We did some stuff this week. And some other stuff. Honestly, I can’t even remember right now, so it’s a good thing I have a whole bunch of pictures to remind me!

Sunday:

We left Rochester early early to get home and pick up Brutus

Holding hands while watching TV

Giving bedtime the side eye

Monday:

Doing his stretches after Stroller Strides

He thinks putting his socks on his hands is the HEIGHT of entertainment

Uh, someone took my shirt off during nap. I'm not saying who.

Tuesday:

I'm thinking of getting a fish tattoo. This one might be cool.

Watching the sea lion show like Big Kids

Suspicious spy toddler is suspicious of spies

Wednesday:

How YOU doin'?

Oh look, I bought seed to kill

Horrifying dental tools of DOOM (I got a cavity filled)

We had to go do a quality control check on the new Five Guys in town. They passed.

Thursday:

He was mad I wasn't scared when he jumped out of the closet

Doing art while he waits for the dentist

LASERS!!!!!!!!

Friday:

Our attempt at a self portrait was foiled by the super bright flash

Sleepface

May the Fourth be with you!

Saturday:

"Weeding" my garden is more like "cutting down a jungle" in my garden

VERY EXCITED to be going to the dump

VERY EXCITED about goldfish. Also about her adorable romper, because OMG ROMPER.

Luckily, now no one needs to see a doctor or dentist for at least 6 months and we can use our time to do more fun stuff like playdates in Mystic and visiting the Seaport and using our NEW zoo membership at Roger Williams Park Zoo. That is, if it ever stops raining. Although this is perfect nap weather so many I’ll just…close my…eyes…for a…secon……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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!

This was a looooong week for me – E was gone, the ornamental pear trees bloomed (they seem to be the only plant I am allergic to, but I am REALLY allergic), Caroline is teething, and I went back to counting points for Weight Watchers so I was tired, snotty, crabby and very very hungry. Luckily, the weather was nice and being outside wears out the kids so I could crash right after they went to bed. On lousy week scale of 1 to Jump Out A Window, it was really only a 5 or 6, so I should stop complaining.

Sunday:

Who's ready for hockey?

Family + Target = ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS

Softball? I approve of softball.

Making sure I didn't waste ANY FOOD.

Monday:

Not the worst way to wake up

Her LIFE is OVER because a) I am out of grapes b) I am out of granola bars c) I am out of fruit snacks d) ALL OF THE ABOVE OMG CALL CPS.

Getting my Vitamin D

Tuesday:

Ready for Stroller Strides

Her eyes haunt my dreams

Baby has excellent (if inappropriate) taste in almost true autobiographies

Wednesday:

Morning trains

That blur is Evan doing warm-up at gymnastics to The Water Buffalo Song

He thinks the lobsters at the grocery store = the aquarium

Organized pantry. I found 7 cans of diced tomatoes and 6 of chickpeas. Time for....tomato hummus?

Thursday:

Adorable baby in an amazing hat

Ignoring my kids, pretending I'm doing sit ups, really taking photos of myself #mommyblogger

My extremely loud singing did not prevent a car nap after 2 hours of hard playground playing

Weirdo and gross, but still cute. To me. Obviously I'm her mom.

Friday:

Oh no! Someone made a huge mess! Oh wait, it was me.

He's stealing my hummus and ignoring his PB&J. I like him.

NEVER LET GO, DOLLY. NEVER LET GO.

Saturday:

Skeptical child wonders why I can take pictures but not put on real clothes instead of a bathrobe

Sunbeam floor nap

Patio time is a good end to even a tough week

This week should be shorter – and hopefully less snotty – and my friends and I just picked a weekend for Kiawah Island 2012 which means I can start COUNTING THE DAYS. It also means I can’t cure my allergies with a giant bowl of ice cream because I used on my extra points on more important things. Like rum to wash down my allergy pills.

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!

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!

We are a snack-loving family. At any given moment my purse contains at least three granola bars, string cheese, baby squeeze pouches, three sippy cups, fruit snacks, and apple and two snack traps. Snacks are great for keeping the kids busy while I focus on my workout at Stroller Strides. Carrying around extra snacks mean we don’t have to rush home in time for lunch if we’re having fun at the playground or want to make an impromptu trip to the aquarium. Snacks work well for both kids’ eating styles – Caroline eats TONS OF FOOD and needs snacks between meals while Evan is meh about eating his meals but is much more likely to snack. And bringing my own snacks for all of us means I am much less likely to swing through a drive-thru for “just a snack” and end up with an entire double cheeseburger meal and a milkshake (how does that happen?!)

So when my friend Alena asked if I’d be interested in trying out a PackIt lunch bag I said yes immediately. PackIt is a freezable personal cooler that keeps your food colder, fresher and safer for up to ten hours – no ice or bulky toxic ice packs needed. You just store the folded PackIt bag in your freezer until you’re ready to fill it and go!

I tried out a Personal Cooler and a Shop Cooler last week and loved them both. The Shop Cooler was perfect for keeping my ice cream, chicken nuggets and Cool Whip cold on the way home from the grocery store – even though I stopped to pick up a couple dozen bottles of wine on the way. Plus my Stop & Shop gives a 5 cent discount for every reusable bag you bring. Score!

The Personal Cooler was perfect for carrying the daily snacks that are better kept cool – cheese, yogurt, juice boxes, fruit, veggies, and milk. You know, the healthy stuff.

The yogurt is for me. And don't judge the disgusting American cheese slices or Caroline will come scream in YOUR face.

Still plenty of room for a sippy cup.

It fits in my bag! OK, so my bag is on the hugemongous side but it's still super handy.

My snacks stayed refrigerator-cold all morning, which was definitely more pleasant than eating soft, warm cheese that got squished in the bottom of my bag. And when we got home I just stuck the PackIt back in the freezer so it would be ready for the next day!

PackIt Coolers are PVC-free, BPA-free, lead-free, non-toxic, earth-safe and reusable. They fold compactly in the freezer for storage and keeps food cold at USDA-safe temperatures. They come in six sizes and tons of cute colors and patterns. PackIt even has a size for wine bottles – it’s like the KNOW ME. Check out all their products and get more information on their website.

How would you like to win a free PackIt Social Cooler? It’s perfect for picnics, a day at the beach, ball games, day trips and all the summer fun that’s quickly approaching.

To enter, just like PackIt on Facebook then come back and leave a comment telling me you did. So easy! I’ll leave the comments open until Friday April 6th at 5 pm and choose a winner using Random.org. Make sure you use a real email when you comment so I can notify you if you win. Good luck!

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!