We've Been Busy.

We've been keeping up with our regular outings: the pool, storytime at the library, various playground outings, and cul-de-sac playdates, but we've also added some new actvities into the mix.

My neighbor (also known as my sister's sister-in-law, but since that's a mouthful we'll go with her actual name: Tricia) is a former teacher who I've dubbed the Social Director of our neighborhood. Tricia has started hosting her very own storytime/craft time at her house, the first of which we attended last week. The older kids who attended (5-6 year olds) read the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin to the little kids, and then all of the kids helped make a variety of muffins: chocolate chip, lemon poppy seed, apple cinnamon, and, of course, the classic blueberry.

While the muffins baked, the older kids painted fireworks by blowing paint through straws. The two littlest kids, Camden and his 14-month-old cousin Will, dabbled in some nude finger painting instead. They both had similar reactions: they enjoyed the painting itself, but did not enjoy the mess it made of their hands.

The fun morning concluded with a muffin picnic on the playroom floor followed by a Bon Jovi dance party in Tricia's son's bedroom. These kids love themselves some Bon Jovi. Consequently, I have "Shot through the heart..." on a constant loop in my head.

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Our Social Director also recently organized a trip to a kiddie amusement park in Burlington, NC-- about a 45 minute drive from where we live. We packed a picnic lunch and hit the road early one morning in a (failed) attempt to beat the heat. I was a little unsure how much Camden would be able to participate, but figured he'd enjoy being outside with his cousins and friends regardless.

To my surprise, Camden enjoyed riding with airplanes with his cousin, Will:

He also loved, loved, loved the train ride. You probably never would've guessed that by his expression:

Playgrounds and swings are always a hit, no matter the location.

And I'm pretty much in love with this picture. This is the crew: a mixture of cousins and friends who all look so much alike that we jokingly say that a stranger would never know which kid belonged to which parent.

My previous concerns about the degree to which Camden would be able to particate were unfounded; in fact, he participated so much that he ended the day like this:

And even though it was 90-something degrees and his sweaty cheek was sticking to my shoulder and carrying around a 23 pound sleeping lump is a lot different than carrying around a newborn sleeping lump, I loved this moment. There is just something so peaceful about a sleeping toddler.

It was a good day.