• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Blossom & Become

A Lifestyle Blog

  • Books
  • Freebies
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
  • Travel
  • Gift Guides

The Best Summer Reading Calendar!

June 24, 2019      Sarah Van Wagenen

I found the cutest Summer Reading Calendar designed by Hadley Designs and in partnership with Every Day Reading. I was so excited to get it printed out and to start working on it with my girls! These ladies did an awesome job creating a fun and super cute reading calendar. Oh, and I forgot to mention, but it’s totally FREE to edit and download!

FREE Summer Reading Calendar

My favorite features about this Summer Reading Calendar:

  1. You can customize EVERYTHING about it! I added my girls’ names at the top, because I knew they would love that.
  2. You can color it in. I sat down with my girls and colored it for an hour together and we all had so much fun!
  3. The little challenges all around the border are super fun and like a reading bucket list. We’ve already completed a few (like “Read 5 Picture Books in One Day” and “Ask Your Librarian for a Recommendation”).
Girls reading books together under the summer reading calendar
Summer Reading Calendar

Janssen, at Every Day Reading, did a great post about the calendar and gave lots of ideas for how to use it. Check that out here. She also gives a great tutorial on how to print an engineering print on this blog post. This was my very first time printing something as an engineering print, but it was so simple and so cheap! I printed this as a 24 in. x 36 in. and it cost $3 to do at Staples! Only $3 for a giant color page and reading chart…it was so worth it!

Loving the girls outfits pictured here, so just dropping a link in case you want to grab one. These patriotic rompers are perfect for this time of year, so linking those here. They’re comfy, cool, and so adorable!! Plus they’re only $8 (for a whole outfit!)!!

In addition to sharing this cute and fun reading chart, I thought I would share some of our very favorite books. We are a family that loves to read, so this is the tip of the iceberg for books that we enjoy, but just in case you’re looking for some good ideas for gifts or to check out from the library here are 10 of our favorites.

Girls reading favorite books under the summer reading calendar
Favorite Books: Guess How Much I Love You & All the Places to Love

10 of our Favorite Children’s Books

All the Places to Love
Guess How Much I Love You
Dragons Love Tacos
BONUS BOOK: Dragons Love Tacos 2
The Rainbow Fish
Strictly No Elephants
The Day the Crayons Quit
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
The Little Engine That Could
Corduroy

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Sarah!

Hi, I’m Sarah!

My husband, Kurt, and I live in Birmingham, AL with our three little ones {4}, {2}, & {1}. My husband is currently completing a medical residency. Prior to living here we lived in Texas and Utah for schooling.

This is where I'll be sharing recent reads, favorite recipes and products, everyday style, details about our travels, etc. I'll also be sharing freebies I've designed, so don't miss out! I'm so happy to have you here!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Shop My Instagram

Follow On Instagram

A Christmas tradition that never gets old ✨ Tak A Christmas tradition that never gets old ✨

Taking our kids to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall this Christmas felt extra special as we celebrated their 100th anniversary 🎄👯‍♀️. The precision, the costumes, the music—every detail was so creative, magical, and completely engaging for kids and adults alike.

My favorite part of the show was the full Nativity dramatization; so beautifully done! If you’re looking for a timeless Christmas experience in NYC, this is it.

✨ Here’s to 100 years of high kicks, holiday wonder, and unforgettable moments.

#festivefun #RadioCityMusicHall #ChristmasInNYC #RockettesChristmasSpectacular #NYCWithKids
Comment “NYC Christmas” for a printable guide Comment “NYC Christmas” for a printable guide of this charming holiday stroll down Fifth Avenue. 

If there’s one place that truly feels like Christmas in NYC, it’s Fifth Avenue. Glittering lights, iconic windows, and pure holiday magic at every turn. 

🎄 Don’t miss these must-see stops:
📍 Saks Fifth Avenue – The legendary holiday light show + enchanting windows (every 10 minutes after dark!)
📍 Rockefeller Center Tree – Just across the street and absolutely iconic 🌟
📍 Cartier – Wrapped like a giant present for the ultimate holiday photo op 🎁
📍 Dior – Artistic, over-the-top winter magic
📍 FAO Schwarz- perfectly engaging for kids (and parents alike)

If you get the chance to visit NYC at Christmas *SAVE* this for your itinerary and bundle up! ❤️

#FifthAvenue #NYCChristmas #HolidayInNYC #ChristmasInNewYork #nycmagic
Grant has said since he was 3 that he wanted to be Grant has said since he was 3 that he wanted to be in Slytherin and tonight got to meet the @t22felton and talk to “Draco” about his house of choice! We had the most magical night getting to meet the cast members of @cursedchildus and most importantly getting to see their incredible talent in person! What an amazing night we will both always remember! #harrypotterfan #harrypotterfans #harrypotterfandom #harrypotterandthecursedchild #slytherin
Halloween 2024 will forever be a favorite family c Halloween 2024 will forever be a favorite family costume! We had so, so much fun planning this one and dancing together! The kids got introduced to Phineas & Ferb by one of their babysitters and we’ve had the best time watching the show together. I don’t know if there is anything cuter than Carter as Perry the Platypus. He LOVED his costume! What a fun crew!! We got home from our London/Paris trip about 24 hours before Halloween so it was an exhausting stretch, but we survived! #halloweenfamilycostume #halloween2024 #boycostumeideas #phineasandferb #familylife #perrytheplatypus #familycostumesarethebest #familycostume #familyof7 #familiesthattravel
Sneak peek of our family costume this year!! The c Sneak peek of our family costume this year!! The cutest Perry the Platypus. He loved his costume and was so excited to be Perry! #familycostume #familycostumesarethebest #halloween2024 #familylife  #perrytheplatypus #phineasandferb #boycostumeideas
Grateful today and every day for F A M I L Y! I wa Grateful today and every day for F A M I L Y! I watch this video from summer on repeat. We had a blast doing this @cost_n_mayor inspired dance together, which has moves much more difficult than they make it look 🤣Our crew gets bigger every year and we already have one more babe since our summer get together. There are 16 grandkids and when we’re all together there are 29 of us! I’m so grateful for my people and the amazing families that Kurt and I have been blessed with. I can’t wait for our next family dance together! 
#familiesthatdancetogetheraremorefun #grateful #blessed #familiesareforever #familydanceparty #familyreunion #familyreunion #danceparty #familyhumoratitsfinest #familyhumor
Happy Halloween from Hogwarts! #harrypotter #famil Happy Halloween from Hogwarts! #harrypotter #familyhalloweencostumes #halloweencostumeideas #halloweencostume #harrypotterworld #harrypotterfan
We just finished training for a half-marathon and We just finished training for a half-marathon and had our race on Saturday. Kurt was Spider-Man and I was Spider-Man’s biggest fan girl. I had high hopes for running much faster than I did, but getting really sick right before running 13.1 miles made it challenging. I was able to go from an 11:30 minute mile for my first run post-baby to about an 8:50 mile for 13.1 miles so at least I’ve improved. Here are 3 tips for getting half-marathon ready:
1. Sign up for a race (it doesn’t have to be a half, even a 5k is awesome for getting something on the calendar that you’re training for)
2. Find a running partner (obviously, Kurt is my favorite running partner and it has been awesome to train for this race together and go on long runs for our date nights)
3. Start a 12-16 week race plan (we followed a program called Run Less, Run Faster, running 3 days a week with a speed workout, an interval run, and a long run; however, all signs point to more mileage, more often and not as fast being the better route to go for training; sometimes you just do what you can as parents of 5 littles). 
I try to convince everyone to be a runner. It’s just so good for your body, physically, as well as emotionally and mentally. I’m interested to know how many of you are runners or want to run a race. I’ll try to share more of my training and lessons learned. 
#areyoureadyforit #halfmarathontraining #halfmarathon #halfmarathonprep #halfmarathonrunner #runningmotivation #runningmoms #momof5 #hauntedhalfmarathon #runningtips #runningtime #momsthatrun
The breakfast smoothie I make every day. 1 banan The breakfast smoothie I make every day. 

1 banana
2 cups of almond milk 
1/2 cup coconut water
Mix of chia seeds + hemp hearts + ground flaxseed 
1 cup of cooked oatmeal (can chill in the fridge or make the night before)
1 scoop @just.ingredients chocolate protein powder
1 scoop PBfit
2 TBS cocoa (I like mine chocolatey)
1 cup ice

I’ve made this smoothie almost every morning for the last several years and it is so good! I love having it first thing in the morning. It’s healthy and filling, and a great way to start the day! The @just.ingredients protein powder is the best chocolate protein powder I’ve tasted, and one with clean ingredients. They’re running their birthday sale (biggest discount of the year!!) tomorrow at 9 AM MST, so this is the time to stock up! 

Let me know what you think if you try this recipe out! #breakfastfood #breakfastideas #breakfastrecipes #justingredients #cleaneatingrecipe #cleaneatingideas #momof5 #momhacks

Latest Posts

NYC Magic of a Holiday Stroll Down 5th Avenue

Preschool Lesson about Feelings

Easy Kneaders Copycat French Toast Casserole

Latest Pins

A Christmas tradition that never gets old ✨ Tak A Christmas tradition that never gets old ✨

Taking our kids to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall this Christmas felt extra special as we celebrated their 100th anniversary 🎄👯‍♀️. The precision, the costumes, the music—every detail was so creative, magical, and completely engaging for kids and adults alike.

My favorite part of the show was the full Nativity dramatization; so beautifully done! If you’re looking for a timeless Christmas experience in NYC, this is it.

✨ Here’s to 100 years of high kicks, holiday wonder, and unforgettable moments.

#festivefun #RadioCityMusicHall #ChristmasInNYC #RockettesChristmasSpectacular #NYCWithKids
Comment “NYC Christmas” for a printable guide Comment “NYC Christmas” for a printable guide of this charming holiday stroll down Fifth Avenue. 

If there’s one place that truly feels like Christmas in NYC, it’s Fifth Avenue. Glittering lights, iconic windows, and pure holiday magic at every turn. 

🎄 Don’t miss these must-see stops:
📍 Saks Fifth Avenue – The legendary holiday light show + enchanting windows (every 10 minutes after dark!)
📍 Rockefeller Center Tree – Just across the street and absolutely iconic 🌟
📍 Cartier – Wrapped like a giant present for the ultimate holiday photo op 🎁
📍 Dior – Artistic, over-the-top winter magic
📍 FAO Schwarz- perfectly engaging for kids (and parents alike)

If you get the chance to visit NYC at Christmas *SAVE* this for your itinerary and bundle up! ❤️

#FifthAvenue #NYCChristmas #HolidayInNYC #ChristmasInNewYork #nycmagic
Grant has said since he was 3 that he wanted to be Grant has said since he was 3 that he wanted to be in Slytherin and tonight got to meet the @t22felton and talk to “Draco” about his house of choice! We had the most magical night getting to meet the cast members of @cursedchildus and most importantly getting to see their incredible talent in person! What an amazing night we will both always remember! #harrypotterfan #harrypotterfans #harrypotterfandom #harrypotterandthecursedchild #slytherin
Halloween 2024 will forever be a favorite family c Halloween 2024 will forever be a favorite family costume! We had so, so much fun planning this one and dancing together! The kids got introduced to Phineas & Ferb by one of their babysitters and we’ve had the best time watching the show together. I don’t know if there is anything cuter than Carter as Perry the Platypus. He LOVED his costume! What a fun crew!! We got home from our London/Paris trip about 24 hours before Halloween so it was an exhausting stretch, but we survived! #halloweenfamilycostume #halloween2024 #boycostumeideas #phineasandferb #familylife #perrytheplatypus #familycostumesarethebest #familycostume #familyof7 #familiesthattravel
Sneak peek of our family costume this year!! The c Sneak peek of our family costume this year!! The cutest Perry the Platypus. He loved his costume and was so excited to be Perry! #familycostume #familycostumesarethebest #halloween2024 #familylife  #perrytheplatypus #phineasandferb #boycostumeideas
Grateful today and every day for F A M I L Y! I wa Grateful today and every day for F A M I L Y! I watch this video from summer on repeat. We had a blast doing this @cost_n_mayor inspired dance together, which has moves much more difficult than they make it look 🤣Our crew gets bigger every year and we already have one more babe since our summer get together. There are 16 grandkids and when we’re all together there are 29 of us! I’m so grateful for my people and the amazing families that Kurt and I have been blessed with. I can’t wait for our next family dance together! 
#familiesthatdancetogetheraremorefun #grateful #blessed #familiesareforever #familydanceparty #familyreunion #familyreunion #danceparty #familyhumoratitsfinest #familyhumor
Happy Halloween from Hogwarts! #harrypotter #famil Happy Halloween from Hogwarts! #harrypotter #familyhalloweencostumes #halloweencostumeideas #halloweencostume #harrypotterworld #harrypotterfan
We just finished training for a half-marathon and We just finished training for a half-marathon and had our race on Saturday. Kurt was Spider-Man and I was Spider-Man’s biggest fan girl. I had high hopes for running much faster than I did, but getting really sick right before running 13.1 miles made it challenging. I was able to go from an 11:30 minute mile for my first run post-baby to about an 8:50 mile for 13.1 miles so at least I’ve improved. Here are 3 tips for getting half-marathon ready:
1. Sign up for a race (it doesn’t have to be a half, even a 5k is awesome for getting something on the calendar that you’re training for)
2. Find a running partner (obviously, Kurt is my favorite running partner and it has been awesome to train for this race together and go on long runs for our date nights)
3. Start a 12-16 week race plan (we followed a program called Run Less, Run Faster, running 3 days a week with a speed workout, an interval run, and a long run; however, all signs point to more mileage, more often and not as fast being the better route to go for training; sometimes you just do what you can as parents of 5 littles). 
I try to convince everyone to be a runner. It’s just so good for your body, physically, as well as emotionally and mentally. I’m interested to know how many of you are runners or want to run a race. I’ll try to share more of my training and lessons learned. 
#areyoureadyforit #halfmarathontraining #halfmarathon #halfmarathonprep #halfmarathonrunner #runningmotivation #runningmoms #momof5 #hauntedhalfmarathon #runningtips #runningtime #momsthatrun
The breakfast smoothie I make every day. 1 banan The breakfast smoothie I make every day. 

1 banana
2 cups of almond milk 
1/2 cup coconut water
Mix of chia seeds + hemp hearts + ground flaxseed 
1 cup of cooked oatmeal (can chill in the fridge or make the night before)
1 scoop @just.ingredients chocolate protein powder
1 scoop PBfit
2 TBS cocoa (I like mine chocolatey)
1 cup ice

I’ve made this smoothie almost every morning for the last several years and it is so good! I love having it first thing in the morning. It’s healthy and filling, and a great way to start the day! The @just.ingredients protein powder is the best chocolate protein powder I’ve tasted, and one with clean ingredients. They’re running their birthday sale (biggest discount of the year!!) tomorrow at 9 AM MST, so this is the time to stock up! 

Let me know what you think if you try this recipe out! #breakfastfood #breakfastideas #breakfastrecipes #justingredients #cleaneatingrecipe #cleaneatingideas #momof5 #momhacks
Taking a moment to express gratitude for these lit Taking a moment to express gratitude for these little humans that make me a better person and bring me so much joy! They are my favorite people! I’m overwhelmed most of every day, but I love learning and growing together. Other than Kurt, most everyone just sees the highlights; the smiles, the candid photos, the cute outfits, the snuggles, and kisses, and hugs. I feel all the feels, as a mama. I want them to stay babies forever; mentally and emotionally I need them to grow up so that I can feel like a real person again that isn’t just running from one dirty diaper to another, and cleaning up messes while spelling out words, and trying to make sure dinner isn’t burning, while nursing and also checking regularly that the mischievous one isn’t standing on the counter eating every m&m out of the trail mix, or painting our white carpet in the guest bedroom every color that is NOT white. Such a hard mix of feelings to continuously feel. Such high highs, and such low lows. And most of the time I’m surrounded by 5 little people, without the ability to think uninterrupted thoughts, and still feeling incredibly alone. Motherhood is a beautiful opportunity to recognize and feel gratitude for everything our mothers have done for us. I truly love being a mother. I get special moments every day that remind me why I’m doing everything I’m doing. 
Dolly asking me if she can be my baby forever. Lacey being a natural mama to the babies, imitating how I love on them. Grant asking for a hug when he was exhausted and overwhelmed at the end of a fun, but long day. McKay giving the world’s best kisses (don’t tell Kurt 😉), and Carter happily waving and being loved on by a whole crew of older siblings. I hope they know they’re my whole world, and always will be.

Copyright © 2026 · Blossom & Become · Wordpress Theme by TinselPop