Back to normal. Party prep. Houseguest prep. Repeat.

Sunday:

Couch nap has devolved into floor nap

I've pretty much ruined my pinking sheers and also my hand.

Dinner battles are exhausting

Monday:

No YOUR Halloween jammies still fit in March

Neckwarmer cat is reading over your shoulder

Toddler-built train track

Tuesday:

Singing the stretching song at Stroller Strides

Evan and I painted five dozen Easter eggs to make them dinosaur eggs...but it didn't work very well. I ordered green ones instead.

LOVE

Wednesday:

Morning iPad

World's Strongest Baby!

Shockingly, this did not end in tears

Thursday:

I don't think that's going to fit in the ball popper, but you can try.

I couldn't find a travel mug so I put my coffee in a kid's cup from Chili's

Friday:

Ridiculous

Super Firefighter Evan TO THE RESCUE!

Lap nap ginger head

Saturday:

Early birthday presents are EXCITING

We have three cousins visiting, so of course the kids picked the VERY LOUDEST POSSIBLE ACTIVITY

She's bouncing her train on her horse and it's the best joke ever.

The cousins are here until tomorrow, and my BFF and her family comes on Thursday for Evan’s 3rd birthday party on Saturday (for which ALMOST EVERYONE I invited has RSVP’d – usually it’s like 50/50. I’m freaking a little.) Please forgive me if I can’t form any coherent thoughts this week.

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’m not actually here because, oh, have I mentioned? I’m going on a cruise. The Ruby Princess to Princess Cay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk with two days at sea for nothing but drinking relaxing. My folks are here in Connecticut watching the kids, the pets and the house so don’t bother trying to rob us. And my brother is at THEIR house, so no robbing in Virginia either. You can go ahead and rob my brother though, since a) he’s like 22, he owns nothing of value and b) I don’t actually know where he lives. True story. I’m not a very good sister.

Sunday:

Waiting at the spa for my very, uh, personal appointment

Totally engrossed in a super hero movie

Someone REALLY liked the (plain, greek) yogurt

Monday:

We left the house early so I could get a giant coffee - which means the kids get a bagel for breakfast

Eating the grapes while I'm trying to check out. She's OBSESSED.

I'm hoping a picture taped to the window will stop Mr. Cardinal from trying to bash his little birdy brains out all day.

Tuesday:

Brutus: I didn't do it!

Blushes: Your photo taking it disturbing my nap

This kid sleeps through ANYTHING when he's couch napping

Wednesday:

Foot war!!!

YEP. I ate them all.

Evil baby is evil

Thursday:

Yoda baby is the cutest

Are we gonna shake some crap or what?

Look, Ma, warm weather! What is that giant blue thing over my head?!

Friday:

A week ago she hated those things. Now she's a bag-a-day addict.

Emergency pre-vacation pedicure

There's a little Caroline on the menu tonight (BA-DUM-CHING)

Even though I’m cruuuuuuising, dahling, I scheduled a few posts to go up this week so you wouldn’t miss me. Or more accurately, so my mom won’t go into blog-withdrawal and get so bored she accidentally scrubs all the grout out of my kitchen tiles. My parents don’t really know what “sitting still” means (which is good, with two toddler to watch). I, on the other hand, plan to have moss growing on my north side by Wednesday. Happy Weekend!

Times I went to Stroller Strides: FIVE.
Times I chased 2 toddlers around the Aquarium: THREE.
Number of cupcakes I ate: ZERO
Number of pounds lost: ALSO ZERO. In fact, I was up .8 pounds.

I’m only a little depressed now but on Thursday night I was REALLY depressed. I’m pretty sure it was due to the gourmet grilled chicken, sauteed apple and sharp cheddar grilled cheese sandwich I had for lunch (worth it) and next week I’ll see a loss. If I can make it through tonight’s playoff game without stress eating my weight in ice cream. Go Pats!

Sunday:

We found Nemo!

Find a happy place find a happy place FIND A HAPPY PLACE

SNL and blogging during nap time

Someone is a little TOO interested in Daddy's beer.

Monday:

Teddy bear picnic after Stroller Strides

Despite how this looks, it was in fact happy playing

I remember this stage. Dislike.

Tuesday:

One day they will drive REAL CARS and I will die dead of anxiety

I stole this quesadilla maker from a charity yard sale. (It's not really as bad as that makes it sound.)

New favorite: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Wednesday:

4:30 am toddler wake-up (WHY?????) means more Finding Nemo

This one is titled "Self Portrait - OH LOOK A FRONT FACING CAMERA!!!!!"

There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Christ? (No, but apparently there was a walrus)

The amount of resentment I feel towards my cat for her easy life is kind of ridiculous

At least I know she won't starve to death while I'm gone

Thursday:

I put a dollar in the mall carousel and blew Caroline's MIND

We feel the same way about cheese

OH HAI THERE BELUGA

Friday:

Evan woke up at 4:30 am AGAIN. Aparently he had urgent car-organizing to do.

They have a serious love-hate relationship. It's driving me and B's mom NUTS.

I also remember this stage. At least it's funny.

New toddler app called "Word Wagon" is fun, not at all obnoxious AND educational.

Saturday:

More aquarium, Jelly Man.

Evan has been looking at this toy at Target for MONTHS - today he bought it with his Christmas money, because it was on clearance, down to $18 from $60.

Caroline in a nutshell: sob sob sob sob OH LOOK A CAMERA SMILEEEEE sob sob sob

Right now the kitchen is clean, the laundry is going and I get to stay up as late as I want knowing tomorrow is my day to sleep in. It’s shaping up to be a pretty good weekend – after a REALLY long week – and I’m enjoying the crap out of it. I hope you’re having a good one too!

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!

So besides E and Baby Evan and I, three other family members live in our house.

First is the oft-photographed Brutus, the world’s most patient dog. E and I adopted him in Ohio in December 2006. He’s part lab, part German Shepperd, part mutt. His favorite activities include sitting on furniture, shedding, eating baby spit up, belly rubs, and tricking unsuspecting house guests into taking him for walks.

Patient dog is patient with Babyzilla

I’ve also posted pictures of Blushes, my cat since college. I adopted her in October of 2002. Blushes was supposed to be named Lady Katrina Von Mousington, but the ladies at the animal shelter in South Carolina asked me to keep they name they had given her. Her favorite activities include torturing the dog, sneaking into laps, shedding, throwing up in unfortunate places, “escaping” from the house only to discover outside is too cold and scary, eating people food and letting the baby lie on her.

Babyzilla stalks another unsuspecting victim

And finally, meet Rabbit (named as such because she’s jumpy). E and I thought Blushes would be happier with a friend (she originally had a brother but he belonged to my ex). We adopted Rabbit in 2004 while living in a tiny apartment in Virginia Beach. We thought she loved petting and cuddles but it turns out she was just so PARALYZED WITH FEAR she couldn’t run away. In reality, she’s evil. Possibly possessed. And she hates E with the burning fire of a thousand super novas. Since we brought the baby home she barely ventures downstairs any more and spends 99% of her time sleeping on the guest bed. Her favorite activities include peeing on E’s pillow, catching and torturing mice by chewing off their feet, eating rubber bands, drinking from the toilet, sleeping, shedding and plotting our deaths.

Welcome to your DOOM.

So if you ever come to the house, please excuse the pet hair.

Based on his habit of carrying stuff around in his mouth, Baby Evan seems to be confused as whether the dog is his pet or his brother. Since animals outnumber babies in our house 3 to 1 and he spends most of his time down at cat and dog level anyway, I shouldn’t be too surprised he’s starting to mimic their behavior.  Since the dog’s idea of “fetch” involves staring at the bone/ball/rag and then running in frantic cirlces, Baby Evan probably learned fetch from the cat. She’s much more likely to bring you things (a baby sock she thoughtfully dropped in the water bowl, a plastic twisty tie, a live bat she caught and needed to show you so much she puts it on your head while you’re sleeping YES THAT IS A TRUE STORY) whether you want them or not. I wonder if I should try telling him most babies don’t do ridiculous stuff like this?

Mmmm...this leather shoe is so delicious I don't want to put it down.

How come when I put shoes in my mouth they yell at me but YOU just get your picture taken?

What do you mean I have something on my face?

And in case you needed further proof my baby is having an indentity crisis…

What, I like milk and cuddles and sleeping too. Meow?

I'm in your yarns, making up knots!