BIRTHDAY WEEK! Today, Sunday, the day after Caroline’s party, I’ve finally managed to think about the fact that Christmas is 4 days away and I can’t even FIND half the gifts I bought the kids (no for real, WHERE DID I HIDE THEM????).

Sunday:

Swiiiiiiiiiiing

I only burned myself three times and the beer was an effective painkiller.

I REJECT YOUR BABY BATHTUB! GIVE ME REAL WATER!

Monday:

Proud of his gold star from the dentist

Wraps make good blankets when you use the stroller

You brought me to a casino AGAIN?!

Tuesday:

School uniforms don’t have sock and shoe requirements

WHY U PUT ME IN THIS CAGE?

NOM TULA NOM NOM

Wednesday:

She insisted on the jaunty hat

Screw you candy thermometer, you are USELESS

He’s disappointed none of those things are food

Thursday:

Daddy chat time

Outtake from my attempt at a santa baby picture. I have 30 more like this.

SHUT UP.

Friday:

Cookie time with Aunt Carolyn

I do not want to talk about what is happening here.

Two fancy ladies at The Nutcracker

Saturday:

Two selfies in a row is ridiculous, but the birthday girl is too cute

A shark playing Pin The Tail On The Mermaid

In the Rainbow My Little Pony game, EVERYONE WINS

Today my baby girl is turning fourteen. No wait. FOUR. She’s turning four. But sometimes it sure feels like she’s turning fourteen, with the sass and the attitude and the confidence and the hilarious things that come out of her mouth. She wants a pink unicorn for Christmas – a REAL unicorn, not an imaginary unicorn. And not a purple one. A PINK one. I told her maybe Santa didn’t have room in the sleigh for a unicorn so she could maybe ask for something smaller and she agreed toy ponies would be OK for now. She’s accommodating like that.

She has asked to take tap dancing lessons now that she is four. I’m not really looking forward to all the tap dancing practice that is sure to follow, but since she stomps around “tap dancing” in her sneakers anyway it really matters very little if she’s signed up or not. Caroline loves to perform and if you ask her she will sing you a completely improvised song about a mermaid who looses her baby and then finds her again and lives happily ever after, complete with an interpretive dance, since everything includes an interpretive dance. Getting her coat on involves an interpretive dance. Brushing her teeth involves an interpretive dance. Screaming about how I ruined her life involves an interpretive dance.

Caroline is VERY excited about her birthday  plans. Tonight she and I are going to see The Nutcracker at Mohegan Sun. It looks fancy, with an orchestra and a chance to meet the dancers. I’m just as excited as she is, since I really really want her to love it. I have a very magical memory of going to see The Nutcracker when I was little and I’m hoping this can be a tradition for us on her birthday. Then Saturday we have her mermaid party. I feel less prepared than I have been in previous years (being trapped inside by the cold limits my water-based games and activities) but between a zillion different kinds of sugar to feed the kids and plans to fill the house with balloons I think the kids will have a good time. And if not Caroline can do some more interpretive dances for them.

Happy Birthday to the craziest, happiest, sweetest, bravest, most adorable little pixie mermaid ginger I know, Caroline Noelle!

Please enjoy Caroline’s 4 year old interview. Last year’s interview is here. I let her watch it just before this year, so she answered some of the questions the same to be funny, not because they’re true. She’s too stubborn to argue with though.

I asked her this morning how she liked being four, and she said “How about I try on all my shoes and see which ones fit me. Cause I’m four and four is BIG BIG BIGGER.” Sounds like a plan.

THERE IS A BABY IN THIS WEEK’S PICTURES!

His name is Lincoln. He mostly sleeps. Real photos & a short, boringish birth story Monday sometime.

Sunday:

Free tip: if the water is FULL of oyster shells, taking your shoes off is a poor choice.

Skeptical of the lobster rolls. Probably switched at birth.

Couch nap twinsies

Monday:

High jumper

Don’t tell her that’s not a horse.

You can almost see the ball under my giant belly (Last belly appearance!!)

Tuesday:

This is what the sky looked like at 6 am when we went to the hospital because my water broke.

This is what my husband looked like while we waited ALL DAY for my labor to pick up.

This is what I looked like while I was HATING EVERYONE because my epidural stopped working.

Wednesday:

Father of THREE

Beautiful day

There are like 300 versions of this exact photo on my phone

Thursday:

More sleeping

She insisted on coming to pick us up

Pink bouncy seat, Linc don’t care

Friday:

Looking a little yellow

Napping with daddy in his fancy outfit

LOOK AT ME I’M STILL CUTE TOO WHAT’S ON MY FACE

Saturday:

Doing the hokey pokey, because that really is what it’s all about.

These are all gone now.

He loved the lights. I did not love the hospital, but he loved the lights.

We’re home now and I’m going to bed. Hopefully my baby continues to be a champion sleeper for at least one more night so I can recover from the less-than-great nights.

180 is kind of a crazy number of weeks, right? I mean, I balk every year at doing a 365-project with my DSLR because who takes THAT many pictures?? But it turns out…Me. I do. I take way more than that (although they’re not very good).

Sunday:

Toddler party hangover

I barely talked to him all day, he was so busy with his birthday toys

And then she sticks them with the pointy end because she is AWESOME

Monday:

Hydration is important

Starting the party clean-up. I should be done by September.

*Almost* warm enough to play on the porch

Tuesday:

Puddle jumping

I bought eyebrow tint. I feel like it’s going to change my life.

Rainy days make me feel like that too

Wednesday:

YAY SPRING!

The cat and I watched Harry Potter. I am not sure where the children went.

OH LOOK THERE’S ONE

Thursday:

For my birthday, they gave me a day where they were mostly quiet and nice to each other.

I am old now, so I should start putting this stuff on my face. Or whatever.

Friday:

“Mommy, you gonna get a coffee?”

That’s pregnant lady birthday sushi (deep friend Godzilla roll) and edamame for the kids (Caroline ate the whole bowl)

Adorable and delicious cake

Saturday:

Being sassy in Daddy’s car

She’s getting good at pinatas

Photo shoot at Lords Point. Didn’t suck.

This week is spring break for the kids and because I was worried I’d be stuck at home while E was at sea the kids and I are going to Virginia. Unfortunately (fortunately?? I can’t even tell anymore) E ISN’T at sea, so he’ll get a week of no-wife-no-kids. I am hoping he appreciates the silence, the king sized bed to himself, and as much fast food as he wants. I will not remind him that in Virginia I get to see a dear friend’s new baby, have access to grandparent babysitting and all the Chick-fil-a I can eat. Although I think doing the 8+ hour drive by myself means I earn some waffle fries.

If you see a huge pregnant lady dragging two gingers through the Air & Space Museum, say hi.

Forgive me, it was party week, so I am late. Basically everything between now and August will be late, although my only real excuse will be “pregnant” or “giving birth”. Those actually sound like better excuses than a 5 year old’s birthday though.

Sunday:

Random 6 am barfing = morning bath

Clearly she felt much better a few hours later

This is not actually very good, but that did not stop me from eating it with a spoon

Monday:

I HATE YOU SNOW

TA-DA!

Helping

Tuesday:

Pirate Fairy Day. It was really all we did.

Dancing to the pirate song

Flip-flop weather!!

Wednesday:

She accessorized.

Swim class is their favorite

Helping me make frosting is THE BEST THING EVAAAAAR

Thursday:

We had houseguest coming, so I cleaned while the kids had a lazy day.

Very, very lazy.

Friday:

I found these two like this.

Bump.

Helping Bumpa clean our yard

Saturday:

AHOY! BIRTHDAY AHEAD!!

Front porch party mess

Evan got TWO of these rockets for his birthday and they are both his favorite. Highly recommend for any kid.

Even for us, that week involved a lot of dress up. My laundry pile is sort of insane right now, but I HAVE TO FINISH MY TAXES. I HAVE TO. RIGHT NOW. NOTHING ELSE IS BEING DONE UNTIL I FINISH THEM.

I figure if I type that enough times I might actually do it. Anyone want to barter tax prep services for a photo shoot next year? Or you can come punch me repeatedly in the face. Or how about a kid? I will give you this next baby if you agree to do my taxes forever. (Not really, but it’s tempting. I’m really, really overwhelmed.)

p.s. It is supposed to be 65 degrees tomorrow and I will probably take the kids to the beach. Because that’s how we roll in New England.

p.p.s. My birthday is Thursday. I’m getting my teeth cleaned.