I’m going to write a real post. Soon. Maybe even 2 posts. I have thoughts and things to say about going from 3 children to 4, about how our routine is working, and about how my big kids are becoming more responsible. And Finn will be 2 months old in just a couple days so I’ll have that one up too. Blogging is hard.

Sunday:

Perfect outdoor weather

These are not my chickens but I really like chickens

Two parties in one day = sugar overload

Monday:

Cupcakes are a poor choice in a bounce house

Camel wearing

Finn’s face looks like this about 87% of the time

Tuesday:

The only thing I did all day was clean this up

Bus stop face

A+ sibling interaction

Wednesday:

Playgroup art is high quality art

Playgroup is also exhausting

Seat stealer

Thursday:

Helping change the sheets

My favorite tree

After school shenanigans

Friday:

The only place he’s sleeping right now

IPAD OBSESSED

The huge bear was an excellent purchase

Saturday:

Rounded head ever

Corn-mazing

This was not as good as I had imagined

I had a photo shoot yesterday and needed someone to watch the kids, so I bribed my friend Steph into doing it by promising her a photo of her kids for their Christmas card. That meant she watched seven children under the age of seven. So when I’m feeling overwhelmed by my four, I just keep reminding myself at least there aren’t three more of them all the time.

OH MY GOSH I NEVER POSTED THIS. This is your brain on sleep deprivation, kids. You write a post on Sunday and don’t even realize it didn’t publish to your blog until Friday.

Finnegan is working on winning an award for being the fattest baby ever, so if I’m not nursing I’m throwing food at one of the other kids quickly so I can go back and nurse some more. I wrote “this too shall pass” on my foot, so I can stare at it while I’m trapped on the couch. Again. So this week’s photos (and every week for the next 6 months) are pretty boring

Sunday:

E: Why are you taking a photo of the fog on the bridge? Me: You have to! It’s the Golden Gate! E: You’re so weird. *ten minutes later when we meet my parents* My Mom: DID YOU SEE THE FOG ON THE BRIDGE? I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE!

Tired baby transferred from the car to the luggage without waking up

That face was my face through the whole rest of the trip

Monday:

Maybe I shouldn’t have left my dog at this kennel…

Is anyone watching Westworld? It’s really weird.

Nurse nurse nurse nurse nurse

Tuesday:

The toddler is the scariest part of these decorations

Little cub

Soccer night

Wednesday:

This was an excellent idea

Tresspassing

DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY.

Thursday:

Checking to see if he’s asleep

A really good afternoon

Wearing two babies!

Friday:

Piano lesson car nap

Sleepy face

How is this possible, it was so clean less than 24 hours ago…

Saturday:

God bless this van and the movie screen in it (especially when it’s freezing at soccer)

Fall is OK

Excuse me, why am I not nursing rn?

OK, now I have to go to bed because the baby is asleep for his 45 minute nighttime stretch. It’s delightful. I’m not even going to TRY to go upstairs. Couch naps forever! (quiet sobbing)

I thought I did really well this week, but a) my mom was still here and b) I somehow totally forgot Wednesday? The real test will be this current week, when I’m left with 4 children all day. Will they make it to school wearing clothes?!?! Will Linc try to sit on the baby??? Will the cat finally give up and run away forever??? WHO KNOWS!!

Sunday:

That’s how you know it’s good ice cream

Sitting so politely

WHICH CHILD EVEN IS THIS IT LOOKS LIKE EVAN BUT IT’S TOO SMALL

Monday:

She’s so fancy

Tantrum toddler is tatruming

I should probably just burn it down

Tuesday:

Checking out the other patients

Is he sleeping yet??

It was less than 80 degrees, so she needed a blanket

Wednesday:

All I have from Wednesday, which explains itself

Thursday:

So nice

Cider Mill haul

But WHY can’t the cows come home with us???

Friday:

I caught you helping!

Tired baby

All wrapped up

Saturday:

Soccer is boring

Go Blue Monsters!

New lights!

We got SO many things organized/cleaned/put away/straighten/throw out/fixed while my parents were here. It’s always amazing to have them here and my house no longer looks like the trashiest one on the block. Now all I have to do is stay on top of laundry and dishes for…the rest of my life. That seems unlikely, but at least now the ice maker works, I have a wine fridge plugged in, and my guest room is useable.

So it’s November now, which is fine, we’re fine, it’s all fine. Except that in 6 weeks I promised Caroline I would throw her a Nutcracker-themed 5th birthday party and two weeks after that is Christmas and then it will be 2016 and  OMG. Let’s just focus on this past (excellent) week.

Sunday:

Getting as much costume time as possible this week

I got my first RocksBox! I’m really loving wearing fancy jewelry. My affiliate code good for 1 free month is bebehblogxoxo, if you’re interested in trying it out.

I brought Dorothy to help at a photo session and she charmed a farm dog, OF COURSE.

Monday:

NO PICTURES PLEASE (He’s kidding, he was an excellent photo subject)

DELIGHTED with our fake gravestones

HELP I’M BEING MAULED BY A NURSING LION

Tuesday:

I think he’s judging my hair.

Every day

Linc has a HUGE crush on all the tiny ballerinas

Wednesday:

Now he’s judging Aldi for being a weird grocery store

I might have been a LITTLE early with the reindeer leggings but WHATEVER

Helping himself to Caroline’s uneaten lunch. Caroline now BUYS her lunch.

Thursday:

OUTSIIIIIIDE

OOOOOOUTSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE

Not happy to be inside, sorting wraps

Friday:

Definitely my kid

LOBSTER TWINS

A scary monster/vampire

Saturday:

SO PROUD of her first trophy

Totally normal

Letting the kids hand out the candy so I can sit and drink my wine #excellentmomming

I did NOT watch the Walking Dead tonight, because my husband is forcing me to watch The Packers embarrass themselves all over the teevee, so I’m going to do the smart thing and pass the hell out. I’m going to make the end of daylight savings work FOR me instead of against me. Fingers crossed all the kids are on board with than plan. They should be, right? Kids are totes reasonable about that kind of thing.

I read a thing the other day that said October is for photographer what April is for accountants. It’s absolutely true. I love being busy but this time of year Ginger Snaps sort of takes over my life and I’m working constantly to keep on top of my editing. What I’m saying is, this post (and probably every other post until Christmas) is late.

Sunday:

They could do this for hours

Church fashion (and cookies)

Caroline’s scarecrow is named Olivia and is truly terrifying

Monday:

I am unable to do anything but sing Home on the Range when I see these photos

Linc has already perfected his photobomb skills

They did this for a good 10 minutes straight

Tuesday:

Rainbow – and a super high tide – at Bluff Point

No nap grumpy pants has to come to the bus stop

THERE’S the nap. At 5 pm.

Wednesday:

Shopping for tunic tops to match my crazy leggings

Swinging

Great sunset! Too bad it happened 10 minutes into soccer practice.

Thursday:

Elf baby

Post swim fashion choices

He is convinced this is his new chair

Friday:

We’re about 2 weeks away from pitch-black morning bus stop

Both of these toddlers were pretty pleased with themselves

That corner of his blanket is SO GROSS

Saturday:

I can’t remember the last time I was actually outside and happy to see sunrise

Dadding like a boss

The most amusing part of our casino date night was this glitter alllllllll over the floor of the women’s room

I have like a billion phone photos I didn’t post this week, just because no one needs to see EVERY kind of beer I drank at Oktoberfest or ALL the corn maze selfies. But if you like these posts and don’t follow me on Instagram, you should do that. I try not to repeat stuff, so my feed over there is generally better than these.

Now I’m going to try to edit three photo sessions AND clean my house while Linc hangs on my knees and begs me to help him put a hat on so he can rip it off over and over and over. I’m optimistic.