Summer Camp at the Zohlen house

Filling up a summer with fun activities to keep a 3 year old and 5 year old busy while keeping a 10ish month old OUT of their fun was quite the challenge. I knew I'd have to get Aidric and Juliet involved in a few camps or lessons out of the house. But then the challenge became finding activities/lessons they could do together, despite their age difference. I ended up brainstorming with a few other moms and then organized a fun little camp at our house for one week in June! Our favorite babysitter, Shelby, and her friend Kali, came over every morning that week, along with Aidric and Juliet's friends Jake, Benjamin, Grace and Delaney.

The kids had SOO much fun. There were art projects, obstacle courses, "learning games", snacks they made themselves, nature walks, scavenger hunts, science projects, water balloons, and a LOT of dancing and running around!

I neglected to get my camera out most of the week, but here are a few pictures from just one day!

oh, this boy...

He has such a huge personality already. It really makes me wonder how birth order plays into it all....he's determined to keep up with the big kids already. He is VERY clear on what he wants and he'll go to great lengths to get it. It's both frustrating and incredibly endearing that what he usually wants is me. He'll be perfectly fine with someone else and then I walk in the room and he'll do whatever it takes to get to me..squirm out of their arms, crawl over obstacles, climb stairs, throw a huge temper tantrum (he sits up but bends over at the waist and throws his hands and head down on the ground while sobbing- still cute for now, check back with me in a few months).

Due to this, it's difficult to get a picture of him sitting still. He immediately crawls towards me!

This is what summer should look like...

Absolutely gorgeous day. Not too hot, not too cool. Nowhere we have to be. Hanging out in the backyard with our homemade slip n slide. It is definitely not perfect...I have revisions in mind for next time. But sooo fun- for all 3 of them and for me to watch :)

Who says slip n slides aren't for 9 month olds? He was LOVING it!!! (and I swear he kept face planting on purpose, like he was really trying to 'slide'!)

Every time I pulled Cormac away, he crawled right back.....Aidric and Jules became proficient in running around him. 

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Aidric is currently obsessed with headstands and handstands! He's surprisingly good at both too!

Preschool Graduate

Aidric finished his second and last year at RUMP last month. He made some great friends and great memories. I'm so glad Juliet will be going there next year. I really do love the parent involvement of a coop preschool. Being there and seeing what he is doing and how he interacts..the activities he chooses during free time- it just can't be replicated with just getting reports from a teacher. I love that I got to experience his preschool with him for two years. It's going to be so strange for me when he goes off to Kindergarten in just 2 months. 5 hours a day, 5 days a week!! It's a good thing the Elementary School encourages parent volunteers :)

Here are a few pics from his "graduation" night!

(first time in his big boy booster seat- he was so proud. only in dad's car though- still buckled into his convertible in the main car!)

with his BFF, Benjamin

Grace became a close friend by the end of the year :)

Getting his "diploma" 

Singing their "so pat yourself on the back" song... so cute!

Sprinkler Fun

Disneyland! (back in June....)

I've got some serious catching up to do!! These are from our trip to Disnleyland back on June 18!