We’re playing Pokemon Go. I don’t actually want to hear about how it’s a secret plot from the CIA to data-mine us all or whatever. I don’t care. It’s been a super fun way for our family to spend time, outside, together, getting lots of fresh air and exercise. It’s gotten my tired, pregnant butt off the couch every day since I downloaded it. The kids are all exhausted at the end of the day from the walking. And believe it or not, looking at REAL animals or boats or flowers is still really fun, in between catching Clefairies (Caroline’s favorite) and trash birds (stupid Pidgies are everywhere).

And if you want to visit Mystic in the summer, may I recommend the Monday night after-hours at the aquarium? The outdoor section isn’t all open (no penguins) but it was SO fun to visit when the place was empty, plus the octopus, whales and frogs were all extra active and fun to watch.

This summer is going by really fast. I’m mostly ok with that (because at the end I get a baby!) but I’m starting to feel the pressure of doing-all-the-fun-things-quick-before-we-run-out-of-time.

Sunday:

Man, I hate when the beach is crowded

WHAT CHA EATIN MOM??

Spying on my children who are playing nicely

Monday:

Patriotic New England Children

Counting frogs

Shut down the lake at 8 pm

Tuesday:

Really excited about Seaport Camp

You baby judges you

Evening swim

Wednesday:

More playing nicely. Have they been body snatched?!

Private Seaport

The lake is the only thing keeping us all from dying of heatstroke

Thursday:

Trying to sit in my lap

Naps

Reading time

Friday:

Less hot, still at the lake

Caroline telling us about her favorite boat, which is a party boat because she likes parties

One month until her recital!

Saturday:

Went for a walk to look for Pokemon

Linc likes to give hugs

Game night!

All my photos this week are going to be of Pokemon, because the kids are always carrying my phone around and it’s hard to take iPhone photos when I don’t have control of my iPhone. But I’m not really mad, Evan is super good at catching them. Priorities.

This week feels like it happened months ago. I was SUCH a mess just seven days ago, I can’t even believe I didn’t end up in the hospital. Fingers crossed that’s as sick as I get this pregnancy, I can’t handle any more than that.

You’ll notice a lot of messy house and couch pictures this week as a result of my convalescence. At least let’s pretend that’s why.

Sunday:

View from my sick bed

My children being kind and loving

My children being annoying because I don’t have the energy to stop them

Monday:

Big kid swings

Little kid naps

Big kids nap too

Tuesday:

He’s a Target Pro

With their Vacation Bible School goodies

He insists on walking up the stairs like this all the time now

Wednesday:

New pregnancy craving: fresh bread

Seems like a perfectly good place to park

Evening lake life’

Thursday:

HASHTAG REAL LIFE HASHTAG MY CHILDREN ARE THE WORST

Sea Swirl is my favorite

They’re all obsessed with this statue in Mystic

Friday:

A week of VBS plus lake equals SO TIRED

Bread thief

Storm’s a’comin’

Saturday:

I’m currently obsessed with film

Caroline is obsessed with changing diapers (we have a rash situation, I’m still using cloth mostly)

You should smell this lavender farm. It’s AMAZING.

Tomorrow Caroline starts Seaport Camp, which means she’s going to be an exhausted mess basically every night. But that just means she (and I) can go to bed extra early. I am toooootally fine with that. I’m getting to the point where I want to sleep as much as possible because I know in another 8 weeks I won’t be sleeping again for 2 years. I’m not really looking forward to that part of having a baby.

The most half-assed attempt I’ve made in over 5 straight years of this nonsense!

Sunday:

She’s questioning my life choices because these aren’t from Dunkin

Pretend those are ORGANIC Doritos

E built us a table so we could play cribbage in our beach chairs

Monday:

Filthy children

Clean children!

Tuesday:

I started a toy purge and organization. It was a huge mistake.

Monkey see, monkey do

Very serious about his monkey duties

Wednesday:

We have the best floaties

OMG check out the dollar spot!!!

Thursday:

All these children are with me (and one other mom)

The potter at Old Sturbridge Village gave everyone clay

Linc LOVES selfies

Friday:

4 hours at the lake and I barely saw my kids

Sure, whatever, just be quite while Caroline is in piano lessons

Picking up America stuff for our America photoshoot

Saturday:

Berry picking

We still have the best floaties

I bought 30 minutes of peace for $3.50 worth of ice cream

I am recovering from an attack of something that made me absolutely useless on Sunday. I suspect it was a kidney infection but did not have the time or energy to go to the ER for it, so I’m forcing it out of my body with sheer willpower and cranberry juice. Now I am suffering from a condition called “why the hell don’t we have air conditioning???” It’s terrible and reoccurring and should definitely be illegal for 8 months-pregnant women. I’d like to speak to the person in charge around here.

We went to Gillette Castle a few years ago for Open House Day, because although the castle is really neat and you *could* spend a lot of time walking around and looking at everything, it’s hard to do with kids. We decided to go back again this year, because I love doing things for free so there’s no preesure to spend a long time there if the children aren’t into it. I guess this year they were as into it as you expect children to be, although Linc was only into it if someone was carrying him.

There are also a lot of great hiking trails all around the castle that used to be part of Mr. Gillette’s miniature train system, but it started to rain and we didn’t get very far. I was also wearing a 30 lb toddler on my back and 20 lbs of pregnant on my front (don’t ask how that happens when my husband is carrying zero pounds of children) so I was happy to keep our hike short.

Evan was running and fell and scraped up his knee. Caroline was rolling down a hill and rolled right into a rock. They are obviously having a WONDERFUL TIME.

Despite the fact that we look very along in these photos there were definitely a lot of people out enjoying the free admission day. Please feel free to admire my talent for keeping them out of the pictures.