This post contains affiliate links. We may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
On of the steps to a happy life is through appreciation of the little things. I’m finally getting it. Sometimes the everyday moments that can easily be overlooked are the moments in our life that we will look back on with pure joy.
Watching your newborn sleep soundly when you are absolutely exhausted… picking up your son from school after a long day at work… making your families favorite chocolate cake when you are all recovering from a bad cold. They all seem like small parts of life. Not memory worthy, but when you sit back and think about them, when they are long gone… you realize that these are the big moments in life. They are the times you will look back on with so much love your heart feels like it will burst.
I am looking at life with a new set of eyes and a much bigger heart.
With all this in mind, our first Fun Friday was even better than I imagined it would be. Not because anything life changing happened. But because it helped fill us up with “small thing” memories! I remembered how excited my little one is over the little things in life and that lead our day. I wanted to fill it with tons of little memories to make the day really memorable.I keep thinking about why I took her our of school on Fridays… to be together and have fun!
We went ice skating! This was her first time and she was beyond excited to go! She had visions of swirling on the ice and scenes from her new favorite movie FROZEN dancing in her head. It wasn’t that glorious… but we had a great time. We stopped to get a Popsicle for fuel and kept skating the day away. Once our toes were too cold to go on we finished our day splitting a huge m&m cookie.
We laughed, we sang, we talked and she did some dancing… we had a great day. It was a great reminder that the little things really are the big things in life.
How are you making memories with your kids?
Looks like she had a great time. It’s hard to find things to do with teenagers but I need to start working on it.
I’ve been thinking the same thing Ellen, it’s so much easier to find things to do with my little one than the older 2!
You are so right. My son is now a young adult and I would do anything to go back in time to be more present and relive those moments.
I’m trying so hard Angela to really be present for her right now. My older 2 grew way too quickly 🙁
Mine are teens so I have to make sure to talk to them daily. Keep my door always open, and to have fun!
I do the same with all 3 of mine. My almost 14 year old will talk some days… the 11 year old shares and I love it. The 4 year old, well it just depends on her mood 🙂
There used to be an ice skating rink near my house. I loved taking my daughter there. She still has great memories of it.
She had so much fun we are already planning on going again!
Looks like you had an absolutely lovely day with your daughter! The pics are so cute and so is she. Glad to hear you had good time and your right, the little moments are the big moments of life.
Thanks Joanna!
Love the quote! What a fun family day out.
We really did! Thanks Tammilee!
I don’t have any kids, but this post kind of makes me wish I did. It’s so true!!!
Ah Jennifer! It is so fun to be a mommy! Best thing I ever did!
it’s very true!! we had the bEST family day yesterday. cleaning and organizing the basement!! we had frozen soundtrack on my phone blaring and i think we drove my husband crazy because the kids and i all sang it over and over and over…. but it was just awesome. just us, no phone calls, no interruptions. great day.
Isn’t it funny that cleaning can even be fun when you are all together? PS. I know EVERY Frozen song now. We have the CD too and even listen to it driving around in the car! I’ve even got it stuck in my hear right now 🙂
you are so right and time flies too! I try to soak each day in especially with my kids!
I’m trying to soak it all up too!
Your daughter is adorable! Enjoy every minute for sure. They grow too fast. My daughter is 17 yo and she and I enjoy doing things together (shopping, she likes to teach me cheers – hee-hee, paint each other’s nails, etc.) My son is 19 yo and it’s not as easy to spend quality time. He does love mom’s cooking so usually we just chat and eat together. I help him with his college homework too. It’s harder to have bonding time with a boy.
Thank you so much Nanny! I’ve heard that it is different with a boy. Sounds like you two are still getting some really good quality time together!
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. My life has gotten so busy that I want to figure out how to unplug, and make more time for my kids.
It’s hard to do… but it’s so worth it. Just knowing that we have that one day a week to really look forward to keeps us all going. It’s also been fun to plan what we are going to do.
I always felt the same way you do about grabbing and savoring the everyday moments. They really do remember them and they give them an overall happy, warm feeling about home. 🙂
I sure hope so Liz! We are really trying to make the most of our Fridays together!
You are right, they grow up so incredibly fast! My oldest is 10, and sometimes it hits me that I only have 7 more years until she is off to college! I know those years are going to fly by just as quickly as the first 10. My twins are 6 and I am really trying to enjoy my time with them more rather than always feeling so stressed. Thanks for the post!
I grew up as an only child and my mom tried to spoil me with taking me places that I would remember. I try to do the same with my kids by doing little things as a family to make those memories.