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?

My Parents

I was looking for a specific memento today. I had a good idea where it was, but wasn't certain of the exact box. I climbed under our basement stairs in the alcove that we use as storage and began removing boxes one by one from the shelves. As I took off each lid, I was taken back to my childhood. Pictures, awards, letters, trinkets--these were windows to my past. 

I brought up one of the boxes to share the memories with my kids. In it were a few of my old Awana books (why did I even keep them?). I had told the kids how different the books were from the one that they use now. Today I showed them. We read stories I had written, laughed at silly poems I composed, and realized that once-upon-a-time I wasn't too bad at drawing (when did that change?). 

Tucked deep into the box was a handful of loose stationery dated July 10, 1995. I was 13 years old and wrote this poem for my parents:

I Love You

If I could have one wish,

I'd tell you what it would be.

It wouldn't be gold or diamonds

Or money just for me.

I'd wish for the great parents

That I have today

For they always make me happy

And turn the sky from blue to gray.

My parents love and care for me

And that to me is kind,

And if I look for better parents,

I could never find.

I love my parents very much

Although it might not show.

I wanted to tell them how I felt,

but how I did not know!

I tried to pick Mom flowers 

And for Dad some macadamia nuts,

But whenever I touched the roses

All over my hand I got cuts.

I thought to help around the house

And do some extra chores.

I could vacuum, dust, mop, and clean,

And then wash all the doors. 

But what I wanted to do for them

Was something that would last much longer

Just to show them that my love 

Was ever so much stronger.

The idea finally hit me,

And I knew what to do.

I would write them a poem

that said, "I love you!"

I decided to share it here, not because of my rhyming skills, ha, but because all those years ago I wanted to give them something that "would last much longer." It's been 24 years, and though I had forgotten about the poem, my feelings are the same. 

My parents truly are the greatest. Now I get to see their love toward not only me, but my husband and 5 children, as well. Selfless. Giving. Loving. 

We are beyond blessed. 

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?

Play Update #1

* This post may contain affiliate links.

We did 30 Days of Playing in June! I had been planning to post a few updates along the way, not just for accountability, but for inspiration, as well, because it's always fun learning new ways to connect with our kids.

But here we are, weeks passed June, and I'm just posting the first list. I guess we've just been having too much fun playing to stop and sit at a computer!

Here is what we played the beginning of the month. Maybe you can find a new toy or game to play with your family. Feel free to share what you've played last month, too!

1. Frisbee -- This ring frisbee is a fun variation of the classic and much easier for little ones to catch.

2. Rummikub -- This is our current favorite game! It's a rummy-style game played with tiles for 2-4 players. Alyssa (11 yr) loves this one because you manipulate the tiles to do what you want. It's a great strategy game for the older ones, but also a good game to reinforce numbers and matches for our 4-year-old. 

3. Football -- This is my favorite football! It's small enough that it fits perfectly in my hand and is a much better fit for the younger kids. It's softer than a regular football, too. Easy to catch, easy to throw. Perfect. The kids and I spent many hours tossing it around. 

4. Water Balloons -- Who doesn't love water balloons on a hot, summer day?! We grabbed a pack of 100 from the dollar store and filled them all. Many were thrown in a typical water balloon fight, others were reserved for tossing back and forth, and some were used for slow-motion videos. We had a lot of fun throwing the balloons on the ground or hitting them with a baseball bat and watching the replays in slo-mo.  

5. Melissa & Doug Castle Puzzle -- A few months ago we started putting together regular puzzles as a family. After many years of babies and toddlers in the house, we're at a point where we don't have to worry about a little one pulling pieces off a table or putting them in their mouth. We've mostly done 1,000-piece puzzles, but I had gotten this 200-piece castle one a couple years ago and never opened it. It's since been discontinued, but it was a fun and super quick build. I have my eye on this colorful doors puzzle next!

6. Football -- We spent another full day tossing, throwing, playing, and tackling.

7. White Mountain Candy Wrappers Puzzle -- Another puzzle! I had just purchased this one because the price had dropped and even though I hadn't been planning to assemble it right away, the kids asked. We finished it up that evening when Leighton came home from work. The White Mountain puzzles are our favorites. They are well-made and have fun designs. This candy one was a fun puzzle for everybody!

8. Painting and Shopping -- No, those things aren't really playing. I know. Leighton had pulled up the carpet in our living room and had just refinished the hardwood floor. Since the room was empty, I thought it was the perfect time to paint--the living room, the entryway, and the hallway. It took the whole day to get it done. Even though there was no time to stop and play, I let the older kids paint for a bit (they thought it was like playing!) and then took them with me grocery shopping after the first coat of paint. We laughed and joked a lot and still spent quality time together even though we didn't play a game.

9. Yes and No -- We've been playing this game for so many years that I don't remember how it started.  It's like Twenty Questions, except the number of questions doesn't matter. Everything has to be a yes or no question and it has to be something everyone knows. Even toddlers like this one, even if they don't fully understand. We play mostly during dinner, but car rides are fun, too. Whoever guesses correctly gets to pick the next round.

10. Pirate Maze Book -- This is such a fun puzzle book from Usborne! It has over 60 pages of pirate-themed mazes. It is filled with cute details and tons of sailor, undersea, and treasure references--perfect for pirates and landlubbers alike. My younger boys love this book and have spent hours poring through the pages. There is so much going on in the book that we always find something new to enjoy when we do it.

That's only some of the fun we had during our 30 Days of Playing challenge! The fun hasn't ended just because the month did though, so feel free to list some of your family's favorite games and toys! 

And be watching for more ways that we played in the month of June.

* 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.

Father's Day 2019

Father's Day is a special time.

Our society thinks it's funny to bash dads--to mock them, belittle them, ridicule them. I know there are many men who shirk their responsibilities, but we shouldn't let those men be the standard. My life is filled with strong, family-men--men who are hardworking, who love unconditionally, who remain faithful. We need to spend more time praising those who are good examples of what a father should be.

I want my kids to know how blessed they are to have the daddy they do. Leighton is our provider, our stability, our leader, our handyman, our resident tech geek, our protector. And he does all these jobs well. He is giving, intelligent, and honestly good at everything. He is forgiving and disciplines our children in love. 

He is well-deserving of our respect and honor, not only on Father's Day, but throughout the entire year. I could not ask for a better man to be the daddy of my babies.

Every year, I sit down with the kids one-on-one to complete these questionnaires. It's one of our favorite things. You can tell how important family is by reading their answers. 

By Jake, 13 yr

My dad is 36 years old.

My dad weighs 150 lbs.

My dad is 5’11”.

My dad's favorite color is green.

My dad's favorite food is banana pudding.

My dad is really strong. He could lift a lot.

My dad always says we better be good for Mom.

My dad is the best at making Mom happy.

My dad's job is taking care of us.

My dad laughs when Nicky mispronounces words.

My dad and I like to go to the store and play video games.

My dad really loves when we behave.

I love my dad because he loves me.

It makes my dad happy when Mom makes him rib and banana pudding.

Alyssa 11 yr

My dad is 36 years old.

My dad weighs 103 lbs.

My dad is 6’10” tall.

My dad's favorite color is green.

My dad's favorite food is ribs.

My dad is really strong. He could lift the van.

My dad always says “why is there another needle on the floor?”

My dad is the best at being a dad.

My dad's job is a safety guy.

My dad laughs when at half the jokes Jake says.

My dad and I like to read.

My dad really loves me.

I love my dad because he loves me.

It makes my dad happy when I’m good.

Zac, 9 yr

My dad is 36 years old.

My dad weighs 110 lbs.

My dad is 5'10” tall.

My dad's favorite color is green.

My dad's favorite food is steak.

My dad is really strong. He could lift 50 lbs.

My dad always says "I love you."

My dad is the best at fixing machines.

My dad's job is a safety guard.

My dad laughs when he reads these (questionnaires).

My dad and I like to play board games.

My dad really loves his family.

I love my dad because he’s my dad and we’re supposed to love our family.

It makes my dad happy when he’s around our family.

By Tyler, 7 yr

My dad is 36 years old.

My dad weighs 35 lbs.

My dad is 25 inches tall.

My dad's favorite color is green.

My dad's favorite food is everything Mommy makes.

My dad is really strong. He could lift a small table.

My dad always says "clean up your room."

My dad is the best at working.

My dad's job is to fix stuff.
My dad laughs at funny jokes.

My dad and I like to play with Legos.

My dad really loves Mommy!

I love my dad because he’s my dad.

It makes my dad happy when Mommy is making dinner.

By Nicholas, 4 yr

My dad is 4 years old.

My dad weighs 60 lbs.

My dad is 17 feet tall.

My dad's favorite color is blue.

My dad's favorite food is banana pudding.

My dad is really strong. He could lift a horse.

My dad is the best at lifting a pig.

My dad's job is to work.
My dad laughs when smelling flowers.

My dad and I like tackle.

My dad really loves Mommy!

I love my dad because.

It makes my dad happy when loving Mommy.

P.S. "And tell Daddy that I love marshmallows and hot dogs roasting on the fire!"

Happy Father's Day, Leighton! I hope you know how very much you are loved and appreciated. I love raising these kids with you. Thank you for being an amazing example to them.