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Well, would you look at that? Four whole weeks of newsletters! I'm starting to think I might actually be getting the hang of this whole consistency thing. Who knew? Thanks for being here while I figure it all out.

This past week in a minute:

The dreaded summer cold 🌬️ made its grand entrance last week (thanks, Lacey, for that lovely VBS souvenir), but we're finally on the mend and ready to embrace full summer mode. I have a little break between now and my next book deadline (hopefully my publisher isn’t reading this 😜).

The Great Apple Core Pinball Machine Incident: Picture this. We're doing one of our afternoon nap-time golf cart loops with Isla when I spot our Highland cow, Ellie Mae, looking mighty hopeful 🐮. I'd just finished my apple and thought I'd be sweet and toss her the core.

Well, turns out I am decidedly not the former baseball player in this family.

That apple core ricocheted off the golf cart roof, smacked the windshield, bounced clean off the steering wheel, and landed square in Jordan's lap… with Gala goodness everywhere! The man reacted like he'd been hit with a live grenade while I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself.

He just looked at me with that look and said, "Only you."

And that's how the Apple Core Pinball Machine earned its name (maybe someday it will rear its head again 🤣 ).

🦆 Ducky is was absolutely thriving in this cooler weather we've been having. Heat and bright sun aren't his friends, so these past few days have been pure gold for him. He's been loving his swing time, sneaking in golf cart rides, and having the sweetest back-and-forth conversations with Isla. His absolute favorite thing in the world is still getting scooped up by Jordan for a good spin and giggling his little heart out the whole time. (For those of you who don’t know Ducky, he is our 6-year-old with special needs and also an absolute ray of sunshine).

Random musings: My sister sent me a meme this week that had me in stitches and brought back some wonderful nostalgia. Something about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that just hit different. I had to share it with you…

Where are my fellow Chitty Chitty Bang Bang people at (let me hear from you)?!

And while we're at it, who else died of cholera on the Oregon Trail more times than they care to admit?

— Tabitha Paige, Author/ Illustrator, Speech Therapist & Mom

Let's play instead of quiz

Here's something I see all the time — we fall into this pattern of constant questioning with our toddlers: "What's this?" "Can you say ___?" "Is that a ____?"

But here's the thing: too much of that quiz-style talk can actually make little ones clam up. They start feeling the pressure instead of the joy of communication (and we start feeling the pressure/ concern as parents if they don’t perform).

Here's what I've learned: when every moment becomes a teaching opportunity, our little ones can sense the pressure. They start avoiding eye contact, getting fidgety, or just plain ignoring us.

What actually works:

• Jump into whatever they're fascinated by at the moment

• Use your body language to show you're genuinely interested

• Weave words naturally into the fun you're already having

When Evie was younger, she was obsessed with this little toy boat. Instead of asking her what it was or trying to get her to say "boat," I just started making splash sounds and joining her play. "Whoosh! Boat goes fast! Splash splash!" Before I knew it, she was making the sounds with me and trying out new words.

The secret is becoming their playmate first, teacher second. When kids feel like we're truly in their world with them, they naturally want to share more of what they're thinking and feeling.

Don't get me wrong, questions absolutely have their place! But the right kind of questions (and the right balance) go so much further.

This week's pick: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Okay, sorry I gave you a double dose of Chitty this week, but it is too good to pass up! This one's been a house favorite for years (I converted Jordan). Fair warning about the child-catcher scenes (you know the ones), but otherwise it's pure magic.

Why we keep coming back:

1. Real people - We try to balance cartoons with live-action when we can. It's amazing what holds a 3-year-old's attention... and what doesn't (and that's perfectly okay too).

2. The music - Still absolutely timeless.

3. Pure imagination - The flying car, wild inventions, that fantastical storyline …it all feeds creativity and storytelling in ways that modern movies rarely match.

4. Those dreamy locations - The English countryside, that gorgeous French Riviera beach, and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany always make us nostalgic for our own travels there.

🫐 A not-too-sweet summer treat 🍓 

We're trying not to make dessert an every-night expectation around here, but this one? We don't mind it making regular appearances. It's simple, summery, and actually feels kind to our bodies. This is barely a recipe, more like a gentle suggestion since it's so wonderfully simple:

Brown Sugar Whipped Cream + Berries

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Whip until soft peaks form. Serve over organic strawberries, blueberries, or whatever fruit is hanging out in your fridge.

Yes, berries cost a small fortune — especially organic ones. But they're one of the few things I always spring for organic. Totally worth it in my book.

Let the kids help whip the cream or wash the berries. Serve it up in little glass jars if you want to make it feel fancy without any extra fuss. Bonus: save a couple of dollops for your coffee the next morning (you’ll thank me later 😉).