If you’ve ever heard the sound of a baby laughing, you know it’s one of the most magical sounds on the planet. Now, take that sound and multiply it by four!
In 2001, Steve and Allison Mathias of North Carolina created one of the most well-loved viral videos of the digital age. The couple had recently welcomed four beautiful baby daughters into their lives, and they were enjoying some cuddle time when Steve started to videotape the girls’ infectious giggles.
YouTube
Steve was making silly faces and noises behind the camera, causing each of the girls to giggle uncontrollably at their daddy’s silly antics. There’s just something about the way all four babies keep erupting into giggles that makes everyone who hears it smile from ear to ear.
YouTube
Since YouTube hadn’t even been invented yet, Steve did what everyone did with a particularly funny video back at the turn of the 21st century; he sent the clip in to “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
YouTube
Not surprisingly, the Mathias quads were a massive hit on the show, and the family ended up $395,000 richer when all was said and done! Not only that, but once the video finally made it onto the internet, it continued to make people smile all over the world.
YouTube
In 2017, Oprah Winfrey caught up with the Mathias clan via Skype. The girls were sixteen at the time, and while they now have very different styles (no more matching outfits!) and interests, they still love watching the video that helped their family accomplish so much throughout their lives.
YouTube
“We won three times on ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ and that came with prize money that, you know, just changed a lot of things in our lives,” Steve told Oprah.
YouTube
“I think it’s just one of those videos that you can’t not laugh at. There’s something about the syncopation with them stopping and starting laughing. It’s just the contagious type laugh,” Steve continued.
YouTube
Mary Claire, Emily, Grace, and Anna are now lovely young women whose lives are just getting started. We hope they continue to find the things that make them giggle as they reach adulthood!
Watch the clip that started it all below, and don’t forget to share!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.