Life in the Smies household is a beautiful whirlwind of sports, school, and outdoor adventures—made even more exciting by the fact that we have two sets of teenage twins. Yes, you heard us correctly-two sets! With four incredible kids, two lovable labs, and a strong foundation of love and faith, there’s never a dull moment in this household.

We met the Smies at their lovely home nestled in the woods of Nunica as dusk was settling in on a chilly February evening.  The kids had sports and work commitments, so we had a short window to get in and get some great photos.  The family was ready for us. Watching them trying to wrangle two very large labs to cooperate for photos provided a great source of laughter, well for me anyways! Please enjoy their wonderful story.  

Owen and Oliver, our dynamic duo, share a love for football and baseball. Last year, they played an unforgettable season with SLHS, finishing as state runners-up in baseball! Owen is the team’s catcher, while Oliver shines as a pitcher and right fielder. When they aren’t on the field, they’re likely casting a line, hunting in the great outdoors, or serving up sandwiches at Subway.

Max is our all-around athlete, playing football, baseball, and basketball. He’s also our most dedicated fisherman—whether it’s ice fishing or fly fishing, he’s all in (and even ties his own flies)! If there’s water nearby, you can bet Max is testing out his latest fishing gear.

Izzy brings her own spark to the family with her love of volleyball, soccer, and fitness. When she’s not on the court or field, she enjoys decorating her room and planning for an exciting school trip to Germany and Austria next summer.

The Smies have two male, yellow labs, Sturgill (8) and Chief (3), who are like night and day. Sturgill is the gentle giant weighing in at around 120lbs, while Chief is the wild child who keeps them on our toes and did not want to partake in the family photos! “Together, they bring so much love (and chaos) to our home and are the perfect hunting and fishing companions for the kids, in the end, they are just huge Mama’s boys,” laughs Leslie.  

 

Ben and Leslie’s journey together started in eighth grade at Whitehall, Michigan and blossomed into something truly special during their senior year. They even shared the honor of being on their high school’s senior homecoming court! Both attended Hope College, and this June, they’ll be celebrating 20 wonderful years of marriage.

Leslie admires Ben’s dedication to their family. “He’s always there, no matter what, you can rely on him to show up,” Leslie tells us.  Ben loves Leslie’s patience, kindness, and her one-of-a-kind sense of humor.  “She’s smart, fun loving, and tolerant of all the chaos and manages it so well!”  he explains.   

When the eldest boys, Owen and Ollie, were just a year and a half old, the couple found out they were expecting another set of twins!  “It was initial chaos and maybe a hint of panic, but Ben and I are a good team,” explains Leslie. “Having twins already, we knew what we were in for so it was pretty overwhelming at first. It goes without saying we were incredibly sleep deprived for the first 6 months of their lives, but as the babies got older, they started to entertain each other and life got much easier.  Not to mention we had tremendous support from family and friends!”  

Leslie is a Special Education teacher at Grand Haven High School, while Ben and his brother run The Light Bulb Co., a family-owned business specializing in energy-efficient lighting solutions across Michigan. They love giving back to the community, whether it’s through All Shores Wesleyan Church, supporting their kids’ sports, or helping with local athletic fundraisers like the football team’s golf outing.

“Between sports seasons, we cherish our family downtime,” says Leslie.  It can be something as simple as movie and pizza nights to organizing fishing and hunting trips, the Smies family love spending quality time together. “Our go-to vacation spots include Spring Breaks in Englewood Beach, FL, summers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and we’re beyond excited for our upcoming Alaskan cruise!”

When it comes to sports, the Smies family is all in. “We love cheering on our favorite teams, Detroit Lions, U of M and of course our Lakers,” Leslie tells us.  “We’re looking forward to another amazing baseball and soccer season this spring!”

Originally from Whitehall, Leslie and Ben made Spring Lake their home after college living in the Holland area and haven’t looked back. “We love the close-knit community, excellent schools, and easy access to both Grand Rapids for work and the lakeshore,” Ben adds.  “It’s the perfect place to raise a family, and we’re grateful to be part of such a special town.”

From the ball fields to the fishing holes, the Smies family embraces every adventure with enthusiasm, love, and a whole lot of laughter. “We wouldn’t have it any other way!” Leslie says.