Sticker Earrings & Stadium Dogs

We had the best time celebrating Rich’s 48th birthday this week surrounded by family, laughter, and a whole lot of sunshine.

We kept things simple with a backyard BBQ, apple pie, and ice cream for dessert—and of course, our family’s forever-long birthday song tradition that always gets everyone smiling (and maybe rolling their eyes just a little too).

One of the highlights?

Cherry Pepsi slushies from our slushie maker—they were a hit with the kids and adults alike!

For Rich’s gift, I gave him a brand-new pair of Air Jordans to replace the ones he’s had for nearly ten years—since our son Richie left for basic training in the Air Force.

Definitely a full-circle kind of moment.

The kids had a blast hanging around the bonfire, walking the nature trail, swinging in the hammock, and feeding the chickens.

It was one of those days that just felt like summer should—slow, sweet, and full of heart.

Connor and Liam even stayed the night so we could take them to their very first Tigers baseball game the next day—on Rich’s actual birthday!

It was so fun watching the boys take it all in.

They even made it on the jumbotron during the 2nd inning!

It happened to be Kids Day, so they got to ride the Ferris wheel for free and go down on the field to run the bases after the game.

We had great seats, lots of sunshine, and Connor kept calling the hot dogs “stadium dogs”—which just made them taste better somehow.

They also got certificates marking their first Tigers game, which was such a thoughtful touch.

As for the actual game?

I hear the 9th inning was amazing… but we missed it because we were waiting in line for the kids to go on the field.

Worth it.

Later that week, I had a special day with just Kinsley while her mom and dad took the boys on their end-of-school-year field trips.

We soaked up our one-on-one time—playing outside on the swings and trampoline, painting watercolor pictures, building a blanket fort, and just enjoying the quiet fun of being together.

She was thrilled about her “new earrings,” which were really just pretend sticker earrings—but to her, they were absolute treasure.

Weekly Wins

This week’s big win? I finally rolled up my sleeves and got down to business on Wonder Junction VBS decorations—and it felt SO good to make some real progress!

I checked a few fun things off the list:

Chickens Cactuses Corn Fluffy clouds for the sky

There are still a few bigger projects on the horizon, but with all the awesome helpers we have, I know everything will come together just in time—and it’s going to look amazing for the kids!

Can’t wait to see Wonder Junction come to life!

We’re turning our space into a full western town with cactuses, sunflowers, trains, mine shafts, and more—and I could really use some help gathering supplies!

Favorite Find

These tiny buttercup flowers, picked just for me by sweet Kinsley, completely made my day.

It’s the little things—sticky stems, tiny hands, and unexpected treasures—that remind me how beautiful the simple moments really are.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” — James 1:17

What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening to:

We recently watched Fountain of Youth on Apple TV, and it was such a fun adventure!

It felt like National Treasure meets Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—full of mystery, hidden clues, and a treasure hunt that keeps you guessing.

It’s lighthearted, pretty much family-friendly, and just the right mix of action and fun.

If you’re in the mood for an entertaining movie night, this one’s worth adding to your watchlist!

I took this pic of Ryan driving Liam home from school after their field trip to Greenfield Village, in the Model T car, and Kinsley and Connor excitedly greeting them both!

As I look back on this week, I’m just feeling so thankful—for birthdays that turn into beautiful memories, backyard moments that remind me what matters most, and the joy of watching our grandkids experience new things for the first time.

Whether it’s painting with Kinsley, laughing through our long birthday song, or getting one step closer to Wonder Junction VBS, it’s all a reminder that God fills our days with little gifts when we take the time to notice them.

Thanks for catching up with me today—hope you’re finding joy in your own simple, sweet moments too!!

Until next time,