1.) A cooler!- We keep a small cooler with us AT ALL TIMES during the summer. Before I leave the house, whether it be to the grocery store, to run errands or to visit family, I throw an icepack in it along with some bottled water and some juice packs. It is GREAT to have something cold to drink handy at all times!
2.) A Swim Box- this is a small plastic bin I keep in the back of my van that has a swimsuit, towel and an extra change of clothes in it for each child. That way when water fun hits suddenly at a friend or family members home, you are prepared!
3.) A kiddy pool- I personally like the small inflatable ones so they can be tore down and put up. This is perfect for days the "I'm bored" line picks up. Fill it full of water, give them some water toys and let them go at it!
4.) Snack pack- This kind of goes hand in hand with the cooler, but I keep small things that will not go bad in the heat, in our pack at all times. We have had times where we have been stuck in traffic (or my car battery went dead at the carwash :( ) and it was WONDERFUL to have some snacks on hand. All the playing and running works up an appetite ya know! I keep fruit gummies, pretzels, crackers, chips, small boxes of cereal (yes my boys like to eat that for snack) and anything else I happen to find. PLUS it saves you money when the "I'm hungry" line starts flying!
5.) Sunscreen- does it really need explaining?? I keep bottles everywhere. In the house, in my purse, in their swim box, literally everywhere!
6.) First Aid Kit- I seriously do not know how any parent survives without it!! I always keep ours stocked but the main things we use are peroxide, antiseptic pain relief spray, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, band aids, anti-itch creme, kids Tylenol, & kids Benadryll. It goes with us EVERYWHERE! I even have a mini one in my purse!
7.) Ice Cream fund- We keep our change together or when the boys get a little "blow" money they love to go out in the evenings and get an ice cream cone. Most of the time we get a dollar cone from McDonalds. We usually do once a week and they LOVE it!!
8.) Sparklers- You may not have these where you live but we do and they LOVE them. They are the sticks that are like a foot long that you light with a lighter and they sparkle and fizz for a few minutes. I keep a very very close eye on the kids and even help my 2 year old with them but they are a staple on summer nights for us! (Use at your own discretion and don't leave unattended!)
9.) Smore ingredients, marshmallows and hotdogs- because you never know when a campfire moment might be in order! :) We have campfires and roast marshmallows, make Smores and roast hotdogs. :)
10.) A camera! You will never get back "these moments" again! Cherish them while you can and remember to get out there and be a kid with your kids! One day they will be grown!
Written in response to:
5.) A list of 10 things every parent needs to survive Summer.
Sparklers and ice cream fund...LOVE!
ReplyDelete~stopping Mama Kat's
Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteLove your list. I think I should have added camera to mine!
ReplyDeleteYes you are right. I have a camera on my cell phone so I have one at all times and I don't even think about my formal camera until I want "perfect" photos. I should keep my actual camera with me more often! And I take TONS of pictures by the way! ;)
DeleteWow, you are far more organized that I have ever been! I tend to fly by the seat of my pants most of the time but we've all survived with no big therapy bills so I guess it's all good ;)
ReplyDeleteDifferent things work for different folks don't they Kathy. :) Nothing wrong with that! I have a bit of O.C.D. so it gets the best of me sometimes! ;)
DeleteOh, my gosh Yes, sparklers!
ReplyDeleteLove them even as an adult!
DeleteI love that you keep swim gear on hand at all times. That's brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It has come in hand on so many occasions!
Delete