emily emmons

Life with kids keeps us on our toes! But sometimes it is best to be more prepared than less. After years of being less than prepared – for my kids to sit in the one mud puddle, to fall in the creek or to eat more on this random Wednesday than they ate all last week – I have compiled a list of what to have in my car ALL SUMMER LONG to better prepare us to stay out late, to go for a spontaneous adventure and to keep my kids tummy’s full and skin shaded.

And because I know you are busy – the checklist is at the bottom to download and an Amazon list to save more time.

1. Picnic blanket
2. Wet Wipes – you can never have enough
3. Hand sanitizer
4. Sunscreen – we keep a sunscreen stick for faces and a can to spray on
5. Bug spray
6. First Aid Kit – make sure you check that contents have not expired
7. Trash Bags – you never know when these will come in handy
8. Books – go to Goodwill – their kids’ books are (99¢) pick up a few to keep in your car.
9. Change of Clothes – if there is dirt or water, they will find it!
10. Hat
11. Light Jacket – summer evenings are some of the sweetest moments of memory making, let’s not miss out because we are cold
12. Towel – We have small pack towels from Sierra but any towels will do!
13. Snacks – things that can survive long hot days in the car think…
    • Belvitas
    • Goldfish
    • Fruit bars
    • Granola bars (sans chocolate chips)
    • Pretzels
    • Graham crackers
    • Mixed nuts
    • Freeze dried fruit
14. Water Bottles
15. Treats – when mom’s kiss doesn’t make the boo-boo better – a sweet treat may do the trick.
    • Swedish fish
    • Jellybeans
    • Gummies

Our Go-Tos

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