This spring went by in a flash with 3 birthdays, 3 weeks at the beach and more!

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. This is when I pause my usual recipe content, and take time to share our family’s favorite moments from the month!

Here are some highlights from April and May 2025!

Recipes I’m Making on Repeat

Here are some recipes I made for my family this month:

Sugar Cookies

Check out my instagram reel making these cute spring sugar cookies with the kids.

Making sugar cookies on Insta!

Of course, chocolate chip cookies.

Things I’m Loving

Here are my favorite things so far this summer!

• Tinted Facial Sunscreen. This is my new favorite product. I wear it under my makeup, to the pool, etc.
• Summer wardrobe. I included all my favorite summer wardrobe pieces here in my shopmy shop! Here are a few:
  • Parker Long Shorts. These are THE jean shorts. I’ve worn them for two summers now. Not too short, not too long, the perfect amount of stretch.
  • Cove dress. I have this dress in multiple colors. It’s my favorite dress.
  • Hutton Slide Sandal. I get compliments on these sandals every single time I wear them (which is all the time). I’ve had them for two years and they still look brand new!

NEW April & May Recipes

Here’s a recap of the brand new recipes I shared the past two months!

• ​Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (naturally gluten free)!
• ​White Chocolate Brownies (perfect dessert for white chocolate lovers).
• ​Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (one of my faves, using coconut oil is so delicious)!
• ​Blueberry French Toast Casserole (perfect Mother’s Day Breakfast).
• ​Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (a classic, bright and cherry muffin recipe).
• ​Taco Bowls (a great way to use taco night leftovers).
• ​Corn Salsa (your new favorite summer appetizer)!

• ​Caprese Sandwich – a personal favorite and a summertime VIP!
• ​Dirt Cups – I took my famous dirt cake and made it into individual servings (and added chocolate)!
• ​Ground turkey tacos – a lighter twist on taco night!
• ​Mango Salsa – a family favorite, perfect for summer!
• ​Blueberry Pancakes – classic!
• ​Homemade Trail Mix – a great snack for the pool or hiking!
• ​The BEST Macaroni Salad – a barbecue VIP!
• ​Corn and Chicken Soup – soup in the summer? Yes please when there’s fresh corn involved!
• ​Vanilla Sheet Cake – perfect dessert to feed a crowd.

Snapshots

It’s crazy to think we started our April skiing. But we did and it was the best ski day ever. So warm, no crowds. My favorite day and the perfect way to say “goodbye until next year” to skiing.

Mara turned eight! She is our spunky, steadfast girl who knows what she wants (and what she doesn’t want). For her birthday we went to the zoo and had a blast. Ritch made her an Avatar cake that was mind-blowingly amazing.

We ended our school year strong. Bethany did amazing in her mock trial while Gabe and Naomi dressed as King Leonidas and Queen Esther for their end of year projects. I’m so ready to usher in summer and enjoy every second of it!

Our friends’ oldest son got married in Washington. Thanks to sweet friends who watched the kids, we got to sneak away for a weekend together and it was amazing. We woke up late, went for long runs, ate bagels drank coffee and just enjoyed being together without kids!

Gabe turned 12! Another April birthday and this time my sweet little guy doesn’t look so little anymore.

He wanted a chocolate bundt cake with peanut butter frosting and chocolate frosting, and I was happy to deliver.

Every year since he was four he chooses to go on the same hike on his birthday. This year the weather was perfect and we had the best time celebrating him!

FLORIDA!

We spent the majority of the month of May in Florida at my favorite place. It was absolutely my favorite and I was not ready to go back home at the end.

The best part of the whole trip was that one of my best friend’s who I’ve known since high school, her husband and their 6 kids came to stay with us.

There is just absolutely nothing more healing and life-giving than spending time with someone you’ve loved and have been loved by for decades. I am so grateful for Ariel and what a gift she is to me. Plus, our kids absolutely adore each other and watching them play in the sun and sand was just balm for my soul!

We just spent every day swimming, eating, and walking on the beach. I’m convinced I am half dolphin, half mermaid and was made to live on the beach. My soul truly just felt alive while we were there and it was amazing.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay that’s 50 steps from the water and great for families, check out this home: sea haven AMI.

At the end of May we celebrated our final kid birthday of the season when Naomi turned 10!

She wanted to go to a water park on her birthday and I have to say it was one of my top 5 favorite days of year. All the kids can swim and love water slides so we just had the best day. I thought we’d leave earlier but we stayed until almost dinnertime. The only reason we left was that she requested breadsticks with dinner and I had to get home and make them!

Of course, she requested eclair cake for dessert and then ended the day watching Wicked.

We truly had the best spring, and we’re reading to welcome summer!