Snuggle Bear's Summer Adventures

** We received a Snuggle Bear in return for our post and social media shares. (and for taking Snuggle Bear on a few fun adventures this summer!) **

Deegan, (our youngest) was just the happiest boy in the world the day that Snuggle Bear arrived! He immediately claimed him as his own and decided that he would never let him go. I couldn't say no to the cutie pies. Even his sister and brother were ok with it! We couldn't say no to those big dimples and the little bottom lip face.

I am a member of the Snuggle Bear Den and one of our missions was to have a #SnuggleSummer and document some summer fun with the famous Snuggle Bear himself! We haven't gone on vacation just yet but, we will be going to Cedar Point next month for Bloggy Con 15 and Snuggle will be right there with us. I don't think he is tall enough for any of the roller coasters, so, he will probably have to stick with the kiddie rides.

Since we stayed at home and had some outdoor activities and day trips, Deegan and his bff came along, everywhere we went. (It's at the point when I need to buy a few of these just in case he gets lost. I can't begin to imagine the tears so, I must have backup!)

We made sure Snuggle Bear was safe during rides in the truck. He fits right in with Deegan in his booster seat. Safety first! He had a lot of fun going to eat pizza, shopping at the mall, playing in the park, he even went for ice cream.

Most of his days have been spent having some cereal for breakfast, watching a few cartoons and then it's off into the yard for some army guy adventures!

He is a good partner and even has his own camo gloves that Deegan's big sister made for him. That way, he can match his best friend, Deegan, when they are trying to hide from the enemy. (The enemy is usually Deegan's brother and sister and sometimes our dogs!) 

After they play for an hour or 4, it's time to head inside to play Legos, Lincoln Logs, have some snacks, (Snuggle loves homemade fruit roll ups, homemade granola bars, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch without milk.) 

Since Deegan and Snuggle are a little bit to big to take naps, they just sit down and have quiet time for about 30 minutes and read some books. After that quick resting time, they are both full of energy and ready for another round of Call of Duty, cops, or army guys and then dinner. 

Princess Genevive even found a cute little pj set for Snuggle to wear to bed and he also loves to play with his friend, Stripey the Lion, Deegan's Necknapperz pal. See how happy the best friend crew is? 

This is the look (looks) we get when we ask, "Do you guys want to go for ice cream?" or "Get some shoes on! Daddy is taking you to the park!" 

2 HUGE smiles :)

After a long, hard day playing, reading, eating, playing some more, watching Tom and Jerry, (Snuggle Bear and Deegan think this is the most hilarious show! I have to record every episode for them,), making new friends, having a fun trip to the park, and eating some more, it's time for bedtime! (I know, you would think they would look a little more exhausted, right?) 

I am on my way to order a few backups because I keep having nightmares about the day that we can't find Snuggle. I hope this doesn't happen but if it does, I will never be able to break this little boy's heart. 

Did you have a Snuggle Bear when you were a kid? Where was your favorite place to take him? 

If I Could Be Anywhere, I Would Be...

Ever since I was a little girl who wanted to grow up to be Holly Hobbie or Laura Ingalls, I wanted to travel to some of the most mysterious and alluring places. Here I am at 41 and I haven't left the continent yet! I dreamed of Austria, Hungary, (my ancestors came to the United States from there!), Poland, Russia, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and The Netherlands, 

I devoured every book, rushed to the library to borrow any VHS tapes I could find about any of these faraway places, I anxiously awaited assignments in school where we could choose a country to learn and write about. I even started listening to shortwave radio stations from as many countries as I could pick up on my little transistor like radios. Even today, I will sit and watch other people's vacations on Youtube and if you check my viewing history, you'll find every documentary known to man, (or the world wide web)

I started to collect pen pals from these places, but the only friends who would write back were from Russia and Indiana. (Yes, I know Indiana is part of the United States!) but, one of the pen pal organizations I signed up with, paired me up with a girl named, Anna Laybarger, from Indiana. (By the way, if Anna is reading this or somebody who knows her is, please let her know I think about her a lot and would love to reconnect!) 

As I got older and had children of my own, I still long to visit these enchanting places. Maybe even more so now, since I can search for anything I want to know and find images, facts, people, video, the whole world is at my fingertips. As much as the internet fascinates me, I long for the days when we had to use encyclopedias, imagine, write letters and mail postcards.. So, I try to keep doing things this way so that my children have those same experiences. 

Since I am older and my budget for travel is limited, (for now.), I have found that there are just as many extraordinary places right here in my own country, (The United States). There are so many places I would like to see across this country. I do hope that someday, I can travel through each state and eat the local food, shop at the mom and pop shops, check out the local attractions and ride any roller coasters they may have there!

I was recently asked to write a post about where I would like to go for vacation and after thinking about this for a few days, I decided that I would be thrilled to drive cross country. Williamsburg, VA was at the top of my list until I decided that maybe, if I zig zag and plan accordingly, I can hit all of the spots I have on my list and find all of the treasures I can. Maybe a scavenger hunt kind of vacation? I do love scavenger hunts so, that just might end up being what my change jars get cashed in for.

Now I can't get Depeche Mode's, "Get your kicks on Route 66" out of my head! I will probably stay away from Route 66 if I can, just because that will be all I hear!

I don't know how much time I would need to get across the country and back and visit every state I wish to visit. I plan on camping whenever possible and eating all of the local food and shopping at all of the unique shops. (Lewes, Delaware is one of my favorites for things like this!) But, since Wow Summit takes place in San Diego this year, I just may have to drive from Pennsylvania to Chicago (after a few zig zags of course!) and hop onto Route 66.

Well it winds from Chicago to L. A.
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis, down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh, so pretty
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Wynonna
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

ProFlowers created this totally fun campaign, #MySummerStaycation. All you have to do is share your dream getaway on social media and don't forget to add the hashtag: #MySummerStaycation!