Things That Make Me Smile 5/8/20

Jake (14), Alyssa (12), Zac (10), Tyler (8), Nicholas (5)

Happy Friday! These Smiles took place back in May. We played games with friends through FaceTiming, we were blessed by God in many little ways, and Nicholas learned to ride his bike without training wheels. Leighton also went back to work after 6 weeks home with us. We loved having him home every day, but it was good to see people going back to work and quarantine coming to an end.     

1. Nicholas, after searching the whole house: "Mama, do you know where Dad is?"

Me: "He's at work."

Nicholas, sad: "Oh."

We enjoyed having Leighton home with us so much that even though he had been back to work for a week, the kids were still looking for him and missing him.

2. Me: "Did you know I love you?"

Nicholas: "Yeah, and Miss Megan."

Me: "Miss Megan loves you?"

Nicholas: "Yeah."

Me: "You're right, she does."

Nicholas: "Yeah, and God. God loves me the most."

3. I was teaching about firemen using the Focus on Fives kindergarten curriculum from BJU Press. I asked, "Do you know what to do if you're on fire, like if your clothes catch on fire?" (stop, drop, and roll.) Nicholas replied, "Call your daddy!"

4. Tyler, after climbing across a fallen tree at the park: "That was epic! I went from the bottom of the tree to the top!"

5. We spent the day exploring at the park.

6. Our friend: "What's your middle name?"

Nicholas: "You mean my in trouble name?"

7. Alyssa, my avid reader, after hearing that little free libraries encourage reading, shocked: "What! They need to encourage reading?!" 

8. Nicholas, because I got into Leighton's profile on the computer: "How did you know that?"

Me: "Because Daddy and I tell each other things."

Nicholas: "Like passwords and stuff?"

Me: "Yes. What else do you think we tell each other?"

Nicholas: "That you love each other!"

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 4/24/20

Jake (14), Alyssa (12), Zac (10), Tyler (8), Nicholas (5)

Happy Friday! This week we laughed a lot while practicing trick shots and recreating baby pictures, enjoyed our April Christmas Experience with a smorgasbord ice cream sundae bar at home, and Jake entered a coding contest with hundreds of kids and placed in the top few.


1. Documentary about the ocean: "Cuttlefish are very dangerous."
Tyler: "But . . . they cuddle!"

2. Alyssa, about a contest: "If I do win, I'm going to set aside my tithe and then use the rest of the money to buy fabric for a quilt."

3. Nicholas, circling T words on a worksheet, seeing a turkey: "Mmmmmeat. Mmm Mmmeat. Nope."

4.  Nicholas, about Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes: "I want to go back to the sandy desert."

5. Alyssa sewed a sock bunny.

6. Nicholas, about a  Pirates of the Caribbean Lego set: "Jake, you know your Pirates Carabiner guy?"

7. Nicholas: "Oh, no! I swallowed my gum!"
Me: "Well, that’s not good. You’re not supposed to do that."
Nicholas: " I didn’t! My throat did it. Sometimes it tries to get my gum and I have to save it. Sometimes I miss though."

8. Alyssa, laughing: "Mom warned me, but I didn't listen!"
Jake: "Do you know how many times that has applied to my life?"

9. Alyssa: "I used to think Siamese cats were connected, like people. That would be cool. Two cats for the price of one!"

10. Nicholas, putting his cheek to my face, like he was checking for a fever: "You have a cold."
Me, perfectly healthy: "Do I?"
Nicholas: "No, you have a warm."

11. Nicholas didn't want to clean up his Legos that were all over the living room floor, so I jokingly asked if he wanted to trade jobs and clean the kitchen for me instead. That excited him. I cleaned up the toys, fully expecting to finish off the kitchen afterward. But he washed the dishes, wiped down the table and counters, and even swept. All by himself! He was almost as proud of himself as I was.

12. Tyler, solving a riddle in his math book: "What is light as a feather, but you cannot hold? It's supposed to be your breath, but you can hold your breath."

13. Me, from the kitchen: "Tyler, don't be disgusting."
Tyler, laughing: "Who told you?"
Me: "No one. I'm a mom; I know things."
Tyler: "Ok, where am I?"
Me: "In the living room."
Tyler: "What am I sitting on?"
Me: "Your blanket."
Tyler: "Aah! Ok, what was the last word I said?"
Me: "Said."
Tyler: "Aah!! Man! You're good!"



What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 4/10/20

* This post may contain affiliate links.

Jake (14), Alyssa (12), Zac (10), Tyler (8), Nicholas (5)

Happy weekend! It's hard to believe these Smiles were from 4 months ago. Time goes by so fast! This week, we made many batches of granola, fermented sauerkraut for the first time, and played a fun new game for Game Schooling. Jake built an owl nesting box by himself, and the other kids completed some hands-on projects. I love seeing my kids use their talents!

1. Tyler, playing a game: "A giraffe mixed with an elephant? That would be horrifying!"

2. Alyssa: "He wasn't born yet?"

Jake, confused: "He was in Borneo?"

3. Tyler: "Mom, why do we have only two?"

Me: "Two what?"

Tyler: "Bathrooms."

Me: "How many do we need?"

Tyler: "I don't know! Fifteen?"

4. Zac: "Mom, geodes are so cool. They look kinda ugly on the outside, but you break them open and they're beautiful on the inside. It's like people; you can't judge them by what they look like."

5. Me, explaining a picture from a couple years ago to Nicholas: "We were getting ready to go to church."

Alyssa: "Ah, getting ready to go to church. I miss it."

6. Nicky studying Algebra II.

7. Nicholas calling Cragger from Lego Chima Cracker.

8. Jake, feigning surprise after I told him he couldn't do something he knew he wouldn't be allowed to: "But you said I could!"

Me, laughing: "Because I knew Dad would overrule me."

Alyssa, playfully: "He can't do that!"

Me: "Of course he can. Who's in charge of this family?"
Alyssa: "Technically, you two are one."

Me: "That's true. But when there's a dispute, who gets the final say?"

Jake, raising his hand: "Ooh, pick me! Pick me!"

Zac: "Who do you pick?"

Me: "Dad!"

Zac: "Then who?"

Me: "Me."

Zac: "Which one of us do you pick to be in charge?"

Me: "Hmm . . . Nicky."

Nicholas, laughing maniacally, pointing to Jake: "Mop the floor!!"

Jake gets up, flips Nicholas upside down, and "mops" the floor with his hair.

9. Alyssa dried flowers from our yard, laminated them, and made bookmarks and then braided bracelets. She sent the goodies to her friends to let them know she missed them.

10. Nicholas, climbing all over Jake: "You smell like . . . nothing!"

11. Zac, reading facts about polar bears and fennec foxes: "It's pretty amazing how God made every animal to have exactly what they need to survive."

12. Nicholas, watching me wash a mirror: "It's a miracle! That's perfect!"

13. Nicholas, in the middle of the night: "Daddy, will you shorten the light?"

Me: "Daddy's sleeping, sweetie pie. What do you need?"

Nicholas: "Will you shorten the light?"

Me: "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Nicholas: "I need to go potty and the light is too bright."

Me: "Oh! You want me to dim the light!"

What made you Smile this week?


* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Things That Make Me Smile 4/3/20

Jake (14), Alyssa (12), Zac (10), Tyler (8), Nicholas (5)

This lists covers two very busy weeks of Smiles. We celebrated two birthdays (Alyssa turning 12 and Tyler turning 8), played games, assembled puzzles, had our pizza and movie marathon as part of our Experience Christmas, got some yard work done, completed a family quarantine bingo challenge with our church youth group, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire, built a fort in the living room, went on family walks, performed science experiments, baked muffins, read books, and created more memories. I love this family of mine!

1. Nicholas: "It's a good day to play outside. It's shiny and stuff!"

2. Tyler, chewing gum: "I haven't had this in so long. I love it so much that I want to chew my teeth off!"

3.

4. Nicholas: "I smell pink."

Me: "And what exactly does pink smell like?"

Nicholas: "Bubblegum!"

5. Tyler, about the arm-knitted blanket on my bed: "Did Alyssa make this?"

Me: "Yes."

Tyler: "Wow! How did she get that kind of skill?!"

6. Alyssa was excited to receive a quill and ink for her birthday.

7. Nicholas, because he didn't want to see something: "I'm just going to plug my eyes."

8. I walked into the kitchen first thing in the morning to find Jake at the cutting board with an apple. His hand was wrapped in a blood-saturated paper towel A bloody knife was sitting on the counter. "What did you do?!" I asked. And then he smile. That's when I remembered it was April Fool's Day.

9. Tyler had a mint Oreo ice cream cake (with trick candles, ha) for his birthday.

10. Nicholas, telling me about his dream: "And then I said, 'Don't patro-nose me."

Me: "Patronize? Did you just use patronize?"

Nicholas: "Yeah, patron-eyes."

11. Nicholas, looking at the number 69: "Look. It's the two 6s. The up one and the down one."

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 3/20/20

Jake (14), Alyssa (11 1/2), Zac (10), Tyler (7 1/2), Nicholas (5)

Happy Friday! This week we made triple berry muffins, assembled a couple puzzles, did some deep cleaning around the house, and enjoyed being together as a family.

1. We spent the day building a giant Rube Goldberg machine throughout the living room.

2. Nicholas: "A long time ago, when I was 4 . . . "

3. Alyssa: "I find it funny that Mom and Dad are putting together the puzzle that they got us for Christmas."

Me: "Why do you think we bought it?"

4. Tyler playing with our Brain Blox.

5. Jake: "If I had billions of dollars, I'd buy you a new house. Actually, if I had billions of dollars, I know what I'd do first. You know how the church wants to build that like $9 billion building? I'd just give them the whole amount. And then because $9 billion looks messy, I'd just give an even 10. Then I'd buy you a new house."

6. Zac, assembling a puzzle about the US presidents: "What's a Whig?"

Nicholas: "I know what a wig is. You wear it on your head."

7. Since everyone is supposed to stay at home right now, our church building has been empty, but our pastor is streaming the services live.

Pastor: "The greatest thing you can do for your family right now is not to stock up on staples, but . . ."

Kids, looking around confused: "Staples? Why would you need staples?"

8. Nicholas, singing the Alphabet song: "A-B-C-B-L-E Yes, that's the book for me. Wait-- {laughs} I was singing the Bible." 

9. Tyler, playing Continent Race and reading the Kyrgyzstan card: "I found Crazy-stan!"

10. Nicholas was watching Alyssa complete her drawing lesson for the day and asked, "Why are you doing dot-to-dot?"

11. Jake: "Mickey, Donald, and Goofy get thrown into the fiery furnace, and the guy getting ready to throw them in says, "Mmm, roast duck."

12. Alyssa, watching a hockey game: "What happens if they tie? Do they cast lots?"

13. Tyler, sitting on his bed because he had gotten in trouble: "Dad, can I get up?"

Leighton: "Yes, but stop bickering."

Tyler, from the other room: "What did you say?"

Leighton: "Stop bickering."

Tyler: "I can't hear you."

Nicholas: "He said stop pickling!"

14. Nicholas, pointing to the presidents: "That's George Washington. That's George W. Bush. And that's Donald Trumpet."

What made you Smile today?

Things That Make Me Smile 3/13/20

* This post may contain affiliate links.

Jake (14), Alyssa (11 1/2), Zac (10), Tyler (7 1/2), Nick (5)

With all that's going on, now is the perfect time for a few laughs! This week, Leighton and I were able to get away by ourselves for a few days. We did a little shopping, some relaxing, and a whole lot of enjoying being together while my parents watched our kids. Leighton has been wanting to go to an escape room for years, but instead of spending a lot of money, we decided to stay in and do an escape room in a box. We had so much fun that we bought a different type box with 10 cases and worked through the first one the next night. We had such a great time just the two of us. And, of course, the kiddos had a great time being spoiled by their grandparents.  

1. Alyssa: "Come on, Zac, please? I'm your favorite sister!"

Zac: "Well, you're also my least favorite sister."

2. Me: "You ain't kiddin'!"

Alyssa: {gasps} "Mom! You used improper grammar! Are you ok?! Are you sick?!"

3. Our interesting game of Clue.

4. The little boys had fun making rock towers while at my parents'.

5. Alyssa: "What time is it?"

Leighton: "Time to go to bed!"

Alyssa: "Hmm, that's a nice time."

6. We stopped at the store to look for presents to bring home for the kids after our weekend away.

Me, after not finding anything: "Well, that was a waste."

Leighton: "Walking around holding your hand is never a waste."

7. I walked into the kitchen to find a stack of Great Illustrated Classics on the table."

Me: "What is all this?"

Alyssa: "Oh, just a little bit of light reading."

8. Nick, because his voice was raspy: "I sound like an old man."

9.

10 .Alyssa, knitting: "My scarf is 3 feet, 6 inches. It's taller than Fred."
Jake: "I think it's funny that that's the thing she came up with."

11. Tyler, because someone had moved his character in Clue to a room for a suggestion: "Who teleported me?"

12. Tyler, chasing a rogue bouncy ball: "Come here, you little rascal!"

13. Nick, running a balloon on his head and sticking it to the wall with static electricity: "I can do that because I have sticky stuff in my hair."

14. Jake: "When I grow up, I'm going to sky dive and solve the Rubik's cube at the same time."

Me: "Only if you want to give me a heart attack."

Jake: "Ok . . . I won't solve the cube then."

What made you Smile this week?

* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Things That Make Me Smile 3/6/20

Jake (14), Alyssa 11 1/2), Za (10), Tyler (7 1/2), Nick (5)

Happy weekend! This week we helped sort food for hungry families at Gleaner Food Bank, celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday, attended a surprise birthday party for a dear friend, performed many science experiments and started a new family read aloud. Leighton and Zac were also able to go to a Red Wings hockey game provided by his company. It's been a busy week with many reasons to Smile!

1. Alyssa, holding her library card: "This dinky thing here is acceptance into the Land of Knowledge."

2. Alyssa: "How old is she turning?"

Me: "Twenty-seven."

Nick: "Seven? I thought she was higher than that!"

3. Alyssa: "Is it just me or are my ears buzzing?"

4.

5. When we were at the store, there was a newborn baby that was fussing and I chuckled and commented on how adorable it was. 

Jake: "I think it's really weird that you find humor in the discomfort of babies."

6. Nicholas, seeing just the top of a pine tree over the church building: "Whoa! How did a tree grow up there?!"

7. Alyssa: "Can I watch something?"

Me: "Yes, but you're not going to watch all night long."

Alyssa: "Ok, I was just going to pick The Sound of Music."

Me: "The Sound of Music? Ok."

Jake, laughing: "You don't want to be watching all night long, but you pick The Sound of Music?"

Me: "Well, yeah, it's The Sound of Music!"

8. Tyler, showing me a creation he made: "This means that you love Daddy and you will never leave him. You're connected to him."

9. Me: "Tyler and Nicholas, you need to clean up the living room."

Nick: "Serendipitous!"

Zac: "That was unexpected but enjoyable?"

10. Relating the personalities of our family to Dr. Seuss books. 

11. Jake: "I'm going to make my own gun and call it a doodle-doo."

Me, laughing: "A doodle-doo?"

Jake: "Yeah. Then I can cock a doodle-doo."

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 2/28/20

Jake (14), Alyssa (11 1/2), Zac (10), Tyler (7 1/2), Nick (5)

I posted a Things That Make Me Smile list consistently every Friday for many years. Every now and then, I'd miss a week but was always able to catch up right away. 

Then something happened and I got behind. Really behind. One week turned into two; two turned into a month. And now here we are with over a year of unpublished laughs. 

My purpose in sharing these is two-fold: to share the funny things my kids say, and, more importantly, to preserve these memories for our family. While I have  kept track of many things, there have been many more that I've forgotten. Quotes, jokes, sweet words, and special moments have been erased from our memories. I let the amount of work it would require to catch up discourage me from being truly present in all my moments with my kids, looking and listening for those precious reminders of my abundant blessings and writing them down. 

I've lamented that I would never get caught up. Then Leighton--always encouraging, always supportive--had a suggestion. Why don't you forget about catching up for now and just pick up this week. Start posting the current week again. 

He is a wise man. And while it's taken me a couple months to heed his advice, ahem, I'm starting that today. Here's to appreciating little things and recording more memories.

1. Nick, playing with Legos: "Mama! I made a portal!"

Me: "Cool! Where is it gonna take you?"

Nick: "To you!"

2. Me: "So, your mom kinda knows how to cook, huh?"

Ayssa, shocked: "Understatement of the year! No--understatement of the century!"

Me: "Wow, that's saying something."

Alyssa: "I couldn't say year, it's only February."

3. Me, to Jake: "I want to make sure your brother and sister stay alive."
Nick: "Me?! I'm already alive."

4. Nick made a chiropractor out of Duplo and asked, "Who needs getting adjusted?"

5. Nick, staring at an image of a person on the computer: "I'm having a staring contest with him! He's winning."

6. Alyssa: ". . . Come on! Let's go try it!"

Me: "Are you guys trying to give me a heart attack?"

Jake: "Mom, the simple way to avoid that . . . is to make sure you don't know when we do these things."

7. Alyssa started learning calligraphy. 

8. Me: ". . . biscuits and gravy."

Nick: "And eggs! You always forget the eggs."

Me: "Eggs, of course. I'm sorry."
Nick: "You need to write it down on paper so you don't forget. Every time you talk to Daddy, if there's a paper in your pocket, check what it says."

9. We spent the day at the hands-on museum. 

10. Nick: "Can I ride my bike?"

Me: No. It's not even bike-riding weather."

Nick: "What? Bike-riding weather?! That's not even a thing!"

11. Me: "Who left this here?"

Alyssa: "Probably Zac."

Me: "I'm going with Nicky."

Nick, innocently: "You're going with me where? You're going with me where, Mama?"

12. Nick: "You know how much I love you? A 0 and a 0 and a 1!"

Me: "In that order?"

Nick: "100!!!"

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 12/28/18

Jake (13), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (9), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (4)

Happy Friday! I am finishing up my Smiles for 2018. These took place the second half of December. This is my favorite time of year, filled with family and fun! 

1. Nicholas, singing along with the dreidel song: "Oh, turtle, turtle, turtle! I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready, the turtle I will play!"

2. Nicholas: "Dad's going to fix that later. He's the master."

3.

4. Nicholas, because I had a charcoal facial mask on: "Mama, with that on your face, you should put pickles on your eyes." (cucumbers)

5. Nicholas calling truffles troubles.

6. Me: "When you wake up, you're not going to be my favorite 3-year-old anymore."

Nicholas: "Why not?"

Me: "Because you're not going to be 3."

Nicholas, smiling: "Oh, yeah, 5!"

Me: "Not 5. How old are you going to be?"

Nicholas, pouting: "4. I don't want to be that one."

7. Me: "Do you know how much I love you?"

Nicholas: "100! And 3, 4, 5!"

8. Every year my mom and I have a big baking day and make a bunch of goodies to pass out to family and friends.

9. Nicholas: "Mama, at church, I do not want to dive in that water." (baptistery)

10. Me: "Nicholas, you're going to have to wait a minute."

Nicholas: "Yes, sir, mother."

11. Nicholas, wanting to be excused for dinner: "Mama, may I be stuffed?"

12. Zac: "The wise men didn't show up until about 2 years after Jesus was born."

Alyssa: "But the wise women showed up right away, because they took a shortcut."

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 12/14/18

* This post may contain affiliate links.

Jake (13), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (9), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (4)

Happy Monday! This list of Smiles covers the first half of December 2018. It's been fun looking back through all the fun of the holidays. So many reasons to stop, be thankful, and smile.


1, Nicholas, randomly and with no other explanation: "I watched two things at Gramma's: this and the other thing."

2. We celebrated Jake becoming a teenager! He requested a variation of our Boston cream pie. Instead of chocolate ganache, he chose a cooked caramel icing for the top.

3. Nicholas: "What can I eat?"
Me: "We're going to eat dinner when Daddy gets home."
Nicholas: "What's for dinner?"
Me: "Soup."
Nicholas, with a big smile: "I have a headache, Mom. Can I not eat soup?"

4. Decorating the house for Christmas with our annual traditions: a warm drink (this year was hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream), festive music, and homemade gingersnaps.

5. Zac: "You're the best mom ever!"
Me: "All because I let you have hot chocolate?"
Zac: "No, because of your baking and because of who you are."

6. Me: "Stop growing up."
Nicholas: "Yes, sir."

7. Nicholas didn't like my answer so he told me he was the mom and I was the boy. I got to play while he did chores. He was having too much fun washing dishes and doing laundry. He kept calling himself "Mama Nicky."

8. Tyler, eating a homemade cookie still warm from the oven: "Mom, I'm glad God made you!"

9. While playing Pictionary during our monthly Game Schooling Day, Zac drew a cross covered in flames. His word was crossfire.

10. Nicholas, trying to say rhino: "A hippopotamus is a wino."

11. Making and decorating sugar cookies as a family.

12. Me: "Is it almost your birthday?"
Nicholas: "Yes!"
Me: "How old are you going to be?"
Nicholas: "5."
Me: "What happened to 4? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5."
Nicholas: "I don't want to do it like that."

13. Nicholas, listening to Tyler explain something: "This is confusicating."

14. Nicholas turned 4 years old. He got a big boy LEGO set and a set of Brain Flakes.

What made you Smile this week?



* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Things That Make Me Smile 11/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (9), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

I am determined to get caught up on my Smiles once and for all! I've noticed that I haven't been recording things my kids say much at all anymore because I am so far behind. We can't have that! So here is all of our Smiles from November of last year (or at least the ones I made sure to record).  

1. Nicholas, looking at a shark: "Aww, that's cute."

Tyler: "Never say a shark is cute unless it's a baby shark."

2. Zac: "That was the best dinner I've had since yesterday!"

3. We celebrated Zac's 9th birthday. I took him out for his special day the week before and then showed him our love on his birthday with pancakes with chocolate gravy for breakfast, a new LEGO set, and a homemade peanut butter cup cake.

4. Nicholas, calling to me as I was walking away: "Wait for me, fweetheart!"

5. Alyssa, listening to "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy" when it said down in my heart to stay: "I used to think it was down in my heart Tuesday."

6. Nicholas, holding the straps of his snow pants: "Now I can be a farmer!"

7. We also celebrated Leighton's birthday with LEGO presents and a homemade strawberries & cream cake.

8. Nicholas, to Alyssa, sweetly: "Hi, darling."

9. Jake: "Do you like hard or soft tacos?"

Nicholas: "Fuzzy."

10. We walked down to the school and voted in the election as a family.

11. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our family and made pumpkin, eggnog cream, and dutch apple pies.

12. Nicholas, about our monthly science class: "Somebody had robots there."

Me: "That was Miss Rachel."

Nicholas: "Yes, Miss Rachel! I love that name."

13. Leighton: "They're driving on the shoulder."

Tyler, confused: "How do you drive with your shoulder?"

13. Thankful for my blessings.

What made you Smile?

Things That Make Me Smile 11/2/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

This week, we played board games by the fire, spent much time at church for a conference, and just enjoyed being together as a family.

1. Jake, making up a joke during Missions Week at church: "Where are cows missionaries to? . . . The uddermost part of the Earth."

2. Alyssa, rearranging the clothes at the thrift store: "I want to work here when I grow up. Wanna know why?"

Me: "Why?"

Alyssa: "I want to organize everything."

3.

4. Me, teasing because the kids were being silly: "I think I need to go back to the store."

Jake: "What! You were already there for 2 hours."

Me: "I am allowed to leave sometimes. You can't survive without me for a few hours?"

Jake, being sarcastically dramatic: "No!"

Me, laughing: "I think it was ok. You were with your dad. He can handle it." 

Jake: "No, he can't. He's not a professional."

5. Nicholas calling a platypus a "potypus."

6. Jake, making up a joke: "What did the electrician say when someone called him? . . . Watt?"

7.

8. Nicholas, in the van: "I got my hotted seat on." (aka heated seat)

9. Me: "Do you know how much I love you?"

Nicholas, giggling: "Yes."

Me: "How much?"

Nicholas: "Higher than Daddy!"

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 10/26/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

Happy Friday! This week we celebrated Tyler's half birthday, made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and created our own versions of the Starry Night masterpiece. 

1. Tyler, eating homemade soup: "What is the green stuff?"
Me: "Seasoning."
Tyler: "Is it edible?"

2. Nicholas, seeing wispy clouds covering part of the moon: "On, no, the moon! A giant spider web got it!"

3. Nicholas, eating colby cheese: "I don't want to eat this. It smells like sharp cheddar."

4. Nicholas: "Mama, where are we going?"
Me: "Aldi."
Nicholas: "Oldie? Who's that? Like a guy?"

5.

6. Nicholas, seeing deflated bounce houses: "Oh, no! They are crushed!"

7. Nicholas, putting his face right in front of mine: "You're the cutiest."

8. Nicholas, singing: "Jack and Jill climbed up a tree and said you come down. For I'm going to your house today. For I'm going to your house today."

9. Nicholas: "I like Mommy and Daddy 'cause they get me water."
Me: "Aww, that's nice. Do you like us for other reasons, too?
Nicholas: "Yes, for love and kisses."

10. Jake: "Chartreuse."
Nicholas: "Shark shoes?!"


What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 10/19/18

*This post may contain affiliate links.

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

This week, we went to a bonfire with friends, performed many science experiments, and had fun game schooling.

1. Leighton and I always wonder why the kids walk passed him to look for me around the house. Now we know.

Me: "You guys, Dad is right here. Why didn't you just ask him?"
Jake: "Because if we ask Dad, there's a 75% chance of 'no.'"

2. Nicholas, watching Double Dare: "Why do they always do Physical Challenge? That gets boring."

3. Jake, after Nicholas mispronounced a word: "Aw, he still has that little boy accent."

4. Nicholas, because he wanted hairspray: "I want my hair crunchy."

5. Me: "But, honey, this is a big kid game."

Nicholas: "I am a big kid."

Me: "You are?"

Nicholas: "Yes. And you are not a big kid."

Me: "I'm not? Well then, what am I?"

Nicholas: "You are a big mama."

6.

7. Commercial: "Every season starts with Dicks."

Jake: "No, it doesn't. It starts with a temperature change."

8. Nicholas, because he took off his pants: "I didn't stay my pants on."

9. Nicholas: "Is Gramma coming tonight?"
Me: "No, not tonight."

Nicholas: "Aww, I wanted to spend the night again!"

10. Nicholas, telling me his recipe: "Put sugar in it first. Then this. Shake it up. Then you hot it. Then you eat it!"

11. Nicholas, about music in the van: "Mama, can you turn it down so I can hear it louder?"

12. Tyler, talking about his favorite season: "Summer is my friend! Winter is my other friend . . . Spring and fall are my friends, too."

13. Alyssa: "I have a winter coat that has a hood that goes on an off."

Nicholas, concerned: "Aww, we can tape it."

What made you Smile this week?


*Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Things That Make Me Smile 10/5/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

This week, we had game schooling, science class with our city, and baked some yummy fall treats.

1. Zac: "Mom, I want to name all my kids names from the Bible. Unless I have 5 kids--4 boys and a girl. Then I want to name them after the Nexo Knights." (LEGO)

2. Tyler, after eating breakfast: "I'm stuffed. May I have water with no ice, please?"

Me: "No ice?"

Tyler: "Because water with ice just makes me stuffed-er. Water with no ice makes more room in my tummy. Somehow."

3. Alyssa: "Why do you think the Bible is true?"

Zac: "Because I was taught that and who would make up such cool stories?"

4.

5. Jake: "Can we hang this poster in our room, please? If you say no, that would be so cruel."

Me: "Cruel is my middle name."

Jake: "Mom Cruel Leaf."

Me: "Yep, that's it. Though I didn't realize Mom was my first name."

Jake: "It is now that you have kids."

6. Nicholas, watching Alyssa draw: "Very impressive."

7. Jake: "Hey, Mom, don't you like my giant ribs? I worked hard to get them to stick out like this."

Me: "You worked hard at not eating?"

Jake: "Trust me, with your cooking, that is hard!"

8. Nicholas, going potty: "Mama, I am killing the bubbles!"

9. Jake: "Mom, I'm going to tape Nicholas up."

Nicholas: "Yeah, like my mouf! So I can't talk!"

Me: "And you're excited about this?"

Nicholas: "Yeah!"


What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 9/28/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10 1/2), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6 1/2), Nicholas (3 1/2)

This week Leighton and Jake went deer hunting, we practiced being cold case detectives, played a rousing game of hide-n-seek, made some crafts, and just enjoyed the benefits of homeschooling. 

1. Zac: "I love making dinner. I never thought cooking would be this much fun."

2. Jake: "Want to hear my joke? A knight is preparing his horse for battle. He gives him a long speech about his importance and then asks, 'Are you ready to carry me into battle?' The horse says, 'Neigh,' and walks away." (nay)

3. Me: "How much do you love Mama?"

Nicholas: "All of them and a half!"

4.

5. Nicholas: "Mama, was dis Tyyer's cup when he was a baby?"

Me: "Actually, this mug was mine when I was little."

Tyler: "Whoa! That's old! I'm surprised it's not broken."

6. Tyler's drawing.

7. Alyssa, cleaning up her craft area: "I'm going to try to keep my desk clean from now on."

Me: "Good idea."

Alyssa: "It's not an idea; it's common sense."

8. Zac, walking up to me: "I want to tell you something . . . I love you."

9. Zac: "Whoever created pizza, I'd like to shake their hand and talk to them for hours. And sit and eat pizza with them for hours."

10. Nicholas really got into making his personal pizza.

11. Tyler: "I can survive one whole hour without eating."

Me: "Wow, a whole hour, huh?"

Tyler: "Yeah, one time I went from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock without eating."

12. The problem with raising readers . . . 

Me: "Please do not run through the parking lot."

Jake: "Can we hasten through the parking lot? Ooh, maybe we should canter through it. Walk briskly?"

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 9/14/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6), Nicholas (3 1/2)

This list covers 2 weeks worth of Smiles. During this time, we went on a vacation to northern Michigan. We took a ferry to Mackinac Island, climbed the sand at Sleeping Bear Dunes, toured the forts and other sites of the Mackinac State Historic Parks, searched for Petoskey stones in Lake Michigan, played at the beach, went geocaching, and so much more. 

Days after we returned home, I was able to go with my mom to an overnight ladies' retreat with our church and spend quality time with her. The beginning of September with a special time filled with many memories. 

1. Nicholas, about a coconut doughnut: "Mom! Dat doughnut has white 'prinkles all over it! It's so yummy!"

2. Nicholas: "Mom, can you make grape juice yesterday later?"

3. Our first day of school for this year.

4. 

5. Me: "We need to get ready to go buh-bye."

Nicholas: "Where are we going?"

Me: "Mackinaw City."

Nicholas: "No, we are going to Gramma's house."

6. Zac finished reading The Hobbit.

7. Me, while we were waiting in the van while Leighton ran into a store: "Here comes Daddy! Daddy is our favorite."

Nicholas: "No he not."

Me: "He's not? Well then, who is our favorite?"

Nicholas: "You."

8. Zac, eating a blueberry muffin I had just pulled out of the oven: "Mmm, that crumble tastes like sugar cookies. It's sugar cookie on top of goodness."

9.

10. Every night, as the kids are going to bed, we say, "Good night. Sweet dreams. I love you." Nicholas must not have completely understood us, because one night, he hugged me and said, "Good night, green beans. I love you." We've been saying that every night since. 

11. Nicholas: "Daddy, pwease?"

Leighton: "No, not tonight."

Nicholas, whining: "Mama, pwease, can I?"

Me: "If Daddy says no, Mama says no."

Nicholas: "Pwease can Daddy say yes?"

12. Tyler, sincerely: "If you go the wrong way into a car wash, do you come out dirty?"

13. Tyler: "Gramma is a girl."

Nicholas: {gasps} "No, her not! Her is a mom!"

14.

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 8/24/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6), Nicholas (3 1/2)

Happy weekend! This week, we did more canning, went geocaching, had a family water balloon fight, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire, and enjoyed being together. 

1. Alyssa: "When I grow up, I'm going to come to your house for dinner often."

2. Nicholas: "Can I have toast with tuna on it?" (meant Nutella: 'tella, tuna)

3. Nicholas, pointing to the clock: "Mama, look. It's 30 o'clock."

4. Nicholas, about the dough attachment for the KitchenAid: "Mom! I found a grappling hook! It's for pirates."

5. Nicholas, in the basement hearing Tyler upstairs through the heat vent: "Ty? Ty, I hear you! I am Nicholas! I am talking to you!"

6. Alyssa: "If I have kids--and I hope I do--I hope they're like Nicky."

7. Zac: "Mom, can you give me your recipe for (strawberry) compote? That way my wife can make it someday."

8. Alyssa: "Nick, did you take a bite of my cookie?"

Nicholas, making a confused face: "I thought it was Tyyer's cookie."

9. A portion of our canning for the week.

10. Nicholas: "Mama, Tyyer won't let me play wif his camera. And Zachy won't, and Jacob won't."

Me: "Then you'll have to find something else to play with."

Nicholas: "I know! Lyssa's!"

11. Me: "Do you want Netflix or Amazon Prime:"

Nicholas: "Hmm . . . Amazon Slime."

What made you Smile this week?

Things That Make Me Smile 8/17/18

Jake (12 1/2), Alyssa (10), Zac (8 1/2), Tyler (6), Nicholas (3 1/2)

Happy New Year! I think my New Year's resolution should be to get caught up on Smile posts, ha! Maybe my Word of the Year for 2019 should be progress or consistency or finish in order to get up to date, but alas, I have chosen another goal that I will share soon. My plan is to blog more frequently again though.

These Smile are way back from the summer months, when the weather was warm and our days were filled with fun in the sun.


1. Nicholas calling his calf his "leg cheek."

2. We canned dozens of quarts and pints of veggies from both my parents' and grandparents' gardens, including sweet relish, crushed tomatoes, bread & butter pickles, pickled banana peppers, pickled jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, and green beans.

3. Leighton and Jake built a bean bag toss game for our carnival night to match the shipwrecked theme of Vacation Bible School.

4. Nicholas refuses to believe any pictures of Leighton with hair is his daddy, no matter how much I try to convince him. I have an older picture of him as the lock screen on my phone. 

Nicholas: "Can you show me the other daddy on your phone?" 

5. Me: ". . . and I think we should get some chocolate ice cream."

Alyssa: "Ooh! Wait, you did say chocolate, right?"

Me: "Yes."
Alyssa: "Those are my two favorite words together."

6. The surprise I found in the refrigerator. 

7. Me, to Leighton: "Hey, these kids are smart. You can't trick them."

Alyssa: "You taught us."

8. One of the days of VBS was crazy hat night. When Alyssa found out, she immediately knew she wanted to wear a fez. The next morning, she drew her own pattern on felt, cut it out, sewed it together, and added a tassel.

9. Junior High Girl (JHG): "Did you graduate yet?"

Me: "Graduate what?"

JHG: "High school."

Me, chuckling: "Yes, I graduated high school, and I graduated from college many years ago."

JHG: "How many years?"

Me: "18. I'm 36 years old."

JHG: "Wow. My mom is 35. You look young."

10. Alyssa: "I have common sense, I just choose to ignore it."

Me: "Why?"

Alyssa: "Everyone does nowadays."

What made you Smile this week?