This post is shared from one of our favorite moms, Heather Reese, from Its A Lovely Life. You can read it on her blog here.
You all know I love a good list. I make to-do lists, holiday lists (so I don’t forget anything specifically for those big days) and of course, a summer bucket list.
This year we have Alaska (checked off), St. Croix (checked off), rafting, horseback riding, stargazing, glamping, a cruise (checked off) and Europe on our lists. The kids all helped us pick these places and then I have spent hours, weeks, months and what feels like years planning all these trips and activities.
Pete and I REALLY thought we nailed it on our family summer bucket list. We thought we did such a great job that we were practically GLOATING to anyone that would listen. We thought the kids were BEYOND thrilled.
Then we took them one by one and asked them what would be at the top of their summer bucket list if they were creating it on their own.
You guys, my eyeballs nearly popped out as they were talking. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by what they said. They are all thrilled with what we have on our summer bucket list and can’t wait to do it all… but they also said that if they wrote out the list on their own, they would add the following to the top of it:
Maddie said that her list would have… you guessed it… SHOPPING at the top.
She kindly added that we didn’t even have to make any extra trips to make her contribution happen. She said she would be tickled pink to just tack it on to our other planned trips. I mean, shopping in London doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Or maybe block out some extra time in NYC for a new wardrobe? Ha! Teens!
This should come as absolutely NO surprise… but Ashley said she would be thrilled to add more fitness to our bucket list.
She actually said that maybe we should skip a couple smaller trips so that she can go to the gym more. I tell you, people, you offer your kids the world, and they are just as happy staying home. It kinda reminds me of when I used to buy her a cool gift that came in a big box and she wanted to play with the box more than the gift. I’m trying not to take this personally.
Emmy’s idea for the summer bucket list cracked me up.
She wanted to know if we could just do a challenge where we go to a place with trampolines every single day this summer. Now, I love a good trampoline park… but every day? No. Thank. You.
No matter what we end up doing this summer, if it is from the parent’s summer bucket list or the kiddos… one thing remains the same… we all need snacks to fuel these adventures. Just like how planning our summer bucket list can be hard when it comes to getting everyone to agree, the same can be said for the snacks we enjoy.
That’s okay. I’ve been doing this mom thing for long enough to always think ahead for snack time and I already know I have the snack of the year in my back pocket. Okay, not really in my back pocket, because that would be, well…not great, especially since I only wear dresses… but you get the picture.
Want to know what I’m so excited about? Jif® Power Ups™, a new line of chewy granola bars and creamy granola clusters!
Boom! Both products have absolutely no corn syrup and 5g of protein, 2g of fiber, good fats and most importantly, peanuts are #1 ingredient. WE LOVE PEANUTS so this is totally going to be a crowd pleaser, or at least in our case, a family pleaser! Jif® Power Ups™ snacks can definitely help fuel whatever is on your (or your kid’s) summer bucket list!
Want to see just how delicious these are? You can read more about Jif® Power Ups™ here.
Heather Delaney Reese is a Lifestyle and Family Travel Writer currently on the road with her family 150 days a year, sharing exceptional family memory making moments and life’s everyday fun times. Read more of Heather’s stories at Itsalovelylife.com.
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