Our week so far has looked like a date night at Top Golf, Dakota’s first tiny ponytail, lots of drawing with Sadie, and plenty of cozy moments at home!
It was really lovely to break our usual routine and go on a date night with Jimmy, watch Dakota hit an adorably silly milestone with her hair, and spend time sketching with Sadie. It all brings so much joy—the special moments, the ordinary ones, and everything in between 🥰
Swings and Smiles ⛳️
When my mom offered to watch the kids on Tuesday evening, Jimmy and I decided to head to Top Golf! It’s a driving range where you hit microchipped golf balls at targets to score points, all while hanging out and enjoying food and drinks. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed date night — something a little different than just going out to dinner.
I looked back in the archives and the last time we had been to Top Golf was when I was nine months pregnant with Dakota! It was much easier to lean over and place golf balls on the tee without a giant bump 😉
We ordered dinner and golfed our little hearts out. I ordered tacos, and Jimmy asked if I was a sociopath because he noticed I ate my tacos from both sides, lol. We played two games—I (somehow!) won one and he won the other. I am much better at mini golf than driving golf balls. Maybe we’ll try indoor mini golf for our next date 😬
Sketches and Smiles ✏️
I picked up How to Draw Cute Stuff and doodled a few things from the book—a couple of raccoons and a sleeping fox—onto Post-it notes and spread them out on the counter for Sadie to stumble upon.
She was so interested and delighted when she came across the drawings! “They’re so cute!” she exclaimed. “Why did you draw them?”
I told her I just wanted to do something fun that would make her happy. Then I pulled out the book and it sparked a drawing marathon that hasn’t stopped since then. We have papers, pencils, markers, and drawings littered all over our house and I love it!
There have been dragon drawing sessions with dad, sweet treat sketches with mom, and Sadie’s favorite moment this week was laughing at her Pap Pap’s drawing of a “loaf cat” that looks like a loaf of bread 😂
There’s something special about making art just for fun 💛
Ponytails and Playtime 👱🏻♀️
Dakota’s hair is juuust long enough for her to sport a little ponytail!
It was a fun milestone to hit with her. It feels like I was just giving Sadie her first pony 😭
We’ve had lots of playtime at home lately. The kids are always finding new hiding spots for hide-and-seek. There’s nothing like opening a closet and jumping ten feet when I find Mordecai quietly hiding in there!
Election Day brought sunny weather so I walked down to the polling place and Sadie rode her bike next to me. It was a great government teaching moment to show her how to vote and explain what an election is all about!
Sadie put Dakota in Mordecai’s dump truck toy and Dakota thought she was so cool with her big sister pushing her around the house!
Sadie was very excited to read an axolotl-themed graphic novel! She brought it in the car and read the whole thing on the drive to church.
We got out for a windy family walk one evening before it was dark waaaay too early.
And in exciting news: Mordecai moved up to the preschool class at our church! He was thrilled to hang out with his cousins Lawson and Titus in class 🥰
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- Daylight Savings has made this week tough with the kids’ sleep and gave me a whopper of a headache on Sunday. We’re slowly adjusting, though! 😴
- I tried a new-to-me leave-in conditioner and I really like it!
- You’ll find me in the kitchen baking lots of cupcakes today! I’m making four different flavors for an event and I can’t wait 🧁
- I had a fun idea for a granola flavor: chocolate peppermint. I’m hoping to do some recipe testing soon and share the results! In the meantime, I’ve been munching on coconut almond granola. 🥥
- Scripture I’m loving: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
As the week winds down, I’m feeling thankful for how sweet this season of life is—sneaking in a quick date night full of laughs and friendly competition, drawing marathons, tiny ponytails, and rousing games of hide-and-seek. I’m heading into the weekend feeling thankful for all God’s goodness tucked into our days 🤍
Living My Full Life 
I’m glad you had fun golfing!! I wouldn’t mind going back there and try to beat dad 🙌 Dak’s pony is adorbs- just like her!
As far as tacos? I think I do eat them from both ends too!! I guess it’s hereditary 🤣. I think my favorite type of date is dinner and possibly bowling or some type of golf. I also love country music concerts, and baseball games.
love you,
Madre
I’d love to go back to Top Golf with you guys, hehe! Let’s beat the boys 😉
Thanks for thinking to put a pony in Dak’s hair!! I think you did Sadie’s first pony, too 😭
I am *cracking up* about the eating tacos from both ends! We are freaks!
I knew you liked concerts and baseball, but I had no clue you liked bowling and golf!!!
Love you!
Your thankfulness for the little moments in life is an inspiration 🙂 I try to practice thankfulness, it’s been tough this week as I’ve been incredibly stressed with work and spending 9+ hour days in front of the screen. Especially when it’s so busy that time feels like it blurs into one. I want to start journaling more often so I can look back and not forget the day-to-day moments.
The date with Jimmy sounds super fun! Dates involving an activity are probably my favourite type of date, usually getting out somewhere for a hike or exploring a new town.
I bet your kitchen smells amazing with all those cupcakes!
Thank you! That means a lot to me!!
I’m sorry your week has been so rough. I know it’s hard to feel thankful in those moments where everything seems to be busy or chaotic. I’ll be praying you can get a break! Journaling is definitely a great outlet for reflecting on all the day-to-day moments! A few years ago, I finished a five year “One Line a Day” journal and it was so rewarding. I loved going back through and seeing the big and small moments from each day over the course of five years!
Yes to activity dates!! I always forget about thinking like hiking (maybe because it has been so cold here, ha!) or walking around a new town!
I hope your week is going well!
Thank you so much for the support 😊 I’m grateful that the big, stressful work project is done, and so is my dental implant (at least until the final stage in February, but that’s a minor procedure). Feeling much more relaxed now.
Keeping a journal over years reminded me of the concept of writing a letter to your future self, to be opened on a set date in the future. The main character in the Emily of New Moon series (by the Anne of Green Gables author) does it, and I remember feeling inspired by that when I read the books as a teenager.
Yay! So glad the work stress is way less and that the dental things are almost over! I know that all has to be such a relief.
I didn’t know the author of Anne of Green Gables wrote other books!! I will look into that right now1