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.

Late. As of this morning my productivity/desire to write stuff on the internet seems to be back (you know it is when you actually consider commenting on a post on Jezebel) so hopefully my blog won’t totally fade away.

Sunday:

Important blizzard food: hot dogs and eggs.

I still think playing football in the snow/freezing cold is crazy

That’s how Sundays make me feel too

Monday:

Sheet washing day is also bed bouncing day

Santa baby

They ask me to take this picture during every bath

Tuesday:

In my first few weekly iPhone pics, Evan could only reach the bottom row. (And Caroline was an inside baby)

The fox is unimpressed with the rays

Technically that was Wednesday, but it didn’t feel any different. Unimpressive, 2014.

Wednesday:

These people are playing HOCKEY outside in the snow. EVEN CRAZIER THAN FOOTBALL.

Princess/Engineer Tiana

More baby photos. I love baby photos.

Thursday:

Earning his keep

Mark it in the baby book: First time I showed up at preschool pick up in ACTUAL pajamas.

(Fake) sleeping with the (fake) cat whiskers

Friday:

BFFs

Ancient iPod is ancient

She’s like 80% legs

Saturday:

Baby toys are fun when they belong to other people

Ignoring the donut holes, eating all the strawberries

We had warm weather today before the POLAR VORTEX hits us tomorrow, so we went outside and ran as many errands as possible. Tomorrow I’m hoping to put all our hot chocolate, throw blankets  and Disney movies to good use (although so far the kids still have regular school).

Considering this week was Christmas, it was decidedly uneventful. I mean, BESIDES Christmas. But we spent all of the 25th (and the 26th) in pajamas eating stocking candy and being as lazy as possible. Then I got the worst pregnancy headache of my life (aren’t you glad I announced so now I can complain about it all the time???) and barely moved for 2 more days, so there you have it. Uneventful.

Sunday:

At the casino for some shopping, donuts and examining a fake ice wolf

Sleeping beauty

I have eaten two of these in a week

Monday:

Watching the zamboni

Once she got the walker thing she did great

5 pm. THANK GOD the days are finally getting longer again.

Tuesday:

A Christmas cookie miracle!

Easiest baking ever

My favorite part of Christmas Eve

Wednesday:

Arming my children, one gift at a time

Presents bigger than the child herself

Blurrily playing their new Jake and the Neverland Pirates game

Thursday:

Christmas recovery: chugging water and watching HGTV

Wiggly tooth. He fell on his face. The dentist said he’s going to lose it and have a hole for a long time.

Nothing says “Happy Day After Christmas” like Taco Bell

Friday:

Two things in common: cuddles and technology

Using his new fan to dry Caroline’s nail polish

Saturday:

Apparently all the baby wants is fake Mexican food

Naps for those of us with migraines/exhaustion

I had a newborn session this week (an early Christmas present not due until January!) and another session scheduled for next week, and I’m surprised to find myself excited about it. I burned out a little after the fall and hardly picked up my camera during the holidays so I’m excited to get it out again. Plus I’ve got a pregnancy post to write and a What’s for Dinner post I never finished and like 10,000 words about the Walking Dead I’d like to write but will spare you because no one cares about a show that already happened even if I only just caught up on.

I should probably also get the kids out of the house before we all go nuts, but everyone is doing that so pretty much everywhere is full of parents with the same crazy look in their eyes counting the days until school vacation ends.  I’m hoping a Target run for some storage bins and and Icees for the kids will do the trick.

I survived party week! Now I have 10 days to clean up before Santa comes, takes one look at this disaster, and leaves with our gifts because I’m disgusting. I wouldn’t blame him.

Sunday:

Off to church

The Christmas tree farm has an adorable quaint tractor-pulled wagon to take you up the hill to the trees…or a heated mini bus. DUH.

Caroline Claus

Monday:

Trying to climb out the window at the pediatrician (wusses, it’s not even a flu SHOT)

Tree decorating

I’m the big one with the crown, the scribble on the left is E

Tuesday:

Snow day = cookies

They LOVE eating snow

Self portrait(s)

Wednesday:

Pretty

More snow eating

Thursday:

Sent him off to school in my slippers. I LOVE THE BUS.

My house really needs some Christmas lights. Maybe next year.

SO HAPPY her Mormor is visiting

Friday:

Bumpas are too tough to need coats

She was in a crazy bad mood considering we were shopping for her birthday

Storytime!

Saturday:

Castles for the Princess

World’s Tackiest Cake? The castle turns into a purse for carrying around the princesses. World’s BEST Cake!

Grandpas are awesome, because they read your new book 6 times in a row without complaining. Mommies don’t do that.

Besides the party and beating several levels of Candy Crush, I did NOTHING useful this weekend. It’s a good thing both kids love Caroline’s presents because it’s buying me a few days of recovery/time to get my photos together so I can share. Although Her Highness might be so spoiled at this point I never actually get a day off again. BRB, writing hate mail to the Navy.