Summer is here.  We’ve been finished with PreK for a few weeks now and one thing is definitely clear: my kids do not do well without some structure!  Without a daily routine, there’s been more bickering, more “I’m Bored” whining, and just a general lack of peace.  At this pace, I’d be a mad woman by August!

So I came up with a plan.  The rules were:
1. It had to be easy to implement with very little prior planning.
2. I had to use books and supplies we already own…no extra spending. (Exception: weekend “field trips” with Daddy)

Without further ado, our Summer Camp Schedule!  I included my whole plan (with links!) in the hope that it may help a fellow Mamma survive the summer with little ones too.

   
BIRDS: June 4-8
Book: Counting is for the Birds
Craft: Cheerios Bird Feeders
Craft: Birds Nests
Activity: Angry Birds coloring pages
Activity: Make our own version of Angry Birds with blocks and balls
Field Trip: Lowes for birdseed and a new feeder

ART: June 11-15
Craft: paint rocks
Craft: Introduce a new medium to work with (clay?)
Craft: Decorate an artist’s smock with fabric paint
Activity: sidewalk chalk
Activity: Hold an art exhibit at the end of the week with all of their creations/paintings/drawings

TRAINS: June 18-22
Book: Freight Train
Craft: Toilet Paper Tube Train
Craft: Printable Paintable Train
Activity: Set up train tracks around the living room
Field Trip: Ride the train at the mall

FISH/WATER: June 25-29
Book: Swimmy
Craft: Mosaic Fish
Craft: Paper Aquarium
Activity: Math review with Goldfish Counting Mats
Field trip: Picnic lunch at the beach

OUR TOWN: July 2-6
Books: Little People: Welcome to Our Town and What do People do All Day?
Craft: Build a town out of boxes (paint or cover with paper)
Craft: Draw a map of our neighborhood
Activity: Go for a walk and do a Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Field trip: Visit our favorite places: library, bakery, etc.
Field trip: Find a park we’ve never visited before

ZOO ANIMALS: July 9-13
Books: TBD…we have a ton of animal books scattered around the house
Snack: animal crackers
Craft: Macaroni Lion
Craft: Paper Plate Elephant
Craft: Monkey Masks
Movie: Curious George
Field Trip: Visit the zoo

AIRPLANES: July 16-20
Book: The Little Airplane
Craft: Toilet Paper Tube Airplane
Craft: Popsicle Stick Airplane Scene
Activity: Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest

We are in full soccer mode.  M has loved his first season so far and has learned so much.  He’s quite a natural!  Can’t believe he only has three weeks left.  We’ll definitely be looking into playing during the fall.

I don’t know what it is about this tray, but my boys think it is the best thing ever!  We had an afternoon movie/snack date and this is the concoction I came up with. (A mix of everything I could find in our fridge and pantry!)

I lugged this playslide upstairs from the basement and it’s been great to have a little something different to play with in the living room.  J is loving the slide!  As for the big boys, they’ve created so many forts and castles, I’ve lost count.

Speaking of the living room, I can finally say that painting has been crossed off my list!  So glad that’s done.  Now I’m on the search for pillow replacements for the couch.  I’m thinking something like this or this.  When I get another burst of energy, I have another can waiting to be used to paint over the red in my dining room.  Now that should be fun…

This is an all too common occurrence in our home.  M and D love to play with Playmobil and are actually quite good about picking up, but J.  Oh J.  His new trick is taking their bins, dumping the contents all around the room, and then running away before getting caught.  I’ve got my hands full with that one!

I’m selling a few of our school books from this year on ebay to start preparing for Kindergarten in the fall!  If you’re in need of Five in a Row books, let me know and I’ll send you the link to the auctions!

Friends, I’m asking for prayers this morning!  Last week, I failed my 1 hour glucose test, so I am back in the lab this morning to tackle the 3 hour.  I had gestational diabetes with J and this test is the worst.  I am nervous and anxious and hoping I don’t throw up (if you’ve taken the test before, you know what I mean!).  If you could, would you pray for me today?

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We’ve had quite the mild winter this year.  Temps in the 60s in February?  So strange.  But yesterday, my boys’ wishes finally came true: a snow day!  They were so excited to play outside.  Activities included making a snowman and an impressive fortress for a snow battle with Daddy.  I loved their pink cheeks and pure joy.  This Mamma’s heart was full.

The last birthday of the season: sweet baby J!  Simple and fun with the ones we love. 

Six years ago, at the ripe old age of 21, I married my best friend.  Some would say that is way too young.  It was right for us.  And the best decision I have ever made. We had a small, intimate wedding with our most precious friends and family.  It was simple and perfect. 

As I look back over the photographs of our special day, I can’t believe how young we look!  I know many people say that you should wait to get married until after you’ve “lived a little” and “discovered yourself”.  I’m sure that works for some people, but I’m so glad that’s not the course we took.  With my husband at my side, I’ve grown in ways I never thought I would.  I’ve discovered my passions and hobbies, all with Mark encouraging me along the way.  I know we’ve both grown and matured.  Our greatest adventure has been our three amazing boys, who we thank God for everyday. 

I am so blessed.  We aren’t perfect and every marriage has its ups and downs.  We still have more learning to do.  We still have more maturing to do.  But we are a team and I am so excited to experience the rest of our lives together.  I pray it’s a really long time.

My oldest has his birthday this week and requested a robot theme.  We kept things super simple but he loved everything and hugged me repeatedly.  I want to remind myself (and you fellow mammas out there!) that simple is okay.  While those picture-perfect parties on Pinterest are so enticing and awe-inspiring, they also cost money.  Sometimes a lot of money.  And at the end of the day, it’s really not that important.  What mattered to my son was family, a special cake that he helped decorate, and opening a few surprises.  And it was good.       

P.S. One big hit that I have to share: Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em!  We used it as a “centerpiece” but I know it will get a lot of use in this house! 

This weekend, we celebrated D’s birthday.  Three years old already!  He chose a pirate theme for the big day.  My Memere has trouble with stairs (and my house has many of them!) so we brought the birthday party to her and set up in my parent’s dining room.   

We had a fun day and my heart grew three sizes watching my sweet boy.  He is much like me and doesn’t feel comfortable being the center of attention, so he was a little shy and unsure about the whole experience.  But once the formal festivities were done and the playing began, he was one happy guy.  I mean, who doesn’t love making his big brother walk the plank?  
 
Happy birthday to my big boy, the apple of my eye.  

The boys have been talking about going to the pumpkin patch for weeks now.  We went on Columbus Day with my mom’s homeshooling group.  The hayride and pumpkins were fun, but I think the highlight of the day was the ginormous dirt pile.  M was covered head to toe by the time we left!

And what a bad Mamma photographer I am…baby J didn’t go on the hayride with us (he stayed with my mom), so I have no “Baby’s First Pumpkin” pictures.  Shucks…such is the life of the third baby, no?  🙂 

Well, what a weekend. If I could, I’d have you over for coffee (or in my case, a Diet Coke or two!) and share with you all the emotions of the past few days.

See, my sweet 91-year-old grandmother just arrived this week to spend the winter at my parents’ home. It is a far cry from her quaint little apartment in New England and the transition period has been a little hard. 

I haven’t seen my Memere (pronounced “Mem-ay” for all you non-Frenchies) in about a year and she has definitely aged since then. It breaks my heart to see her in so much pain.

But I have to say…I feel like this weekend, I’ve been in a sacred place. So many people lose loved ones suddenly, without any notice or time to say goodbye. So I feel so blessed…and so honored to be able to spend this time with her now.  I love being able to serve her, to see her needs and be just one step ahead. That way she won’t have to ask for help, which I know is so hard for her.  I love the opportunity to teach service to my boys in a personal way.  I love that they adore her and warmed up almost immediately.  I am just savoring every moment, because I know that when she does go one day, I will treasure this time forever.

So that was my weekend.  If you were here, I’d thank you for listening and offer you a refill… and maybe a slice of the banana chocolate chip bread I made this weekend (it was yummy!).  And then I’d stop rambling and ask you: How was YOUR weekend?