Five on Friday - June 13, 2025

Happy Friday! We’re heading into the weekend with lots of fun on the agenda, and I’m really looking forward to it. One of the highlights will be celebrating Eric for Father’s Day. He does so much for our family, and it’s always nice to take a moment to show him how appreciated he is.  Now, let's get on with my five for today ~

1.  National Movie Night

It’s National Movie Night – the perfect excuse to gather the family and pop some popcorn! Whether you head to the theater, find a drive-in, or cozy up on the couch, watching a movie together is a fun way to start a meaningful tradition with family and friends. When our son was younger, we’d set up a projector in the backyard and play movies on the side of the house—some of our very favorite memories!

2.  How to Train Your Dragon

Speaking of movies, the much anticipated How to Train Your Dragon movie opens today!  It's rated PG and is getting rave reviews.  Here's the summary ~

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

3.  The River is Waiting

Wally Lamb is back with a new book - The River is Waiting.   His new book is a powerful, emotionally gripping novel that explores guilt, grief, redemption—and the complexity of forgiveness.  Here's the summary ~

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

Available HERE

4.  Qwixx Mixx Score Pads

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of the game Qwixx—we take it just about everywhere! On my recent trip to Gatlinburg, my friend TW introduced me to these new score pads that give the game a fresh twist, and they are so much fun. If you already love Qwixx, you’ll definitely want to try it with these cards. And if you haven’t played before, now’s the perfect time to check it out! You can grab the game HERE.

Available HERE

5.  Here's a thought...

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with fun, relaxation, and a little something that makes you smile. We'll see you back here next week—take care until then!