I really like taking the kids to do Fun But Educational Things, which is why we spend most of our extra time and money on memberships to places like the aquarium and Mystic Seaport. Up until recently it’s usually been much more about me than about them, since they couldn’t care less where we go as long as they can run around in circles while I say “Look! Nature! Science! Historic Crap!” All they’re really interested in is pushing buttons.

Unfortunately, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make all of our visits the kind of amazing memories I have from my own childhood. Nevermind the fact that I’m sure for every beautiful spring day at Old Sturbridge Village churning butter in a bonnet there were probably 14 visits to some dumb museum where I whined the whole time about how booooooring it was can we go hooooome now? I need to pin a note to the inside of my purse that says “They are TWO and THREE, don’t WORRY” so when I’m digging for some granola bars to stop the ear-splitting whining from the double stroller I remember, oh yes, they are TWO and THREE I don’t really need to WORRY if they aren’t interested in the finer points of blacksmith…ery.

All in all, it wasn’t too bad for an outside adventure in January. We’ll definitely be back in the spring to see the sawmill in action and in the summer for the gardens (There’s an antique carriage rally in June! That is EXACTLY the sort of event I will greatly enjoy forcing my family to attend!) I’m tempted to buy a membership but SIX memberships (well, five memberships and a season pass to Sesame Place) seems a little…excessive. Maybe I’ll hold off until the kids are old enough to appreciate all the history a little more.

Well, we DEFINITELY made it out of the house this week! And I don’t even have pictures from our time at the Children’s Museum since I left my phone in the car so I could play with the kids instead of take pictures of the kids. Where’s my medal?

Sunday:

Secret iPad Fort (AND BELLY)

“Look, I’m Daddy!”

Holy crap, I’m knitting. I even finished it!

Monday:

That’s her breakfast. At least she’s good at sharing?

The very little ginger reads the very busy spider

Mommy, I sleep here!

Tuesday:

Tiny fashionista

She takes her puzzles very seriously

I totally checked this book out

Wednesday:

I’M EATING SNOW SNOW IS MY FAVORITE

It’s much more edible when you add sugar, milk & vanilla

Storytime

Thursday:

I just wanted everyone to see this super cool photo.

She picked these out herself.

Twinsies

Friday:

Tinkerbell serves Cheerios for breakfast

“Helping” me with my shoes

Please admire the toddler and ignore the mess under the entertainment center.

Saturday:

So many poor choices

I put my baby to work in the kitchen, just like they did in the 1830’s.

Look, an authentic historic mason jar with a straw, just like they used in Revolutionary War times.

We went to Old Sturbridge Village today, which was fun! Sort of fun. It actually could have been funner. I have tons of memories of visiting when I was younger (4th or 5th grade maybe?) but it turns out it isn’t quiet as interesting for a 2 and 3 year old, although that’s mostly because everything is covered in snow and/or closed. That’s not stopping me from taking the kids back NEXT weekend, but that will probably be it until summer. At least we still have the aquarium all to ourselves for a few more months.

Did you take iPhone photos of your week? Link up with one or several below! Please consider joining, even if you haven’t done it before – it’s really fun!

Like I said on Monday, there was a lot of couch-and-tv time this week. When I go back through my photos and SEE it I always feel worse than when it’s actually happening – because when it’s happening I’m relaxing on the couch, so I don’t care. I think my goal for next week will be to leave the house with the kids every day, even if it is just to run out for more clementines (srsly, we go through a box every two days).

Sunday:

Bag lady

Fashion statement

Aladdin was a hit with the kids

Monday:

The kids discovered tins make excellent drums…

…and for some reason Caroline learned to plug her ears. Weird.

Tandem relaxation

Tuesday:

Mommy this is my rocket ship and I am going to blast off forever so good bye!

Snappy our turtle friend

Very proud of the bird feeder he made at school

Wednesday:

I managed to sort out enough of my old clothes to fill just ONE of the green tubs. It’s depressing to remember how cute I dressed in college.

Busted by a toddler with an iPhone

Bath time fun

Thursday:

Lazy Caroline was still asleep when it was time to take Evan to school

Posing for my picture

She undressed herself then sat in the timeout chair for 20 minutes. I have no idea why.

  Friday:

Weirdos.

Super weirdos.

More weirdos.

Saturday:

My little fox was annoyed we weren’t getting to the “an-mals” faster

I love them

Practicing her swimming

Pst, are we friends on Instagram? I tend to post my best iPhone photos over there because I can’t wait until Saturdays to share them but I hate to repeat them here in case people get bored. My user name is “bebehblog” and I promise I post very few photos of my own face.

Did you take iPhone photos of your week? Link up with one or several below! Please consider joining, even if you haven’t done it before – it’s really fun!

This weekend was the last of our family time, probably for a long while, and we wasted it on the couch. Or at least, I feel like we wasted it, since I wanted to get out and Do Things. Make Memories. Have Experiences. Enrich The Children’s Lives. Instead we watched Disney movies and played “Runaway Evan” (in which Evan runs away and we chase him) and tossed ALL the toys on the floor and read lots of books and threw some tantrums (mostly the children) and wore comfortable pants.

I felt sort of bad about it but I’ve decided to not feel bad about it. Sometimes wearing comfortable pants is good for the soul. Dragging E out to Do Things with his kids when he will barely even see them for the next few weeks could end in a toddler meltdown that ruins everyone’s day and leaves us all disappointed. I’m not saying my children are terrible monsters or anything, but they are 2 and 3 so…sometimes they’re terrible monsters. And honestly I don’t mind using my solo-parenting days for outings, since staying home means the only adult I talk to is when I shout at the incredibly fit jerk-faces in my workout video. I’m going to forgive the lazy end of our lazy vacation and call it “recharging with my family” instead of “not wearing a bra again”.

Staying home doesn’t mean doing nothing. Family isn’t nothing – it’s everything.

And I can wear my comfortable pants.

This week was extremely eventful, but only because I got to see a movie in a theater. Happy Last New Year’s Eve I Will Probably Ever Spend Away From My Children Until They Are In High School!

Sunday:

She says she loves hot chocolate, so at least a little must end up in her mouth

Most Empty Five Guys Ever

Pretty but expensive (stupid weird roof line that’s impossible to insulate)

Monday:

Aunt Carolyn read a lot of books while she was visiting

That’s called the “Godzilla Roll”. Deep-fried sushi.

Champagne in our jammies

Tuesday:

Aunt Carolyn also introduced us to Sherlock. OBSESSED.

MOAR BOOKS

2013 is exhausting already

Wednesday:

Breakfast tastes like New Year’s Resolutions

Fake wood vegetables to fake cut with a fake knife = Caroline’s favorite thing

In my opinion, Christmas jammies are appropriate until Halloween

Thursday:

I shouldn’t reward a 5:30 am wake-up with TV, but if I do I get to sleep on the couch for an extra hour, so….

When she pouts and walks away like this you have to imagine the Charlie Brown music in the background

Parenting workout

Friday:

Reading at Stroller Strides

ABSOLUTELY NOT NO NEVER

Doll face

Saturday:

This also buys me an extra hour of sleep

Booty Mommy! My Booty!

Grocery shopping with a list, a budget AND coupons. I’m pretty proud of myself.

I’m not going to lie, dropping Evan off at school on Thursday was the highlight of my week. But it was the highlight of his week too – he’s already asked to go to school three times today (it’s Sunday) and Caroline is begging to go back to the play place. Now that the holidays are over we start the loooooong cold trudge towards spring in New England. It’s the only part of the year I actually hate living in Connecticut, although I do still love the aquarium, seaport and two children’s museums that all have nice, warm, inside activities.

Did you take iPhone photos of your week? Link up with one or several below! Please consider joining, even if you haven’t done it before – it’s really fun!