’m keeping this monstrosity on the DVR FOREVER

This is how he feels about the 12 hours we spent driving back from Ohio

THE GARDEN OF THE FUTURE did great without me here

Tuesday:

It’s weird that the post office is open in the dark

Still loves it. Judge me.

Cutest stomach tumor ever

Wednesday:

Grocery shopping is boring for him but excited for me because this wrap is super pretty

I told him about Santa

SWEATER PANTS!!!

Thursday:

Snow! On a day we didn’t have a delay. Unlike the day where we had a delay for rain.

Doesn’t care about the cold.

Helping me make dinner

Friday:

Less organized than the last time I posted a picture of our playdate stash

Olde Mystickee Villageeeee was decorated for Christmas

The aquarium was NOT FUN amounts of crowded, but at least we weren’t cold

Saturday (with extra pictures, because it was really fun!):

Why yes, I do look adorable in this sweater outfit and rainbow

The Florence Griswold Museum was like all my historic home dreams come true

AND WE FOUND ELSA

Fascinated by football at lunch

Pretending to be cold while we wait for Santa

He really likes the lights

I spent 30 minutes today gluing googly eyes to toothpicks for Caroline’s party (you’ll have to guess what for) and my plans for the evening include moving everything from my dining room to the basement so I can turn it into an under the sea wonderland. I am very far behind compared to previous party years. I’m refusing to worry though, because I will have LOTS of help with all the family in town, and I am sure they will be more than willing to hang up 100 green streamers and blow up 200 balloons. Or at least they will pretend to be happy to do it while wondering why I am insane.

I sort of can’t believe that a week ago we were in Ohio. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget the change in our routine after a few days of normalcy. I think that’s why coming home from vacations are so rough – once you’re in your own house a couple nights the time away doesn’t feel real anymore. One of these days I’ll go on a real vacation and then tell you if that theory holds up.

Sunday:

Obsessed with her Aunt Kristi’s ponies

Cousins love the same thing: juice boxes and iPads

A Star Wars/Transformers battle at Bob Evans

Monday:

Toddlers don’t understand sitting quietly during a serious occasion, so we read this book 1000 times instead

Checking out the competition for Grandma and Grandpa’s attention

Tuesday:

Pennsylvania

New York

Connecticut

Wednesday:

Snow dog loves the snow

Snow cream and movies on a snow day

Mommy take a picture of us cuddles!

Thursday:

Waiting for the bus selfies

Cuphead is stalking you

Being adorable

Friday:

OMG U GUISE, ANOTHER ICE AGE! WE’RE DOOOOOMED!

At least she thinks a sink full of dishes is adorable

Snow White had a long week

Saturday:

Oh well that’s not going to give me nightmares.

First day of ballet class

Buying essentials.

Today we are introducing Evan to the Star Wars movies. It’s basically the best plan ever, since we’ve bought ourselves an entire day of sitting on the couch with only occasional interruptions to explain that Han is definitely going to be OK even though he’s frozen or that they’re called “light sabers” not “life savers”. The day would be almost perfect if we weren’t out of jelly beans.

Caroline finally has her 3 year checkup tomorrow so I can see if she’s grown as much as I think she has. I’m not looking forward to the screaming while she has her shots part but afterwards we can get milkshakes so we’ll both feel better. Plus the baby loves milkshakes. Smart baby.

This week is late and missing photos, but a last minute trip to Ohio for a funeral will do that. The kids really enjoyed seeing their cousins for the first time in a long time and it was great to meet my THREE new baby nephews, but the drive there and the drive back (in the snowstorm) was rough on everyone. Especially poor E, who drove for 12.5 hours straight since I was too nauseous to drive in the morning and too freaked out by the weather to drive in the afternoon. But I am super glad the Navy granted him emergency leave so we could all say goodbye to his Grandma Davis in person.

Sunday:

New baby props for a newborn shoot

Oh hello crazy awesome abandoned mill I really really want to take pictures of for real

I call this: Pregnancy Cravings

Monday:

Helping me clean her room

Old dog, 3 year old girl

Both kids passed out at 5 pm. No idea what happened.

Tuesday:

Not rain nor snow nor sleet shall keep the gingers from waiting for the bus outside

Thanks to a couple friends and a few (too many) trips to Wendy’s we have an awesome collection of these now. Evan made an Air Force.

Bedtime for gingers

Wednesday:

Nor fog. I forgot fog before.

Presents for myself, thanks to a MinuteClinic Christmas card. Love them. (That mascara is amazing, thanks to Laura for the suggestion.)

Second swim lesson: GOOGLES

Thursday:

V. excited for school

Show off.

Friday:

Endless driving.

Apple face

Saturday:

Enjoying some “cold chocolate” after sledding

Hand & Foot

The Marble Game. We were trying to fit as much Midwest into our visit a possible.

I can’t believe it’s already almost Wednesday. We’re getting hammered with snow right now and I doubt anyone is going to school tomorrow. I’m supposed to have an OB appointment and the kids are supposed to have swimming but that’s all sort of questionable too. Not that I mind a day off to recover from being out of town, although I doubt anything useful like unpacking or cleaning will get done. Probably just napping.

To Ohio, to Columbus, Thanksgiving, to Connecticut, CHRISTMAAAAAAAAAS.

Sunday:

DIY in car entertainment center. It worked like a CHAMP.

Rest stops are EXCITING

We were at the in-laws for less than 2 hours before the kids got to open their Christmas presents.

Monday:

This is the ONLY TIME she slept all week.

How many braids can I fit on my head? (Answer: four, this time)

Learning the fine art of eating peanuts at a roadhouse.

Tuesday:

This was the first picture I took all day.

This is the only other picture I took. TUESDAY WAS NOT GOOD.

Wednesday:

Obviously Wednesday was MUCH better.

I should stop calling her a weirdo, but not until she stops doing stuff like this.

C-bus. That's what the cool kids call Columbus. If there were any cool kids in Columbus.

Thursday:

The cousins LOVED the iPad, almost as much as they loved Little Evan.

Turkey shaped turkey and cheese ball is cheesy. Bahahaha I'm hilarious.

She wasn't as excited about the vintage dress as I was.

Friday:

Towing a plane with your car seems like a really, really stupid idea. Planes don't sit in traffic.

She's ashamed to be seen wearing the same jammies twice in one week.

Back to our regularly scheduled TV zoning out.

Saturday:

My GIANT HAUL from Joann's. Spent about $90, saved $112, and I won't need any craft supplies for months.

Went out to hunt and kill our own Christmas tree like good Americans.

Walked three houses down the street to watch the parade. One of the best parts of living in town.

Future eyelash model

Naked tree. Don't worry, it's fully dressed now.

Whew! That was exhausting. Tonight I am putting some of those craft supplies to use and finishing up my list of shopping to do tomorrow while E is still home to watch the kids. There will also be napping. I need to make up for some of that sleep I missed while Caroline was trying to kill me in Ohio. Or maybe I’ll get started on my Christmas baking. SO MUCH BAKING TO DO!

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!

Poor, poor Brutus. He’s such a great dog and we take him so much for granted. Clean up this mess Brutus! Watch the baby while I run upstairs Brutus! Let the toddler jump on you like a trampoline Brutus! Fetch me a drink Brutus! (Still working on that last one, sadly.) He’s amazing with the kids and lets them climb all over him or ride him like a horse and never complains. He gets fed last and let out to pee last and almost never gets real walks anymore. He went from full-person status in our family with his own spot on the couch to low dog on the totem pole who isn’t even allowed to eat food off the floor without permission. And yet he continues to be the best dog ever.

We let him off leash on our walk yesterday and he was in doggy heaven smelling ALL THE THINGS and marking ALL THE THINGS and eating ALL THE THINGS. He loves all the things.

After our walk, Brutus was exhausted and barely moved for the rest of the day. He turned 6 in October – which is CRAZY because I remember getting him here in Ohio like it was yesterday – and he’s starting to show his age, even though I still think of him like this:

WOOK AT DA WIDDLE PUPPEH!!!

PUPPEH CUDDLES!!!1!1!1!!

Today I am thankful for a loyal, patient, dog who makes me feel safer when E isn’t home and I hear scary noises and who barks REALLY REALLY LOUD when strange people ring the doorbell. We are so lucky Brutus is part of our family.