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JULY | PAGE 23 | 2015 favorite permanent fixture in our home. It's made of old bowling-alley floors that Sam carved and sanded to fit perfectly. It's truly amazing. And, every morning, our kids go down it in their pajamas on their way to breakfast. My father, Pat [Smith], who is a retired landscape architect, came up with a brilliant idea of a 360-degree pass-through area behind secure gates for safe play, protecting peace of mind, dogs and kids. MEET THE NEIGHBORS. Jill: A wide variety of people live in Garden Oaks, but it seems that we all value the trees and space. The neighborhood is small enough to feel cozy but varied enough to be interesting. Wooch: We live in a community of passionate people: old, young, gay, straight, family and single who find value in their environment. We like green spaces, and, more often than not, we like each other. FAMILY TIES. Jill: I love being a mom. It sounds cliché, but it is so true. I love spending time with my kids, playing with them, sneaking glances at them when they're sleeping and getting to experience everything with them. That's not to say that sometimes they can be little twerps and make me question if I'm doing a good job or not! Wooch: And I love being a dad. It's by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it truly has the biggest return in joy. As a parent, I'm reminded everyday to be patient, kind and honest. This, along with Jill telling me to be "Patient, kind, and honest." Often. HANGING OUT. Jill: Yes, do it. Hang out with kids. They are honest and funny and will make you smile. Wooch: We do it as much as we can, and we're fortunate both of our jobs allow it. Every day is a mystery of newfound opportunities and exploration. FUN TIMES. Jill: We play Uno and poker, build train tracks, bike around our neighborhood, dance and eat pancakes on Saturday mornings, take vacations and read stories. A favorite place to visit is California, because we have family there, and our kids love to jump on their trampoline and pet their chickens. Our kids would probably say their favorite place to visit is an ice cream store. Wooch: Can't leave out sidewalk-chalk body outlines and Big Wheel race tracks. We enjoy lots of board games, putting puzzles together, and we definitely love to travel together. FINDING TIME. Jill: It's hard to do. I would love to make more time to do things like take my mom and dad to lunch Jill Smith's studio, meant for both work and family play, also serves as a guest bedroom. Metal-topped wooden rolling tables were purchased from October Gallery when it was closing. Bubble chair by Eero Aarnio (1968) from Guess. Large wall map from IKEA shows where the family lives and travels. The children made the yarn baubles. A witty welcome. Vintage salt-and-pepper shakers hold pencils and markers. The notepad is Jill's own design, available at Tiny Prints. Print of Yoshitomo Nara's Sleepless Night Sitting. Yoda figure given to Jill from her dad when she started driving. "He sat on my dashboard and watched over me," she says. Vintage drafting table from her childhood home. Jill in the studio. Chest from West Elm. Window coverings by Marimekko. Top, pants and shoes from Atrium.