I’ve been wanting to start a blog for some time now but I don’t want this to be just any blog. I really hope this can be an opportunity for a conversation, a chance to meet new people, a way to share advice…basically I hope this turns into much more than just a boring blog about how hard it is to raise two kids and what I cooked for dinner last night! There will be plenty of time for that too 🙂
So I’m asking you to create this blog with me! Of course I can’t wait to hear about your kids (and hopefully how much they love The Good Night Show) but I also want to hear your advice and your experiences and if you have a question…ask it! Maybe I can help or someone else in our little community can. I especially hope we can help each other get through this thing called life with a big smile on our faces!
I’ll tell you a little about myself and don’t be shy…you tell me a little about yourself too!
First and foremost I’m mama to 2 little girls – Gia 2 1/2 and Bianca 7 months, wife and partner to Poncho for almost 15 years, and actress/host of The Good Night Show on Sprout. It’s quite an adventure trying to keep up with these 2 while attempting to get settled in to a new home! One of my favorite things in the world is hearing my girls laugh so hard they start to hiccup! My second favorite is probably when they both nap at the same time!! LOL! A few more things you should know: I try not to take myself too seriously, I love to find the humor in all things, I procrastinate too much, and I have a terrible memory. OK there’s so much more to share, but if I said it all now there wouldn’t be anything to blog about tomorrow (or next week. Remember what I said about procrastinating!)
xo,
m.
Michele Lepe 
Hello Michele.
Thanks so much for creating this blog and allowing us to be a part of growing it.
I’ve been looking for a place just like this to share my experience as a new father, and to gain useful knowledge on how to operate a toddler since mine did not come with instructions. Mainly, this blog looks like fun
and it would be great to turn to it for much needed laughs, whether it be parent related or not.
About me:
I grew up in San Antonio, TX, and graduated Judson HS in 88 (old man here) . Moved to Houston for college to study music. I live in Sugar Land, TX just outside of Houston. I work in the exciting world of insurance, just like most music majors do.
Married 15 happy years. Father of a 21 month old boy. He adores the show.
I speak fluent Spanish, and dig teaching my son both English and Spanish, so reading is double the time and completely worth the extra effort. I am a fitness freak, but have a burning weakness for empanadas and pan de juevo. I too have a bad memory and I cannot spell, even with Spell Check. I also suck at changing diapers as they still go on crooked.
I hope more fathers join up. Since we are semi-new parents, we have logged about 40 visits to our pediatrician, even for the most simple of things because we freaked out often. Thus, I may be able to offer some insight, advice, and remedies we have come across.
Also, although I’m not an expert on life, I’m a great listener. 15 years of marriage has trained me.
Looking forward to it.
Ray.
P.S. Did I mention I can’t spel?
Pan de HUEVO…see!
Hi Michele, My name is Donna and me and my daughter who is 20 months old now have been watching you and Star since she was 3 months old. When ever the good night show would come on that would calm her down and she would watch you guys from 3pm to her bed time if i let her. She loves watching you guys so much, I made her a star birthday cake for her first birthday. Now that she is talking more, when The Good Night Show would come one she stops what she is doing, and says ” ahhhhhh star.” Although she bee bops to the clean up song we can not get her to clean up her “you and me tree”. 🙂 I want to thank you and everyone at sprout for an amazing job you guys do. We did get the privilege to meet Sean when he and Chica came to Washington state a while back. I did see that you and Star made an appearance some where (i forgot where) i was really hopping that you guys were coming here. She would get a kick out of meeting you and star.:)
About us
We live in Washington state. I have lived here for about 20 years or so. And my daughter is my first child.
I am looking forward to reading your blog.
Thanks again for everything.
P.s. This is written on mothers day and me and my mother (who is my day care provider while i am at college) says HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.
xoxox
Donna
Happy Mother’s Day, Donna!! Thanks so much for your support. I’m just thrilled that you and your daughter (and your mom!!) love the show. There are a lot of really awesome people who work hard to create a great show and its means so much to us that you enjoy it!
I’m not sure when we’ll make it out on the road again, but I will post any news here in the blog. Take care!
Thank you for the goodnight show my three year old son can actually sit down and watch the goodnight show and I can relax or take a nap . I am six months pregnant . My son love it when you sing twinkle little star
Congrats on the new baby!! Let your son know that Nina says Hi! 😉
Hey Michele,
Welcome to the blogosphere!
A confession:
I am NOT a parent–just a big brother to 1 current Sproutlet (and 2 former ones) who all watchwd GNS, and I had to comment to ask you a question that has been bugging me for a while (which I hope you can answer:
How comfortable is that GNS couch to lie on–really? It just looks like it would be MURDER on the back to me. Whenever we watch the Snooze-a-thon or Nina Sleeps, Nathan loves it–but I just keep thinking, “Oh, the pain—ow, ow, ow!” 🙂
Would love it if you’d answer! (I promise this’ll be the only question I’ll ask you. :))
Thanks for watching with your family! It really is a show meant to be watched and enjoyed together. 🙂 And guess what? That couch is actually quite nice. My back is perfectly fine. Please tell your brother Nathan I said Hi!
Okay–if you say it’s comfy, then I believe you. Thanks for answering! 🙂 (I’ll tall him you said hi–he’ll freak! 😉
PS:
Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
PPS:
Thanks!
Hi Michele, I’m Brian, 32 years old, and currently live in Phoenix, AZ, father of one beautiful 15 month old daughter (Briana) and the luckiest husband in the world to my beautiful wife Kenya. Briana’s new favorite cartoon is Caillou and she absolutely loves you and Star. You should see her face when you and Star both are on the television screen. I want to thank you and everyone else who make Sprout a fantastic television network. I can talk all about myself as you mentioned I should do in your introductory; however, its all about my baby girl and her enjoyment. I would love to post a picture or video with Briana watching The Goodnight Show. If that is possible, please let me know.
Again, thank you for sharing your personality and love through the TV screen to uplift and teach children. You guys are the BEST!!!
Hello Michele!
This is Shelly and I live in Indianapolis with my husband, three stepdaughters (17, 14 & 8) and daughter who is 2. We are relatively new to the Good Night Show and Sprout but love it just as much probably as long time viewers. My daughter, Tara, got so hooked that I let her sleep on the couch so she could watch it over the summer. I have commented that you are perfect for the job and I do love the inclusion of other languages such as Spanish and ASL. Keep up the good work on the show and your blog!
Shelly
Thanks so much!!!
Hi Michele,
Me llamo Andreina! I have 2 sproutlets here that LOVE watching the GNS. They are both boys, a 3 year old and an almost 1 year old. We’ve been a fan since 2009 woo-hoo!! LOL
My oldest likes singing the clean up song and doing the stretches. He also thinks it’s so cool that you and Star know how to play the matching game, “…just like me!” he says.
My youngest has a strong personality to him already. He has his ways of showing us what he wants to do and what he likes. He’s very demanding though for an 11 month old. LOL
We hope to learn a bit about you on this blog and we’ll keep watching on tv! Thanks for doing an awesome show!! =)
Andreina
Thank you so much!!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the show with your family. I do same thing at night 😉 I love to cuddle up with my girls and watch. Take care!
Michele,
My daughter grew up watching you on Sprout. Now she’s ten and we still sometimes watch for a while before bedtime. You are very talented and I’m so impressed that you can speak Spanish and sign. My wife is Venezuelan so it’s nice my daughter heard you speak Spanish sometimes. I have a question though. Is it really you doing the sand paintings? Pretty cool! Anyway, thanks for many hours of GOOD!!! family entertainment. All the best to you and your family.
Ken
MY daughters are 2yrs 5days apart…. 8/2/09 & 8/7/11! Crazy but fun! Enjoy can’t wait for new season!
Hi Michele! Just wanted to let you know how much my family enjoys watching you and Star on The Goodnight Show. We began watching you when my older daughter was 3, and now at 9 she enjoys watching it with her 2 year old sister. You are very calming and talented, and have become part of our evening routine. Thanks!
Hi Michele! Thank you for putting together this blog! I have been watching The Good Night Show for 6 years now! (Son Gavin is 6 and daughter Audrey is 16 months). We love Sprout and the GNS is a very important part of our bedtime routine!
I can’t wait to try some of your recipes and crafts with my two little ones!
My five year old great granddaughter told me this evening that she loves nina. Your warm smile and soft way has hit a much needed spot in her heart. For this I thank the sprout show in presenting u every evening.
Thanks so much!
Michele,
Just found this blog of yours and I’m glad I did! First, I can’t believe your name is not Nina! Lol
I have a 2 1/2 year old son named Andrew and a 1 year old daughter named Ava. We love watching your show and it relaxes us!
Whenever we watch your show and either you or Star are not on the couch my son thinks you guys are showering. It’s pretty funny!
Thank you for all that you do! We really love watching you!
I have to admit, it makes me happy too when both of my children are napping at the same time!
Michele from NJ
PS Do you do the sand art???
I absolutely love your show. I am a daycare provider and work late hours. I have a spanish speaking child that speaks right along with you. We watch Sprout more than any other channel mostly because it teaches and is very child friendly. Thank you for your contribution to this.
Hi Michele!
I am a mother to a 20 month old boy who absolutely loves you and the show. I do too for that matter. We started watching when he was 7 months and whenever you came on he would stop what he was doing to watch. Once he became mobile he would scoot closer to the tv for a closer look.
We’re a military family living in NC. I’m originally from California with a Hispanic background, but I didn’t grow up spreaking Spanish. I learned later in school, but am not as fluent as I’d like. I teach my son what I know and reinforce it when we watch your show at night.
Thank you for a great show. It’s part of our nightly routine that helps to settle a rambunctious toddler.
Kelly H
Kelly!
Thanks so much for tuning in and for finding my blog! Having grown up in a military family I know firsthand you’ve got your hands full! I’m so proud that you’ve included our show into your nighttime routine.
All the best,
m.
Hi “Nina”,
I live in PA and have two children. A boy who is 7 (Tyler…who would never admit he still loves the gns) and a daughter thats 1. I also am a full time student and stay at home mom.Im sure you can more than relate with the hectic schedule. How do you manage to balance family time, work and everything else life throws our way? I always figure it out somehow and try to put family first but sometimes I just cant! How do things work out at your house??
Hi there,
Thank you so much for taking time out of your extremely busy schedule to check out my blog and send me a message! One of the wonderful lessons I’ve picked up from my little girls is that being with them forces me to live and stay in the “moment”. So the only way to find balance when faced with a busy schedule is to try and balance all the demands on me in that particular moment. Some things just won’t get done, and I tell myself that I just have to put them on the “to do” list and get them done later. As long as I have prioritized what needs to get done right now, including spending quality play time with the girls, then I just plow ahead! Sometimes, though, it just doesn’t get done and I try not to beat myself up about it. Tomorrow’s another brand new day! (That’s another great lesson the girls have taught me! No matter how bad yesterday was, they wake up with a clean slate and ready to go!)
Good luck!!!
Hi Michele,
My name is Angelina. I’m not a parent but I’m a proud big sister to four amazing kids. We watch your show all the time Their names are Adrian who is five Madysen who is going to be three on April 14th Maia who will be one on April 10th and Leana who is 3. They watch GNS all the time to admit sometimes I join them lol. 🙂 I remember the GNS from when I was little. To tell you about myself I live in Michigan and go to Pinewood Middle. My siblings enjoy your show so much that if they were allowed they would watch it all day! Looking forward to more years of The Goodnight Show I’m actually watching it right now :).
Sincerely, Angelina,Adrian,Madysen,Maia,and Leana
Hi Michele,
I have two boys of my own 2 1/2 & 5 months and we simply can not miss one night of the Good Night show!! My oldest has the schedule memorized. We love your sandy stories and trying the sprout stretch every night. Thank you for being a part of our family’s nightly routine (:
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate you letting us be a part of your night time routine.
Sweet dreams!
Do you do the sand art on The Goodnight Show?
Hi Michelle and Helen,
I am a birth mother to 1- Casper, he is currently 2 years old, and a step-mother to 1- Elijah, who is currently 9. I get to see my amazing Elijah part time through the year and my sweet Casper every day. My son is growing so much and I find myself growing as a mother everyday. But I too would love to know the answer to this question. I am not sure if you have seen that this question is the first to pop up on Google when you type, “Does Nina from Sprout…” Is this a team effort or are you the true artist that creates the stories. Obviously you tell the stories, but a lot of us viewers really do talk about it every time we see it. Are you the sand artist?
Michele
I am glad I found your blog. I am a mom of a 4 year old boy and we have been watching it since 2010. He loves star and even does the sign language and says the Spanish words since he is older he plays along its really cute. We love the GNS
Thats awesome! I’m so glad you’re still enjoying the show!
My 2 year old daughter loves your show. I was able to have her take an afternoon nap after one of your songs. Your voice is perfect and you have a beautiful way with children.
Hi Michele,
I’ve seen a few ask this question but haven’t caught a response from you. Do you do the sand art?
Thanks,
Jay
Hi Michele, my name is Dane and I have a 16 month old named Isaiah. We love watching your show together and was wondering, who does the beautiful sand art?
Hi! Thanks for tuning in and for finding my blog! I work with an artist who helps us put together the “sandy stories”. I’m so glad you and your son enjoy the sand art…my daughters love it too!
Hi Michele. My 10 year old grandson and I really want to know – do you do the sand art yourself or does someone else do it? He says you do it and I say it is someone else. Can you resolve this dispute? Thanks so much! I enjoy watching your show with my youngest grandson and granddaughter. It’s a great wind down to bedtime! And my grandchildren call me “Nena”. 🙂
God bless you.
A fellow Texan,
Theresa
Hi Michele!
I just happened run across your blog, and I’m so glad I did! I have a 17 month old that loves Nina and Star. He only has a handful of words as of yet, but “Nina” is one of them! He will even bring me the remote and say Nina until I turn on the TV. 🙂 My husband and I enjoy watching the Good Night Show as well. Thank you for an excellent show that my whole family can enjoy together.
Laura
Good morning,
We have watched Sprout for 5 years now. Last week we watched finished brushing teeth, washing faces, and putting on pj’s. I put on sprout with a timer and went to shut off the lights and get the dogs. My daughter came running out of her room crying that there was a monster on Sprout. I could not believe my eyes as I saw a mouse show on and it WAS NOT A good night show. Recently We have had some really rough times as a family (where friends and family are fighting cancer) and last night she said she wanted a relaxing night .. finally. She asked to sit in our bed until she fell asleep to watch a bit of Sprout. It was not you and Star. I know you are probably not able to talk about it much, if at all. We as a family have decided not to watch Sprout anymore. We are saddened that people would judge you on what happened when you were a child. As if they have done nothing wrong ever… We are sad to know this and want to show our silent support by watching something else or starting a new tradition. We will have to start a new routine as ours was ruptured.
Our daughter wants to know if Hush and Lucy are ok?
Keep blogging and know we support you.
Hi there,
Thanks so much for including The Good Night Show in your nightly routine! I’m not sure what program was airing when you saw this mouse show. From time to time Sprout does do a ‘special movie night’ so it possibly could have been that. Please know that Nina, Star, Hush and Lucy are all healthy and happy and we are very excited to begin airing brand new episodes in July! I hope you and your family give us another chance. Best wishes to you and your family!
Hello Michele.
Me and my daughter watch your show and guess what? My daughter is 15 years old lol. She loves star.
Michele,
My twins, who are six, have been watching “The Goodnight Show” since they were toddlers and my daughter could sign “hush, hush, little fish…” before she could talk. You and Star are nighttime fixtures in my home and I wish you continued success and we are looking forward to watching “Nina’s World.”
Thank you so much!!
Happy birthday ..michele lepe
hi nina I like what you do for the kids sweetheart im going to be and uncle in 3 months
your a sweet gal
I have a little boy who is 5 years old name sean who likes to watch star on the good show my brothers wife is do to have a daughter in January
Hello Michelle, we love your show. My daughter is special needs and she can only watch your show, she learns many things, she specially loves the sand stories, since sand is one of hr favorite things to play with, she had sensoring issues and she can’t really play with many textures. So I want to take the time to thank you for such an amazing job, we enjoy your show every day all day. 😊. God bless you and hope everything is well.
Hi my son loves your show he is 1 1/2 if I change the channel he get mad.
My daughter Erin watches the good night show
I have two girls too in February I had a baby girl Candace Erin really loves the good night show especially the sandy story hush the fish and star
Thanks and congratulations! (I have 2 also!)
My 10 month old son LOVES when the goodnight show comes on. Tonight he heard your voice and became so excited he tried to run to the TV, unfortunately it was 2 steps and he fell on his butt. Just thought you should know how much your show means to him.
Oh my goodness! That is so sweet 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing the story and be sure to tell him I said Hi!
Hi my name is Petal and I have a very creative 7 year old son who loves art and is fascinated by the sand stories on Sprout and how it is done. I was hoping to purchase this sand art so he could practice and make his own sand stories at home. Do you know where I can purchase this product?…I think it would make him super happy. And by the way you are doing a great job!
Hi Petal! My kids love the sand art too! As far as I know Sprout doesn’t sell any sand art kits. But, what a great idea! You might want to reach out to them on their Facebook page. Thanks for stopping by!
It is so nice to meet you…I have been watching your show forever…but in 2009 I moved to my sisters house to watch her 4 kids while she was stationed overseas. I had 4 babies sleeping in my bed…my sisters 2 year old twin boys and my other sisters 2 year old daughter and 1 year old daughter. It’s kinda funny because when I read your bio my baby sister has 3 girls and her oldest is Bianca and her youngest is Gianna. I remember putting 4 kids to sleep and saying, “ok kids…time for the goodnight show.” They always complained but they knew it meant time to get ready for bed. I’m so glad you were a part of our nightly routine.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me!! Sounds like you had your hands full with all those little ones and I’m honored to have been part of the bedtime routine. All the best!
Hi Michelle!
Gotta tell you I love your show and my four year old son does as well. He makes me get on the floor and so sprout stretches. 🙂 when we do the happy baby stretch he gets up and tackles me and we hug and laugh. He made my sister in law do one too, she didn’t know what she was in for! Good stuff, good times!!! Hee hee. Take care!
Thanks so much! There’s nothing better than getting a good stretch together, especially if it ends with hugs and giggles!!!
Heyy ! My name is elizabeth, mom of 2 soon to be 3, noah 3, ela-rose 1.5 (+ 3 mons preg)..my kids love the good night show, my daughter always tries to stretch with you although it usually ends up with her upside down lol. Im also in florida about 2.5 hours north of miami. Just wanted to say hi from all of us and we really enjoy your work ! 🙂
Thank you!! I’m so pleased your little ones love stretching with me, it’s one of my favorite things to do before bed!