This post is brought to you by a Healthy Slice sponsor.
Last summer Kaitlyn was so young that our activities were pretty limited (heat! 3 hour routine cycle! no sunscreen!). We rolled with it pretty well and made it a good summer, but now that we are fully immersed in this year’s summer, I’m noticing how much more we are able to do.
Though we are far from what I’d call easy-breezy, we at least are actually able to go on small adventures. We are fortunate to have a lot to explore in our own backyard, so our go-to adventure has just been to head out on the lake and see what happens. After we drench the girls in sunscreen, pack up waters, snacks and toys, we head on out, never being quite sure what we will run across.
Quite often we just fill the time cruising and waving at boats, sipping and snacking.
Inevitably someone will eventually be ready for a swim break. Luckily Lake Norman has a lot of little islands, perfect for beaching the pontoon and letting everyone cool off.
And get in a potty break.
Snacks are essential to making it an enjoyable experience for all, so I always pack my bag full of crackers, applesauce pouches and, my favorite, Blue Diamond almonds of course.
Sticking with the simple roasted salted means it’s a crowd pleaser (Hailey devours these too). I switch between the bold options (I’m looking at you Habanero BBQ) and my favorite on the other end of the spectrum, the lightly salted.
After all, with the heat a humidity, I certainly could do with a little less salt plumping up my fingers and need a snack that satiates my hunger, which almonds always do. And anything you can quickly grab is a good option because kids on boats don’t sit still. Not for a second.
Toys end up tossed around the boat, snacks get thrown around (Koda doesn’t mind) and sometimes items get propelled overboard, which leads to a fun game of stop and retrieve.
Last Saturday we even made the bold move of taking our little entourage out to dinner by boat.
Typical.
Restaurants love us.
But between the mess and the rowdiness, that’s where the memories are being made.
And every once in a blue moon I might even get the opportunity to take a quick breather myself.
But it doesn’t last long because by that time, bath and bedtime are approaching and we must be headed home…
Ha. HA.
With each year that passes, the adventures are able to get more grand and that is really exciting. I’m hoping we have some doozies still ahead of us, but for this summer, while my babies are still babies, I am soaking up the sun and water for all they’re worth.
And enjoying summer adventures in my own backyard.
How are you adventuring this summer?
What adventure do you really hope to make happen one day?
This “Flavor Your Adventure” post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. For more snack ideas to “Flavor Your Adventure” this summer, visit Blue Diamond Almonds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Erica {Erica@EricaDHouse.com} says
How sad is it that my first thought in reading this post was; ” Man I can’t wait to sleep on my stomach again!”
julie @ peanut butter fingers says
HA!!! I thought the EXACT SAME THING! That looks glooooorious. Not too much longer! 🙂
John J. says
Great lake pics and mention of Blue Diamond almonds. We enjoy our boating on the lake with these almonds couples with an enjoyable vodka on the rocks!
P. S. My comment will not post if my web site is mentioned.
Brynn says
we just took our first family vacation for ten days with my nine month old son. It was so much fun to watch him try new activities, explore and wonder. I look forward to exposing him to the ordinary and extraordinary- hello, Disney. Haha!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh, Disney! I can’t wait for the day!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
This really does sound like the perfect way to enjoy summer! I can’t say our days have been filled with adventures, but we still have a few more months. Vishnu and I made a pact to go to the beach 2x a month at a minimum. Hoping to stick to make that a reality!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
It sounds like you guys had a fun time!! I’m laughing at the picture of Hailey with the straw on the table, haha
Elisa says
Off topic, but what kind of sunscreen do you like and why? I’m having a rough time finding a good one.
Brittany Dixon says
For the girls I mostly use Badger or California Baby. I will also use Shaklee’s sunscreen on them if we need to reapply while we are out because it rubs in so much more quickly than the first two!
lauren says
we ‘boat’ by that house a lot on LKN. It’s hard to miss!!! 🙂
Heather says
Considering we live in a state full of lakes, one day we will get a boat and probably spend every weekend on it. Love these summer adventures of yours! We’re taking the kids camping in a couple of weeks (the first time with both) so aside from road tripping that will be other big adventure this summer. :p
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Boat naps sound wonderful! Yay for making memories!
Kelsey says
That spilled smoothie photo is the BEST. Thanks for the laugh this morning! 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, she had barely gotten a single sip out of it when it toppled over!
Elizabeth Evans says
That looks like a beautiful lake. How fun to have it in your backyard! North Carolina looks like a beautiful place to live. We also spend a ton of time at our house in our backyard at the pool. It’s a lot of fun but a lot of work! I love Blue Diamond wasabi soy sauce almonds – yum.
Julie says
Love the pic of Hailey salvaging her smoothie. 😛 Love your swimsuit coverup, too! What a fun way to spend the day! The pic of “your house” cracked me up. 😛
Sherry says
Enjoyed the post. I have Blue Diamond almonds stached every where–home, car, work, boat, golf cart! Love the picture of Hailey “sipping” her smoothy. Made me laugh when you arrived “home”.
Laura @ Semi-Vegetarian.com says
For a split second you had me fooled with the photo of “your home”. Hahaha
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I almost died when you showed the picture of “home”! It is so nice that you all live so close to such a nice lake.
Danielle @ The Soul Simple Life says
I really want to plan a trip to take my daughter to see the mountains! Your summer seems to chaotically blissful – I love it!
Niki @ Life With Niki says
The presence of your dog makes every picture ten times better ;). I really hope to adventure the world one day- specifically Japan, China, Korea, and most of the European countries!
Hallie@ChasingHallie says
We are in the middle of the Baby summer with the extreme heat and 3 hour cycles! Ahh! I feel like my summer is a wash. My friend and I are dreaming of #summer2016 when our little babies will be toddlers!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh hugs! I was there last year and though babydom is really such a special time, you will be able to do so much more next summer! Last summer we got out when we could but also enjoyed the blessing of air conditions and movies 😉
Ruth Meaney says
We’re in the middle of winter down here in Australia and actually got about 15cm of snow at our house yesterday!! Very very unusual! It’s a tough choice though between a snow holiday and a beach holiday……..