What to Bring to The Splash Pad | Austin Family Photographer
If you’re a mom like me—who loves to get out of the house with her kids, but hates the chaos that comes with packing 50,000 things just to survive an hour of “fun”—this one’s for you. Let’s talk about what to bring to the splash pad!
Most days, you’ll find my kids and me hopping in the car to go do something. Maybe it’s my extroverted personality, or maybe it’s the never-ending toddler energy that needs to be burned off (can I get some of that?!), but we love our little adventures. In cooler seasons, we’re big fans of playgrounds and downtown wandering, but once that Texas summer heat kicks in, I have one rule:
AC or Water.
Period.
I was born and raised in Austin—this is home. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about surviving summer in Texas, it’s this: I am not sitting in unbearable heat without a drop of water in sight. There’s just no reason for that. It’s hot every summer… and it stays hot forever. So we find water.
Enter: splash pads.
We are honestly spoiled in Central Texas with how many water features options there are, and my kids love them. But let me tell you: showing up without the essentials—like a swim diaper or, oops, towels—can turn a chill afternoon into a bit of a circus (and we’ve ALL been there haha)
So here’s my simple, no-stress list of what to bring the splash pad—curated by this mom who loves making memories but doesn’t love overpacking.
🚗 1. A Few Toys (That You Don’t Mind Losing)
Let’s be real: my kids usually end up playing with the cup from my iced coffee more than the toys I pack. So I don’t stress about it. I bring a couple of cheap water toys, maybe some waterproof cars. Nothing fancy, nothing we’ll cry about if it goes missing.
😎 2. Sunscreen (Make It Easy)
The sun is brutal here, and I don’t mess around with sun protection. We love using the Solar Buddy applicator—it makes putting sunscreen on wiggly kids way less miserable. I keep one in our bag all summer.
☀️ 3. Rash Guards
If there’s no shade, this is non-negotiable. Rash guards help protect their skin from the brutal UV rays. I like the extra layer of sun protection if we’re not in a shaded area.
🧊 4. Popsicles in a Yeti
I saw this on TikTok recently (wish I remembered who to credit!)—frozen popsicles stored in a Yeti cup with ice stay frozen for a while, even in the texas heat. My kids lost their minds over this one. Total summer win.
🧺 5. Picnic Blanket
Not all splash pads have picnic tables or shady spots. I keep a washable picnic blanket rolled up in the trunk, and it’s come in clutch more times than I can count. Perfect for tossing down snacks, changing kids, or just giving yourself a semi-dry spot to sit.
💧 6. Grocery Bags
Pro tip: bring a couple plastic or reusable grocery bags to stash wet swimsuits, sandy shoes, or any surprise dirty diapers. You’ll thank yourself later.
👖 7. Change of Clothes + Towels
I try to keep at least one clean outfit and towel per kid in our bag—because nothing says “fun day out” like soggy shorts and wet car seats. I typically don’t bring any change of clothes for me, because I find it almost impossible to change out of a wet suit while wrangling toddlers in a public bathroom. I make sure to bring an extra large towel and just wrap up for the drive home. Give me my own bathroom, while they watch bluey in the other room ANY DAY.
We keep this all packed in Bogg Bag all summer, so we can grab and go. I look forward to the day I can bring a good book for me to read while they splash around—but we’re not quite there yet.
For now, I’ll take the wet hugs, the sticky popsicle hands, and the wild toddler giggles. It’s not always picture-perfect, but it’s worth it. Save this list of What to Bring to the Splash Pad for next time!
Golden Hour Mini Session | Austin Family Photographer
Spring in Austin is one of my favorite times to shoot. And this golden hour mini session is no exception. That dreamy evening light hits just right, the heat hasn’t totally taken over yet, and families are just coming out of winter hibernation with that “let’s make some memories” energy.
This session with Cydne, Ryan, and their two boys was everything I love about photographing families.
Fun and real and laid back. Yes please!
Let me start by saying: they drove down from DFW for their session. Like… packed up the car, snacks, changes of clothes, and downloaded Disney+ on the tablet…, and made a weekend out of it. I never take that for granted. As a mom, I know first-hand what it takes to get little ones out the door, let alone drive 3 hours away.
So when clients travel to me—it’s the biggest honor.
We had originally planned to shoot in the bluebonnets (because what says “Texas spring” more than that?), but as I’m sure you noticed - the blooms were running way behind this year. Instead of postponing, Cydne told me, “Let’s just keep the date and enjoy golden hour.” And I’m so glad we did. The light was incredible. Talk about warm and glowy! And the weather was just right. Not too hot, not too humid.
So yeah, this golden hour mini session was a dream evening.
They showed up in beautifully simple, earth-toned outfits. Warm neutrals, demin, textures and small prints. Their styling was effortless, and it let the focus stay exactly where it should be: on their connection. No matching costumes or forced poses. Just them, showing up as they are. I send a style guide out to alllll mini sessions that book with me, and this is exactly what I say. Go for neutrals, some textures, no matching… they hit the nail on the head for this shoot!
Cydne and Ryan are deep in the toddler trenches. Juggling full-time work and full-time parenting with their two little boys. They love every second they get together as a family. As a fellow working mom, I feel that too! Their oldest boy brought his whole personality to the session —including his beloved Spiderman shoes. And instead of trying to hide them or make him change, Cydne just smiled and said, “Let’s do it. It’s real life.”
That’s the energy I adore. No pressure to make it perfect, no stress over the ‘right’ outfits or Pinterest poses.
Just documenting this season as it actually is—joyful, chaotic, sweet, and fast.
The kind of session where we chase kids through the fields, grab the snuggles when we can, and capture all the in-between magic.
And listen: if you’re a busy mom reading this (hi, me too!), thinking ugh I really want new photos, but I can’t deal with the stress or mental load of making it happen: I see you. Imagine yourself with a golden hour mini session, and know that nothing is perfect behind the scenes and we still make magic.
All of my mini sessions are designed with you in mind. They’re short and sweet, so you can still make the birthday party after.
So whether you feel super prepared or are just running out the door to make it happen… I’ve got you. Come as you are, and I’ll make sure you leave with photos that feel like home.
