When we were making our Summer Bucket List as a family, I kept a keen eye on having a good balance of free and not-so-free activities. Things we could do easily at home, but perhaps don’t do enough. And things that might require a bit of pre-planning and a few extra dollars.
Nick doesn’t really remember his first trip to DisneyWorld when he was four. When we went back this past May, it was as if he hadn’t seen any of it before.
One of his friends went on a ten day Alaskan cruise last year, and when he came back and I asked him what his favorite part was, it was scrambled eggs they had on a port-side stop … at a Hilton Garden Inn. A hotel chain that he actually lives reasonably close to.
The point of those two things?
Kids don’t care what you spend and what you do.
They just want your time and undivided attention.
Which I can absolutely do. In fact, I do believe I excel in it.
So things like make homemade bubbles, sleep in, and movie night … these are things that I know my kids enjoy just as much as things like go ziplining.
And when the at-home movie night means in Mom’s bed? All together? Well, all bets are off.
Because who am I to complain about a little Nutella on my white sheets?
And yes, that totally did happen.
And I totally didn’t yell. Not one decibel.
Dinner was done, and they weren’t feeling popcorn, so I suggested a S’mores Pizza for dessert, perfect for movie watching, and it could not have been simpler to make.
Like, it seriously doesn’t require a recipe. Just three ingredients.
Pre-made pizza crust.
Nutella. Natch.
Mini marshmallows.
I ended up buying a three-pack of personal size pizza crusts, instead of one huge one, since I wasn’t eating the pizza, and the personal size was just right for them to share.
Spread the Nutella onto your pizza crust. Top generously with mini marshmallows. Broil until it’s the perfect level of toastiness. Devour.
Now, I don’t need to tell you to watch the marshmallows, right? Because you know they’re going to burn quick. But just in case … WATCH THEM.
The kids loved the pizza, and asked for it the next night too.
As for the movie? The new Teen Beach Movie premiered, and Madeline was quite insistent that we would be watching that. It was advertised as being “this year’s High School Musical,” and I assure you, it is not. Nick and I suffered through it, and I do believe it’s nearly two hours of our life that we will not get back.
True story.
Last night, armed with some sparklers I purchased on the way home from Pennsylvania over the weekend (illegal to sell in New Jersey), we managed to cross sparklers off our Summer Bucket list too.
And if you look carefully, there is one sparkly heart in that picture. And you know how much I love that.
Tomorrow? Book review!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This would be such a fun dessert for a party!
It really is crazy how much money parents can spend on kids when really…they mostly love the “little” things more.
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It *would* be a fun party dessert – make your own sweet pizzas!
S’mores Nutella Pizza sounds like something I absolutely could not be alone with. Love it! And love the sparklers, too. We had so much fun with them when I was growing up, though I haven’t touched one in years.
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It was all I could do not to take a finger swipe of the Nutella as I was making the pizzas…
This recipe sounds yummy. My kids love eating Nutella on toast like it is going out of style.
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families recently posted..Top 15 Must Haves to Pack into Mom’s Hospital Bag During Pregnancy
Madeline loves it on toast too!