I received $100 from Merck Consumer Care, and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Merck Consumer Care.
With just two weeks of school left in South Florida, Angeline is already getting excited about her summer vacation plans...and while I'm excited, I am also a little overwhelmed because summertime is always crazy busy for our family! I've been thinking a lot about incorporating an Active Family Project into our summer plans and that's requiring some creative planning!
School releases on June 8th, and we will be leaving on June 22 for a week-long cruise to celebrate Angeline's 16th birthday (we're celebrating her October birthday early so that we can take a cruise without her missing school). We're home for a day, then she's off to visit her grandfather, then her aunt and uncle. She'll return home and then we are off for two and a half weeks on the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship, visiting Mediterranean ports and spending a few extra days in Rome, Italy.
Once we return home, Angeline will be on her way to visit her other grandparents - and then school starts back mid-August.
That schedule doesn't leave a lot of time for good old fashioned playtime, does it?
Engaging in family playtime prompts us to be physically active together, enhancing our overall bodily health and emotional well-being and can help with every day stress, lighten our mood, and enhance our personal relationships.
Playtime brings families closer together and promotes a sense of belonging, safety and love. Just because Angeline is a teenager doesn't mean that we don't still have playtime - it's just changed the kind of play we engage in! Our playtime can be something as simple as playing fetch together with Bailey and Toby, or taking a walk together around the block with the dogs - or everyone's favorite playtime activity: going to the beach or pool!
You're never as young as you are in the water, am I right? Whether it's throwing a beach ball or shooting each other with water guns - or even just splashing each other - the entire family can play together!
About the Active Family Project
Because we moms have crazy busy schedules, full of errands, work, household chores, appointments and the like, it can be a daunting task to fit in family playtime. You would think that during the summer, it would be a given that we have plenty of family playtime, but that's not always the case! The goal of the Active Family Project is to help us moms enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle with our families so we can live our lives the way we love.
The Active Family Project is here to share tips and advice for fun family activities and to build a national community of moms dedicated to adopting and promoting a healthy and active family lifestyle. I'm thrilled to be a part of this project and hope that you will get involved too!
Use the Active Family Project Activity Finder
The Active Family Project Activity Finder is your go-to guide with great instant solutions to your playtime needs, promoting quality time that will help your family live life more fully. Why don't you visit the Activity Finder at www.activefamilyproject.com?
Enter the Active Family Project Sweepstakes!
Enter the Family Playdate Sweepstakes here for chances to win awesome weekly prizes, including a family beach vacation prize pack! The Active Family Project Sweepstakes ends at midnght on May 26th, so you only have a few days left to enter!
Find out more about the Active Family Project!
Check out the Active Family Project website and like the Active Family Project Facebook page here!
Vanessa: thequeenofswag
I think this is a great idea to spend time with family.
Tricia Nightowlmama
so excited for your family. I bet its going to be a wonderful time We actually have something planned starting the 10th we're going out of town just me and the kids.
nicole
This summer is going to be one she won't forget! I can't wait for the Summer to begin here so that we can begin our summer playtime fun!
Colleen
Wow that is super busy! Turns out our cruise in July is the weekend before my son turns 16 too.
Kathleen
LOL I don't think the boys and I are in any danger of not getting out and being active enough this summer.
LyndaS
WOW! I hope you (all) have the time of your life on the cruise.
rachel
You guys do have an busy schedule but I love the idea of getting together for playdates.
Emily
WE have lots of fun time planned this summer!
Theresa
Sounds like you have a ton of fun planned!
Leilani
I'm super excited for summer! I have lots of fun plans, but we'll see how that goes once the new baby arrives, lol.
Marcie W.
I can not wait to spend our summer having fun! We are reserving Wednesdays for dates as a family of five and Sundays will include BBQs and swimming with our entire extended family.
Sheri
It sounds like you will have a great summer.