1 (3 qt.) plastic sand bucket or 3 (1 qt.) sand buckets with shovels
1/2 c. butter (1 stick), softened
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
12 oz. frozen whipped topping, softened
3 1/2 c. milk
2 pkg. (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding (other flavors may be used)
1 pkg. (20 oz.) vanilla wafers, crushed
Beach bears, gummy worms and/or gummy sharks for garnish, optional

Wash, rinse and dry buckets. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter and cream cheese together. Mix in sifted powdered sugar until well blended.

In a medium-size bowl, add milk. Sprinkle pudding over milk and whisk or beat until thickened, about 1 minute. Add pudding and whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture and mix until smooth using a wooden spoon or electric mixer.

Process vanilla wafers in food processor until they become fine even crumbs or crush wafers in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.

In the buckets, place a layer of crushed vanilla wafers, then a layer of cream cheese-pudding mixture. Keep layering until full (about 4 layers of each) and end with a layer of crushed wafers. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate several hours. Before serving, decorate with Beach Bears, Gummy Worms or Sharks if desired. Use shovel to serve. Serves 8-10.

Note: This may be made ahead and frozen, which will keep it safe longer for outdoor picnics.