"Love is Spelled T-I-M-E"

I love the above quote. It is by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I think this is especially true for kids. Last Sunday the boys were on one. Serious wildness was going on at our house. On a normal day when they have that much energy I send them out to ride their bikes around the block, but on an Sunday we try to do quieter things at home. Well...the boys needed a project and fast. I usually have something up my sleeve, but this time I didn't (not to mention that I pulled a muscle in my shoulder lifting boxes and was in some serious pain. Random, I know...).
On our Summer Bucket List we have a very simple activity to make a treat as a family. It is almost so simple, that in my mind we can do it any time, so I have put it off. Well, it seemed the perfect thing to do on this long, uneventful day.
The boys LOVED it. Josh put the mixer where they could all add ingredients and he let each one of them take turns adding things to make chocolate chip cookies (our favorite).
It was total bliss for the boys. They loved it. I began thinking of how often I make cookies or something else that I just want to hurry and do on my own, but how much it would mean to the boys if I let them help me. It definitely takes more time and more patience, but it means the world to them. They enjoyed every second of making cookies and felt like rock stars when we took them out of the oven.
Their curious little minds went crazy watching the big mixer churn up all of the ingredients into a big mish mosh of yumminess.
They especially loved all of the tastes of cookie dough that they got to sample along the way. And the cookies turned out perfect. Better than any cookie I have ever made before.
They were so happy and please with what they had done. Next time the kids are bored, I am going to break out the mixer again. Easy go-to activity, but I am realizing that activities that my boys like don't have to be new or elaborate or even action packed fun. Most of the time they are happy with getting mom and dad's attention for a while, being taught something new even if it isn't new for me, reading a favorite story, even just having a conversation with me that I look into their big blue eyes and listen intently to all of the words they are saying giving them my full attention. Time really is the best gift I can give my children (and husband).