This morning Caroline was doing push ups – incline push ups, with her feet on the couch and her hands on the floor – and I realized I had been sitting down for like 4 hours straight. So I had a cup of coffee, pounded this out and then went to do something productive. Nothing like an exercising 1 year old to make you feel like a lazy ass.

Sunday:

The kids built steps to reach the clementines. Evil geniuses.

“Mommy, why don’t we have ponies???” “Because your father isn’t Mitt Romney, honey.”

Painting the dining room seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Monday:

Sorry, can’t get up, it would disturb the cat.

We went to terrorize, uh, visit my friend Megan’s yarn store.

I love you, iPhone panoramic thingy.

Tuesday:

When you clean out the toy box, you discover toys you forgot about and it’s like getting NEW TOYS (p.s. My aunt made me that dress when I was a baby)

I got the box closes and we haven’t opened it since. TRUE STORY.

Pretty much how I feel every night by 8 pm.

Wednesday:

Caroline chose to sit on the bench with her blankie instead of doing gymnastics for the first half of class. Then she remembered OH YEAH I LOVE GYMNASTICS.

SUPER GOOD BRAVE BOY at the dentist

Clean teeth make you very tired.

Thursday:

Hmmm…do I look 8 years old today? Yes, I think I do.

What do you mean I can’t do pull ups on the stroller???? I hate you you’re ruining my life!

Cat nap (sorry Instagram friends, I just love this one)

Friday:

Trying to climb into the house

The only time we saw Daddy all week…and he’s leaving for work.

My Friday nights are very exciting.

Saturday:

Insisted on getting up at 6:30 am, only to climb into her brother’s bed and insist it was time to go to sleep. That face says “I DARE YOU TO DISAGREE”

3rd batch of scones in 2 days. Recipe on Tuesday.

Oops?

I can’t believe this week is Thanksgiving already – it’s so early this year! – but I love that I get to enjoy our Christmas decorations for a while longer. I’m crossing all my crossibles that E gets out of shift work in time to help us pick out a tree on Friday (FRIDAY!!!!) and I can’t wait to put up our combination Caroline’s party/holiday stuff. Winter sparkle snowflake woodland fairies FOREVA.

Did you take iPhone photos of your week? Link up with one or several below! I’ve been doing this for more than 2 years now, and I’m a little sad it seems to be dying out now that Amy handed the linky off to me. So PLEASE please consider joining, even if you haven’t done it before. I’ll be around to read everyone’s posts and comment.

Sometimes, it’s really nice to be able to say “yes” to opportunities. On Saturday the kids and I had our first ever NYC adventure when we attended Tollytot‘s Playdate In The City. I almost backed out a dozen times (we’re about 2 1/2 hours from New York and E wasn’t able to come) but I am SO GLAD I didn’t. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Evan and Caroline so happy.

We drove to New Haven and caught the Metro-North to Grand Central – the kids are free and the train was SO much easier and more fun for them than driving.

I bought that sweater the day before, when I realized I hated all the clothes in my closet and couldn’t POSSIBLY wear them to NYC.

Playdate in the City was literally that – a room full of toys and kids to play with them. But it wasn’t just a room, it was a gorgeous all-white loft with an outdoor garden and fountain on top of one of the buildings in Rockefeller Center. And there weren’t just toys, there were hundreds of cool new toys from My First Disney Princess, Rubik’s, Baby Genius, Fisher-Price, Safety 1st and Graco. And there weren’t just tons of kids for Evan and Caroline to play with, there were super nice PR reps who sat on the floor with them for HOURS playing blocks and showing them how stuff worked and seriously guys, it was so much fun.

Amazing added feel-good bonus – Tollytots donated a life-changing surgery to a child through Operation Smile just because we showed up. In fact, they donated one for every family that came!

Evan made a beeline for these two toys when we walked in and barely stepped away from them the entire time – the Safety 1st Cubikals Push Along Fire Truck and the Jump ‘N Jive Helicopter. Words cannot express how much he loved these. Words also cannot express how glad I am we got to take them home, although I DO have a word for how I feel about the music the helicopter plays now that I’ve lived with it for 2 straight days. It’s not a very nice word. Thank goodness for off-switches.

Caroline was in HEAVEN, since dollies and strollers are her two favorite things. Both kids loved the Cinderella Sparkling Lights and Magic Wand Doll, who lights up when you touch the wand to the medallion on her dress. To be honest, I loved her too and I’m definitely putting it on the Christmas list. They even had Prince dolls to go with the Princesses – Charming and Flynn (from Tangled!) were my favorites. My friend Kim was so excited to bring them home to her boys.

How gorgeous is that garden? SO GORGEOUS.

Caroline tried every single stroller they had, but decided the Graco Jogging Stroller was her favorite. She has literally slept with it IN HER BED since Saturday. We both though the Ride ‘n Drive was adorable – she kept yelling “CAR CART! CAR CART!” – and it’s another thing going on the Christmas list.

I’m pretty sure the first time bow-tied waiters served me food on trays was at my WEDDING, so I hope Caroline and Evan don’t get used to this level of luxury. The menu was all tiny and child-friendly – shots of milk with a cookie on top, tiny crustless sandwiches, chicken nuggets, cake pops, cut up fruit and sippy cups of apple juice! It’s true I am easily impressed, but they really did think of everything to make the day fun and easy.

Did I mention the location and view was fantastic?

That’s St. Patrick’s behind all the scaffolding. 30 Rock is on the left and you can just see the Radio City sign on the right. The plaza below is where they put the tree at Christmas.

A couple more favorites: the Baby Genius Jukebox and the Rubik’s blocks.

Apologies to this guy (who I suspect it actually someone really important) but you can practically see his internal squee at how cute Caroline is blowing bubbles.

My face looked like this the WHOLE TIME. It didn’t hurt that Evan and Caroline were angels (even if Caroline did run over a few people with the strollers).

We stayed literally the entire time the event was going on and left with a stroller full of toys. Since we were already in the city we made plans to meet up with Sara and do some New Yorky stuff. Kim walked me and the kids to Central Park and stayed until Sara found us, so I never had to wrangle both gingers on my own (my friends rock). We hung out and posed for pictures (true story, foreign tourists REALLY like my kids) and then wandered over to the carousel and the playground for some touristy fun.

What, that TOTALLY looks like a slide if you’re 3.

Evan loves his Sara.

We stopped at the Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center to grab snacks (fruit and cookies for the kids, sushi for the grown ups). Evan was so tired he wrapped himself around his helicopter and took a  nap. Caroline made it until we were back on the train home:

From this…

…to this, in 30 seconds flat.

It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done with the kids (even if you discount it for the broken car window and stollen GPS I came back to at the train station – thank goodness for awesome full glass coverage insurance!) and I cannot thank the ladies from 624 Public Relations and Tollytots enough for inviting us. There were half a dozen professional photographers at the event too, so I hope I can share some more pictures and video of my kids having the time of their life later.

Best. Day. Ever.

Disclosure: I was invited to Playdate in the City by Tollytots and (to my surprise) the kids were allowed to take home a few toys and a gift bag as a thanks for attending. No other compensation was provided. They didn’t even ask me to blog about it or share the links – my kids just REALLY loved these toys and after playing with them I totally agree.

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!

This week was…not so good. Obviously. My low point was Thursday, when I fought with the kids nonstop all day, the house was a total wreck, and I was up more than 2 pounds at my weigh in. Looking back at my pictures I can see how out of it I felt that day, but the rest of the week wasn’t too terrible.

Sunday:

Potty training = pantsless toddler

These are most delicious fake-meat product ever

Ready for an emergency

Monday:

My doll house furniture is so vintage, it includes a record player

Damn you Christmas Tree Shops and your stupid siren song of the choochoo trains

I decided this is the right way to do puzzles. Because Little Evan says so.

Tuesday:

Suspicious of the baby in the mirror

He insisted he needed a bag for his Dora balloon

Caroline is making her Christmas list

Wednesday:

I almost lost my toddler in the fog at Stroller Strides

This is my thankful thing: I am thankful my kids are best friends.

She's annoyed I put the pillow there, because the game is SUPPOSED to be "fall on my face".

Thursday:

They put in new glass railings at the mall and they kind of freak me out. Also, there's a dog on that escalator. They bring them to the mall for bomb sniffing training.

Teething cranky baby demands more boob

I let Evan rip my purse apart so I could listen at my Weight Watchers meeting.

Friday:

Caroline is excited about Christmas decorations even though I'm ashamed I put them up at all.

11:11 on 11/11/11

They did this for 20 minutes. Best Friends!

Saturday:

Disaster Area

When Daddy dresses her, she ends up looking like a bottle of Pepto

I wasted a FOUR HOUR NAPTIME on a stupid craft that was supposed to take 10 minutes. Tutorial coming soon!

We don’t have any plans for this weekend besides catching up on all the chores I totally neglected all week…although I have a killer sore throat and laryngitis and I sort of feel like I’m getting sick (Which I am NOT because I REFUSE to be sick when I have another week of single parenting ahead of me). I’m just a little overwhelmed by life at the moment and the holidays are coming up SO FAST (as is Caroline’s first birthday but I also refuse to think about that because my baby is not allowed to be more than one year old) and I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in more than a year and…yeah. All that. But today I am thankful for sleeping in, new recipes that turn out amazing and kids who love each other.

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!

Caroline chased me around this play table for 20 minutes before she let me take her picture. And then she collapsed in an exhausted heap because WALKING IS EXHAUSTING. I was happy to comply.