- [Kendra] How's your left hand going?
- Good.
- [Jeremy] Hey Elise.
- Hi!
(upbeat music)
(cheering)
- I'm gonna paint with Papa.
- Oh, Janae.
That is her first ever letter J!
(upbeat music)
(bell rings)
- Dinner time.
School time.
- [Jeremy] We have found that the dinner bell
also works as a school bell.
Thanks for ringing the bell, Laura.
- Yep, no problem.
- [Jeremy] Time for school.
- We're super excited Lego is sponsoring our video today,
and we are getting to share with you guys
the Lego Super Mario sets.
You're in love with these things.
As a parent, I'm a big fan of Lego.
I love that it gets my kids creating
and playing together and problem solving.
They're working hard as they're playing together
and that is magic for me as a mom.
(8-bit music)
(screams)
- [Jeremy] You ran out of time.
- 33.
- And it shows how you got the points.
You got 21.
- That's cool.
- You got one point from this.
- [Jeremy] the Lego Super Mario app
will show you how you got your coins
at the end of a level.
You can share levels you've created with friends.
There's weekly challenges and a lot more.
Lego Mario only comes with the starter course.
And so you get it first
and then you can get expansion packs to make new levels.
So this is the Pirhana Plant Power Slide.
- This one I'm really excited for.
- [Jeremy] And we have the Desert Pokey.
(upbeat music)
So if you hit the side, you don't get points.
Caleb and I got to talk with Jonathan Bennink,
who was the lead designer at Lego
in creating Lego Super Mario.
Jonathan took us through the four year process
of trying to combine both Lego DNA and Nintendo DNA
to create this amazing game where you're building levels
and playing them with your friends.
We'll leave a link to the podcast.
And in it, Jonathan also gives some more
tips and tricks in playing Lego Super Mario.
- Now what's really cool is
we can add our own Lego bricks into the set.
- [Jeremy] Let's do it.
- Yeah!
(upbeat music)
- [Jeremy] Lego challenged us to create
our own unique level, and here's what we came up with.
So Elise's gonna try it with her left arm.
- Yeah.
- [Jeremy] Okay, we're still trying
to beat the highest score.
- 128!
- [Jeremy] 120.
(cheering)
- [Jeremy] Good job.
What was it, 128?
- [Boy] 128.
- [Jeremy] Did he beat 128?
(record scratch)
126.
- 126.
- No!
- What did I get?
- [Caleb] 156.
- [Jeremy] We decided to bring it outside
and see if we could beat 156.
The truth is that we haven't mastered this obstacle yet.
We keep (laughs).
What did you get?
- 68.
I like how he does this.
- [Caleb] Now move it to the water.
See what happens.
- [Jeremy] He's on Lava.
He's in water.
He's in desert.
The Lego Mario is a pretty amazing piece of technology.
It has an accelerometer, a gyroscope.
- Yeah.
- [Jeremy] It can sense where you're going
and what you're standing on.
(laughs)
This one is so hard with one hand.
So I remember many times as a kid trying to beat a level
on Super Mario Brothers over and over again.
And that's what this is like right now,
as we try to beat the 156 Queens Record.
- I like this part.
Heya!
- [Caleb] Okay, you are running out of time.
- That's fun.
- [Jeremy] Mom wants to try.
- So the goal of this game is to get as many coins
as you can in 60 seconds.
That's the start.
This is the finish.
- And then I go through here.
- Yes, this actually gets you an extra 30 seconds.
Mystery Box and defeat Goomba.
- Do I get coins for doing those things?
- Yes.
- All right, and I just go here?
(laughter)
- You don't want to hit those.
- You don't want to hit those?
- [Jeremy] Yeah, you wanna try to go back and forth
without hitting the sides when you get coins.
Yeah, you're doing it.
- I'm in.
- It's awesome Caleb.
- Yes. - Yes.
- [Jeremy] First try, what'd she get?
- [Both] 40!
- 40 coins.
I can't even imagine doing this with my left hand.
Elise is incredible.
Thanks again to Lego for sponsoring our video today,
click the link in the description box for more info.
(upbeat music)
We're getting sweaty out here today.
- [Jeremy] So Papa is building a woodshed over here.
- Something we really value about being at the cabin
is that it gives us opportunities to work together
as a family on different projects.
And we learn so much from Papa and McGough.
It just feels good to work on stuff.
- Grandma and I are making Popsicles today.
- [Kendra] Step one is you put the little cups
in the muffin tin so that you have something
to pour 'em into.
Look at her with that left hand.
- [Grandma] Okay, now we'll need 12 sticks too.
Okay.
- [Kendra] So how's your left hand going?
- Good.
- [Kendra] Yeah?
What have you learned about your left hand?
- I've learned that I have to strengthen it.
- [Kendra] Yeah, is your right hand a little stronger?
- Yeah.
We're adding coconut yogurt.
- [Kendra] Elise chose the flavors today.
She wanted orange coconut.
So how is it?
- Orange and coconut is the best mix I've ever done.
- [Kendra] Really, I don't think I've ever had
orange and coconut together,
but it makes sense, 'cause pineapple coconut's really good.
- Yeah.
- [Kendra] And now just a few spoonfuls of sugar.
- 'Cause it always helps.
- [Grandma] It makes the medicine go down.
- [Kendra] There we go, three scoops of sugar.
(upbeat music)
- Today we are cooking some concrete.
- [Jeremy] My favorite.
Is this your Mom's recipe?
- Wait until we, yes.
Wait until we add the chocolate chips.
It's heavy.
- Add a little bit water.
- [Jeremy] Now with concrete,
you don't want to get it too wet.
The wetter it gets, the weaker it is.
(upbeat music)
- [Elise] This smells so good.
- [Kendra] Elise, I think you're going to be
the Popsicle stick putter inner.
- Okay.
- [Kendra] It's pretty heavy, huh, Elise?
- Woop.
(Elise chuckles)
(upbeat music)
- [Kendra] Popsicle taste tester.
It's a rough job.
- Very rough.
- [Grandma] Somebody's gotta do it.
- Oh, it tastes amazing.
Perfect.
- All right.
- Freeze well, young fellas.
(upbeat music)
- [Jeremy] What are you making?
- For birdies to eat.
When after the night when they sleep,
they get up and they see this.
- [Jeremy] Perfect, thank you for helping the birdies.
You have such a great imagination.
(heartwarming music)
- Do birdies like humans making birdies' food?
- [Jeremy] Yeah, birdies like when humans give them food.
- I want a pet.
- [Jeremy] You want a pet birdie?
Sometimes people have pet birds.
We can also put up a bird feeder.
- Yeah, this can be their food.
- [Jeremy] Thanks for making their food.
All right, here's the bird feeder.
- [Boy] Where are we hanging it?
- [Jeremy] We've got to decide where to hang it.
- [Boy] I say right there.
- [Jeremy] Should we just have Janae hold it?
And the birds can eat.
Let's fill it up with bird seed.
I'm gonna get one more scoop, you hold it okay?
- [Janae] Can I have a (indistinct)?
- Let's do the last little bit of bird seed.
Perfect!
- It's been a while since I've gone grocery shopping,
and I really need to go again soon, but I'm avoiding it
because I don't love going grocery shopping,
and because I don't want to waste any of the food
that we have left around.
And so lunch today, is basically a hodgepodge.
I'm like digging through the fridge,
finding everything that we can still use
to make into a meal.
And tonight I planned for leftovers.
And so last night we had chicken tortilla soup,
and there's enough that tonight,
if I add a few extra cans of beans to it,
it's gonna be just great for dinner.
(upbeat music)
- I think that's a pretty good spot.
You guys watching for birds?
We might be a little too close,
we might have to go up on the porch.
So what's the key to being a good birdwatcher?
- Patience.
- I wanna bird watch.
- [Jeremy] I know, but we've got to eat lunch.
- I'm too tired do lunch.
- [Jeremy] Let's do lunch, and then we'll bird watch.
- But the birds might say,
"Where's the humans?"
- [Jeremy] Yeah, they might be wondering where we're at.
- Uh huh.
- [Jeremy] We'll come back, okay?
Well I think this lunch turned out amazing.
I'm excited.
- [Isaac] I agree.
- [Jeremy] Caleb's going to eat as fast as he can
to get back out to the birds.
- [Elise] Do you see him?
- [Jeremy] He's like digging.
Isn't it so fun to be here
where we can just be eating lunch
and it's like, hey, a squirrel.
- That reminds me of our house in Kansas city.
- [Jeremy] So we were talking about
some of our old favorite songs for the kids.
And Janae started singing to Laura.
♪ Nice Laura (indistinct) ♪
♪ You're so stinking cute ♪
♪ I know you're Mrs Laura you're so stinking cute, woo ♪
- Look over there, the bird feeder.
(uplifting music)
- [Jeremy] So now that the birds know it's there,
I think more and more are gonna come.
- Here's an S, it says "ssss".
Can you write the S?
Oh, you're tracing my S so carefully.
We drew a tiger.
(imitates tiger roar)
(laughs)
- Tiger with four legs.
- [Jeremy] Five, six, seven and ten legs.
- That is quite the tiger.
So Janae called me.
She said, "Mom, come teach me my letters."
And I found her next to the white board with a marker,
and she's ready to go.
Did you just get marker on your face?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
Okay here, let's learn this one.
J, J-J.
- I tried to write on that one.
- Yeah, you can write on it again.
It's good practice.
Down and over.
J-J, Janae.
(uplifting music)
Good job!
That's a great J.
Here let's erase, let's try it again.
Alright, Janae, your turn.
Try making a J.
(Kendra gasps)
Oh!
Janae!
That's beautiful!
You did it!
That is her first ever letter J.
That's amazing, can you do it again?
- [Jeremy] There's another one.
(Kendra cheers)
- Somebody's working on their Js.
Ready?
(laughs)
- [Jeremy] She's good at drawing people.
- [Kendra] That's a great person.
- That's Naynay.
- Is that Naynay?
This is Mommy, and she's loving Naynay.
Look, I can tell 'cause there's a heart.
Elise has been loving listening to audio books.
She has to elevate her arm every so often.
- I'm listening to Heidi.
- [Kendra] It's a good book, isn't it?
- Huh?
You can't hear me?
- [Kendra] Do you like it?
- Yeah, it's a really good book.
I recommend it.
- [Jeremy] Is this your painting outfit?
- I'm gonna paint with Papa.
- [Jeremy] Yep, thanks for helping us.
- [Laura] What are we going to be painting?
- [Jeremy] A shed.
- This is from rain hitting and splashing up,
so we want a little bit of the dirt off.
So, Laura, do you want to go around
and just knock off the dirt?
- Sure.
- Elise and Janae are gonna paint inside with me.
This is Elise's first attempt to paint since her injury.
So she's using her left hand,
and they're gonna be finger painting.
Just kidding, it looks like we're gonna use Q-tips.
Is that a person?
Who is it?
- It's me.
- [Kendra] Oh, Janae.
- And Elise.
- [Kendra] Oh, you're painting you and Elise?
It's a great idea.
Elise, are you also going to attempt to self portrait?
- No, I'm gonna draw flowers.
- [Kendra] Does it feel weird to be using your left hand?
- [Elise] Still trying to get used to it.
- [Kendra] Yeah.
- I'm mixing it so that it looks pretty.
- [Kendra] Wow, Janae's got lots of dots
going on over there.
(upbeat music)
Janae's so serious about her artwork.
Oh now she's using a dripping method.
I'm super impressed.
Some left-handed flowers from Elise.
Janae, do you need a new page?
And maybe we could wash your hands.
- New colors?
- [Kendra] Are you ready for new colors?
- [Man] And so you'll put some on here,
and then you'll start painting.
And so you're gonna be doing this
and then you'll start on the next one.
But we also need to know where everybody's painting,
so we don't repaint everything.
(upbeat music)
Good job.
- [Kendra] Nice and quiet in here.
We do not finger paint often because,
it exhausts me with toddlers and preschoolers,
but Janane loves it whenever we do.
- A whole family of polka dots.
- [Kendra] A whole family of polka dots?
(gasps)
Oh, Janae just finished this one.
Oh my goodness.
- [Janae] It needs drying off.
- [Kendra] Is it drying off?
Okay let's put it up so it can dry off.
- Now I get why Janae likes this so much.
- [Kendra] Does it feel cool?
- Yeah.
My hand's lonely.
- [Kendra] I know you can't do the other hand.
(upbeat music)
- [Jeremy] Laura is painting like a champ.
- Outside now.
- [Jeremy] Do you want to paint outside now?
Thanks Janae.
Alright, we're done.
We have finished painting the shed.
- Snack time, snack time!
- [Jeremy] Hey, Elise.
- Hi.
- I've been trying something for the last few days
and I think I'm really liking it.
Anyway, it's an official afternoon snack time.
So I make up an official snack tray,
and I bring it out and we call the whole family together.
And I have a friend who swears by this,
but it's always sounded like
the hassle of making another meal to me,
but I'm really enjoying it.
It's reminding me to feed my kids healthy snacks,
and it's feeding us all at the same time.
So instead of people grazing all day,
there's like an official eating moment,
and I'm liking it.
- My taco.
- [Kendra] That's a taco?
- Uh huh.
- [Kendra] Oh, it's two cucumbers put together?
Janae, what's your favorite?
- Cucumber sandwich.
- [Kendra] There we go.
Isaac, what's your favorite?
- Blueberries.
- Pepperoni and cucumber.
- [Kendra] Wait, you combine the pepperoni
with the cucumber?
It looks like the cucumbers were the biggest hit.
- Triple decker.
- [Jeremy] The big cup.
- Blueberries are my favorite.
- It's all gone.
- [Jeremy] It's all gone.
- I'm ready for an arm wrestle, Dad.
- [Jeremy] You want to arm wrestle?
- Yeah.
(Jeremy chuckles)
- Elise has been really impressing me
on what she can do with her left hand.
She's already learned to brush her teeth with her left hand,
and she's eating with her left hand.
She's even writing with her left hand.
Check that out!
What?
- Do you want to see me do Elise?
- [Kendra] Yes.
Okay, this is unreal to me.
Look at that, left handed.
Elise, I'm super impressed.
If we were to do a lefthanded challenge,
I'm pretty sure you'd win.
- [Jeremy] Got one more paint project to do today.
- Big shed.
I get to get in and help.
- [Jeremy] So we just finished dinner.
We're doing a dessert before we get ready for bed.
We're having the Popsicles.
What are the flavors?
- It's orange coconut.
- [Jeremy] Orange Colada.
- [Isaac] Awesome!
If you look the very bottom, all the sugar is there.
- I can taste the orange and the coconut,
and it tastes so good.
- Good night, J house out.
- [Jeremy] They're still trying to break the record.
- He will, maybe.
- [Jeremy] You think, this time?
- I got an extra 15.
I knew it.
- [Jeremy] You got more time?
- Yeah, I got an extra 15.
- [Jeremy] Oh, that makes a big difference.
Let's see.
- 143!
(laughs)
- [Jeremy] Be still!
- So close!
- I'm gonna win, I'm gonna get it.
- [Jeremy] You guys, we have to go to bed.
- [Kendra] Wonder what's inside.
Oh my goodness!
- [Jeremy] Do you want to get the butterfly
to go in your hand, Elise?
- [Kendra] There's definitely a sound of something.
- [Caleb] Coyote!
- [Janae] I'm sorry that you had a headache.
The end.
(emotional music)