New Years Goal Collage

For family night, I wanted to do something a bit goal oriented to go along with the spirit of the new year, when I came upon this list of ideas from http://www.lds.prg/. The one I liked the best and that I think is going to become an annual tradition is the goal poster. I like this one, because after the kids are tired of it hanging in their rooms, I am going to put them in our family scrapbooks so we can look at what our goals are year after year.

Supplies needed:

• 12x12 paper (It was fun to let the kids pick a paper that fit their personalities)


• LOTS of magazines. Church magazines and home magazines worked the best for us, but it really probably depends on your goals.


• Glue sticks


• A small picture of each family member


• Scissors

Each family member gets a paper to glue their picture on to. They then look for pictures to represent the goals they have chosen for themselves for the coming year. This was so much fun...and even our 2 year old loved doing it.

Note: for little little kids, it may help to have some pictures already cut out...Aeden did good, but I think he would have had more fun if he could have focused more on gluing on pictures rather than going through the magazines...it overwhelmed him a little at first.

This is Zerin's Goal Collage. He has lots of pictures of food and vegetables (eating better), President Monson (following the prophet), Faith in God book (to work on his Articles of Faith), a boy with his grandma (do more service for his grandmas), etc.

Joseph Smith's Birthday Party

Every year on December 23, we celebrate Joseph Smith's birthday with a little mini-celebration in the evening. We make a little cake, sing happy birthday, and watch a church history video or read a related story afterwards. The kids love it and look forward to it as part of our holiday celebrations every year.

Christmas Stuff

Okay, this year has been kind of a bust for this blog, but I couldn't let Christmas get away from me without documenting some of my all-time favorite traditions:

• Making Gingerbread Houses from scratch (this year they are out of graham crackers...but hey :))
• Doing the 12 days of Christmas
• Decorating the day after Halloween
• On the weeks leading up to Christmas, we all keep a mental note of our most favorite decorated homes. Then, on the Family Night before Christmas, we drive around with little "trophies" (usually these are paper sacks of Christmas cookies with a trophy drawn on them) and we take our awards to different families...awarding things like "Most Colorful Lights" or "The Christmas Spirit Award" or "Best Use of Blow Up Figures" and on and on. This is one of my favorite traditions of all-time now.
• Going to Temple Square to see the lights
• We have a gift box with a bunch of stars. You do some secret act of service, put a star in the box with your name on it, and leave the box for the recipient to find (usually on the pillow). We try to fill up the box with stars by Christmas Eve.

Holiday Place Settings

I got this cute idea from Martha only I changed it a little. Since I have hundreds of sucker quaking aspen trees in my yard now, as well as some beautiful big blue spruces, I used those branches instead of pine branches and little blue spruce sprigs instead of pine sprigs. I also tied various ribbon around the branches rather than using berries, and I distressed both the white inner paper as well as the brown outer paper for a more rustic look.

I had run out of time so I wasn't going to do them this year, but I figured, why not :) To do 21 of them beginning to end, it took about an hour.

Happy Halloween-ing!

I have been a major slacker in terms of halloween preparedness this year, but I thought I'd share a few things we have done in years past to make this time of year fun:

• On years when I'm good, the kids each grow their own pumpkins to carve.


• On other years (which has pretty much been every year for the last 3 years) we go to a pumpkin patch...or the store :)... and they each pick out a pumpkin.


• I love to gather berries for my Christmas tree, and right now is the perfect time to do it before the frost hits to badly. I am partial to rosehips, so I pack the kids and we all go gathering rosehips and fall leaves for our table.


• My kids always pick out their costumes...with an occassional nudge from me if it's too difficult :) Some of my favorites of years' past have been Clark Kent turning into Superman, Princess Leia, Anakin Skywaker (padawan), Elmo, Harry Potter, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Flower Fairy, Woody rides a horse, Ben 10, and Shadeau dressed up as University of Utah Cheerleader. Good times :)


• Last year, I had my kids each invite 4 friends for a halloween party. They all dressed up, and we painted pumpkins, played Halloween Twister, played pin the wart on the witch, and watched Pooh's Heffalump Halloween. We also played a name that goo game (you put random things in little paper bags, and they have to touch it and guess what it is.) Little kid parties are my absolute favorite!


• The Monday night before Halloween, we carve pumpkins. I have been collecting the little carving tools and templates for different designs for a few years, so we usually invite another family to join us. It is one of kids' all-time favorite things to do :)


• Halloween night, I make Dinner in a pumpkin (more like paella in a pumpkin) and hot apple cider. It's the one time of year I can get Zerin to touch something that touches a vegetable :)


• Bryan has an aunt in a nursing home, so we always make it a point to go trick-or-treating there before hitting the rest of the neighborhoods. Most nursing homes and assisted living centers have some sort of trick-or-treating for a couple of hours on halloween. The kids love how everyone there thinks they are the cutest thing ever, and there are usually at least 2 or three residents that try to give the kids their entire bowl of candy :)


• Halloween also marks the day before I consider it legal to start listening to Christmas music 24-7. I decorate for Thanksmas November 1st (last year, being over 7 months pregnant...I didn't get it done until the 15th...this year, since we are supposed to be moving during that time, it probably won't get done until we're moved...but next year!)

FHE goes undercover...

In my weekly quandry about what to do for Family Home Evening, I decided to resort to my tried and true back up plan...service. We picked our target the night before, along with forming our plan of "attack."

The kids that were old enough to cut, cut out construction paper hearts, and everyone helped color them. Bryan's job was coming up with some kind of candy bar jingle for our poster...as usual, he didn't disappoint :)

In the early morning hours of the dawn, the two older kids and I snuck over to our intended target, armed with construction paper hearts and a candy bar poster. They were half-asleep when we first got there, but when a light in the house turned on...the adrenaline kicked in and wow. I wish I could get them to straighten their rooms that quickly :)

Grandparent Time

We are very fortunate and live close to both my mother and Bryan's parents, so my kids have lots of opportunities to be with their grandparents. I thought I would take just a minute to share some of my favorite grandparent moments.

• We got tickets to the BYU Ballroom team performance, so Bryan's mom took Liah. Liah got all dressed up, and was SO excited to be big enough to go to something so grown up with Grandma all by herself. They both loved the dancing...Liah can still be caught practicing her irish step dancing in the privacy of her bedroom :)
• My mom took Zerin on a special overnight trip to visit my brother. They stayed in a hotel, ate at McDonald's and went and saw a movie on the way home. Zerin thought he was the coolest kid ever!
• Bryan's dad is a master at involving the kids in whatever he is doing. Yesterday, he had this huge bucket of pencils and pens. Next thing I know, all three of my kids were huddled around him with their little papers testing the pens...having contests to see whose pens worked. Genius!
• My grandmother is a master homemaker. When I would visit her house, I would just cross my fingers that she would involve me in some project or meal preparation. I always felt so special to know that she would share her "trade secrets" with me.
• I recently went to a funeral of a woman who had lived a beautiful life. Something that stuck out to me from the different talks was that each of her children and grandchildren felt like they were her favorites. It wasn't something that was spoken, but rather something that she showed in the big moments and the little moments. They each felt it...awesome.
• One grandma I know of invites all of the kids old enough to spend the night over to her house for a monthly sleepover. They watch movies, eat treats, play games, etc. So cute!!!
• My other grandmother always wrote me letters. I was not as good at writing her, but her letters arrived like clockwork. Sometimes the weather was all she wrote about, but I have kept them all (seriously...since I was little). They are precious to me.

Laugh.

This is a simple one.

Laugh.

Laugh at your kids' stupid, pointless, yet nonetheless hilarious jokes. That makes them feel special. Zerin told me he feels powerful when he can make me smile.

The Most Awesome Scripture Study Book Ever!

So, I love this book so much, I'm actually posting about it on both my blogs. It is called Adventures with the Word of God: Making Scripture Study Exciting for the Entire Family by Rebecca Irvine. This book is so awesome, seriously! I read it today while I was waiting for my van to be fixed, and I cannot wait to start using it for our family scripture study. It's a study guide of sorts for family scripture study. Except instead of reading a book cover to cover, you have a different theme each month (ie. Family Proclamation, Missionary Work, Charity, Testimonies, etc.). But she splits each theme up to have a scripture a day to discuss and talk about...I love that because my kids are still pretty young so actually reading from the scriptures tends to lose everyone but Zerin...and even him sometimes, so this is just awesome. The ideas are so cute and fun and seem simple and managable to implement. It takes some preparation...but I should be preparing for scripture study anyway, so why not throw a little cutting and coloring in for good measure, ey?! I am not doing it justice, so go check it out from the library. You won't be disappointed!

Things to help you remember....

One thing Bryan and I have really wanted is to have things in our home that stand as constant reminders of Christ. So, for our new home, we went through, room by room, and picked out artwork and things and themes for each room to help set that tone in our home. I think art is a powerful tool to teach different principles in different layers...like a parable.

Living Room (Time and Eternity Room):

Over our piano (don't have that yet either) I want to put this picture of the Bountiful Temple. On opposite walls, we are going to put 2 framed mirrors that will face each other. We'll have a sepia wedding picture on another wall, and over our door I am going to put in vinyl letters "Remember...." Helaman 5:6. On our biggest wall, that will be my clock wall, and I will have all sorts of clocks, big and small kind of scattered. Then, between the 2 windows, I'll have this picture of Christ.

Kitchen (Sacred Grove/Pioneer Room):

There is really only 1 wall in here that I can use between the window and what will be our new french door, so we are going to put Greg's Olsen's rendition of the Sacred Grove there. Then I will decorate with antique kitchen items.

Dining Room (Gratitude/Prayer)

This room may very well end up being my favorite :) We are going to put Brian Kreshisnik's painting "Ten Lepars Healed" on one wall, and on the opposite wall in vinyl letters, have Alma 37:37 37 "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for bgood; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the cmorning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

Family Room (Family)

On one wall, I am going to make a picture family tree like my aunt did. I may use wedding couple pictures instead of individual pictures, I am not yet sure.

In Zerin's room (Heroes)

I love this pic "Come Forth" by Walter Rane. Captain Moroni is so awesome, isn't he? In each of my kids' rooms they will have a temple pic...they can pick their favorite one...Zerin's favorite changes from week to week so we'll see what it is when we come around to buying it :) On another wall, I'll have Alma 48:17 " 17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."

In Liah's room (Real Princesses/Learning)

I'm a bit of a Walter Rane fan I suppose, but Liah will have "Add to your faith" by him on one wall. A temple picture on another wall, and the Young Women's theme in vinyl letters on another wall.

Main Bathroom (6 B's)

I am going to use vinyl letters and write the 6 b's by President Hinckley around the room. Then, I will have a 4 original artwork pieces by my kids (or more if I have more kids). These will be hung on a curtain rod and suspended by ribbon on one wall. The pictures will be of one of the 6 b's.

Chores and the Candy Store

This idea is kind of a splicing of ideas from my friends Kathryn and Angie and my Mom.

The problem: Being consistant with enforcing chores, teaching my kids to love work, and giving them an opportunity to buy things on a meager allowance.

My solution: The Minute Game, and the Candy Store!

Stuff you need:

• A decorated can or jar
• LOTS of popcicle sticks
• Sharpie marker (fine tip works best)
• Paper or plastic cups (1 for each child)
• Stickers and stuff to decorate cups and can with
• Candy jars (I have 4, but you can do however many you want)
• A timer
• Penny candy
• Nickles (about 3 rolls worth)

I have a decorated can of popcicle sticks...each stick has a different chore written on it. All of them are chores that can either be finished or worked on for a minute or less. For jobs that can be done more than once, I have on more than one stick. At different times throughout the day, I will set the timer for one minute, let the kids pick a job, and we have a mad dash to each do our jobs for that minute. They think this is so fun, so we usually do it for about 20 minutes, but it's great because you can do it as long or short as you want. When they complete a job, they get to put their stick in a cup with their name on it. They can also earn blank popcicle sticks throughout the day if I see them doing something awesome or uber-wonderful. Then once a week (usually Family Night), we have our candy store. I got a few of those little candy jars, and bought a bunch of penny candies. I have candy corn, gumballs, swedish fishies, dum dum suckers, and so on. In one jar, I also have a bunch of nickles (the cash value of each popcicle stick is 5 cents). So they can use their sticks that they have earned throughout the week to either buy candy, or trade them in for money to save up for something else that they want. This has worked so great, because they know they can't earn popcicle sticks until their own basic chores are done, so they are more motivated, which is wonderful for me! They do get candy, but anymore, they usually only pick a few pieces, and then they just want money, so that has worked out well also.

My kids now ask to do chores so they can earn sticks. It works the best when I do it with them (which is a fun opportunity for me to be productive WITH my kids). When I am consistant, I have noticed a huge difference in their attitudes regarding work! It has been wonderful :)

Family Home Evening - Music

I have to say, this was one of my favorite family home evenings ever :) I wanted to do something about music, because Zerin and Liah now want to check out music from the library, and I wanted to somehow show them how powerful music is...either for good or bad. I definately had help with this lesson...thank Heavens! :)

Preparation:
1. Copy pictures (or draw) of different emotions and things (happy, sad, angry, excited, money, cars, Jesus, etc.) enough for 1 set for each family member. Tailor the pictures to your individual family.

2. Glue each picture onto a paper plate, and tape a popcicle stick on the plate so it has a handle.

3. Gather different types of music...instrumental, hard rock, church music, I did 7. My music was a song from Polar Express, If I Had A Million Dollars by the Barenaked Ladies, 3 songs from Def Lepard (my guilty pleasure), and then a couple of children's church songs. To make it really easy, make a playlist of the music or a cd ahead of time.

3. Make sure each family member has scriptures with them they can mark, and a coloring pencil...no matter how old the child is...they need to participate in this part!

4. Ask one of your kids to perform a church song, either singing, or playing an instrument. If this isn't a possibility, play them a full song of something that will invite the Spirit.

Working your plan.

1. We started with a song and a prayer, then I handed out everyone's signs (for little toddlers, you could do one sign with a happy face on one side, and a sad face on the other). I told the kids that they needed to hold up the sign of what they thought about with each song. Almost all of the kids (and Bryan) held up the picture of the car when we played Def Lepard :). I played just a short snippet of each song.

2. At the end we asked if we could think about Jesus during some of the songs, or at least feel the spirit. We talked about how we don't have to listen to Church music all day long, but our music shouldn't make it so we can't feel the spirit. We talked about the For Strength of Youth pamphlet and what it says about music. For teens and tweens, there is a clip on "Standards Night Live" with John Bytheway about music that is about 5 minutes that is awesome! I have it if you want to borrow it.

3. We then read Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 and had each of the kids highlight it in their own scriptures. We talked about the scripture and how this applies to music.

4. The last few mornings, I have been walking in on Liah singing this song about Baby Jesus...she plays it over and over...and has a whole dance routine to go along with it...it's pretty cute :) So I asked her ahead of time if she would sing the song for family night. She did such an amazing job!!! Not only could you totally feel the spirit when she was singing, but she can be, shall we say, difficult, during family home evening. Last night she was an angel. I can only attribute it to her having an active important role...it was awesome, and definately not my idea :)

5. We wrapped up by talking about how having a primary song that we can think about when we have bad or mean thoughts, or when we are scared...so we all picked out a song.

6. We closed with a song and a prayer. We should have played a game or had a treat, but it was after bedtime, so we skipped that part. Next time :)

Reverence Ride

Today's idea comes courtesy of my cute husband. To help set the mood of our sabbath day, Bryan helped me get the kids ready, and we went on a drive. He had made a cd with all of the music from past conferences, and we went on a slow drive prior to church. He talked a little about reverence, but then he was just quiet. By the time we got to church, the kids were all calm, and they filed out of the van into the chapel...arms folded! Now granted, about 10 minutes into the meeting, Aeden was ready to leave, but it totally helped. After church, we made sandwiches, kept the kids in the van, and went on another short van ride...same thing. I really think it helped!

Mealtime

I don't know if any of you are like me, but mealtimes at my house have been known to be, shall we say, stressful? The whininess due to lack of food...the hyperness due to everyone being together...the unorganization due to lack of time....the list goes on. So, in my new and ongoing effort to make mealtime an event to be celebrated rather than a necessary evil to be endured, here are a few things and ideas to help!

• Make mixes ahead. Once a week, I make a bunch of dry mixes for things like pancakes, rolls, breadsticks, etc. Why does this help you ask??? I have 3 very sweet, well-meaning children who are like bugs to a light when it comes to helping with mealtime. So if I can cut out some of the steps to make it more simple not only for them, but it also cuts down on the mess and chaos for me.


• The kids each get to pick a meal a week and help me (or Bryan) prepare that meal. They get so much personal satisfaction out of knowing they created something, but they are also learning to cook...I love 2 for 1's!


• I borrowed the idea for this game from my sister-in-law, Danelle. We play "Would you rather___" at the dinner table. Someone starts out and asks someone else, "would you rather go skydiving or scubadiving?" That person answers the question, and then they ask someone another "would you rather" question. Even my little kids get into this, and it has developed into some very interesting conversation.


• When it's a less involved meal, like breakfast or lunch, I will read scriptures to them, or we'll discuss a scripture story. One time, we were talking about 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, and how after the earthquakes, the land looked different, and they got asking what it would look like here if the same thing happened. Kind of a fun conversation to have with a 6 year old, a 4 year old and a 2 year old :)
• Prepare for dinner. When I make that extra effort to make the table look nice, get the dishes all done and focus on the presentation of the meal, that feeling carries over into the meal, and the children tend to be more subdued... well, more subdued than usual.
• Have an etiquette dinner. I have the kids all dress up...this is a risk on my part because it is almost a sure bet their clothes will get stained :) I have friends who do this at restaurants, and I love that too, but I love having this kind of experience at home as well.
• Have a mixed-up dinner. This idea came from www.ywconnection.com. There is also a variation of this idea on www.mormonshare.com. I make a menu..include utinsels, salt, butter, water, ice....everything! Only write everything in either a foreign language, or in code (ie. salt could be listed as "ancient preservative"). Divide the meal into 3 or 4 courses, and have everyone pick a maximum of 3 or 4 things (depending on what you're having). It can end up pretty hilarious what you can end up with! This is great for older kids and even teens. Younger kids LOVE it, but will need adult help with the reading and filling out of their menus.
• Johnny Lingo Dinner. Make hawaiian haystacks or hawaiian pizza. Throw a blanket in front of the TV and eat and watch Johnny Lingo for dinner. For dessert have ice cream sundays (ice cream is from a cow...get it?!? hahaha)
• For older kids or adults, have a mystery dinner (also from www.ywconnection.com). You can also do the scripture version. This is a BLAST!
• Do a dutch oven dinner.
• Okay, so this list is short, because I definately need more ideas. Send them my way!!!

One-On-One

When we had my 3rd child, I started to realize how important it was going to be to make sure we allowed one-on-one time with each of our children with both parents together, and then time with mom alone and dad alone. Some of these are more involved, but some of them can easily be built into even the busiest of days. My life at least, has been known to be mega-chaotic for long spans of time. In times of trial, or a major event, moments still need to be made (they won't just happen usually) to show to your children that their needs are still paramount, and their happiness is of the utmost importance to you.

• Father-Son or Daddy-Daughter Bike Rides
• Trips to the store to buy a soda from the vending machines
• Friday night scrapbooking nights (put the other kids to bed on time, and allow this child to stay up extra late with you).
• Friday night movie nights (take them to the movie store, or redbox and let them pick the movie. Even if it's Polly Pocket or Ben 10...it's only one night :) )
• Let them to make dinner with you
• Slurpee or Frosty Break! This one is great because 7-11 and Wendy's are usually open really late.
• Visit a pet store to pet the animals.
• Grocery Shopping! (I know what you are thinking on this one, but if you can allow yourself [okay I'm talking to me here] to not be rushed...the time to just walk and talk is a great thing).
• Hikes...if you have something important to talk about...make it a long one :)
• Read or talk about scriptures together. Favorite heroes, scariest stories, what story most applies to them, what book of mormon hero are you (this one gets some pretty funny responses)...all of these are great simple things to talk about on the spur of the moment.
• Read anything together.
• Take time to pray specifically for your children in front of your children. This is a very powerful tool for building and strengthening relationships.
• Angie said "One thing we do is let one of the kids choose an activity (within reason) and then they choose if they want to do this alone with mom or dad or as a family. It has been fun and the kids get excited that they are in charge of their activity."
• Aislinn said her dad used to dance with her in the living room...cuteness :)
• Aislinn also said "[Dad would] take us to a fancy place for dinner and treat us like we were adults. That always made us feel special."
• Take your daughter to the local beauty college for a beauty treatment. I took Liah to Fran Brown, spent a grand total of $2 and got her fingers and toes painted...complete with polka dots! She was in heaven ;)

Back to School

Some of these ideas are just for the first day of school, but others could be used every day.

• Make a special breakfast and eat early as a family before everyone has to go their own separate ways. http://www.familyfun.go.com/ actually has some really cute, easy breakfast ideas perfect for those moms on the run.
• While you're eating, read scriptures together...even just one scripture and discuss it. It totally sets the tone for your day.
• I make sure everyone is awake before my husband leaves for work, and we all kneel together for family prayer.
• Write little notes and hide them in your kids' backpacks for them to find at school...make them easy to find :) I actually bought a book of these little notes from an elementary school Sally Foster Fundraiser last year.
• Have cookies and milk ready for an after school snack to discuss the day over with your children.
• My friend, Kristy B., would make a special back to school cake every year. She has done everything from a box of crayons, to a bus, to a pencil, to an apple...whatever speaks school to your soul.
• Surprise your kids by doing a chore or two for them so they get more free time after homework (your more oblivious children may need you to point this out for them hahaha)
• The Sunday before school begins, make special time to provide fathers' blessings for each child (even the ones not yet going to school).
• The weekend before school begins, if you aren't up to an out-of-towner, head for the backyard! Set up the tent, roast smores (if you aren't able to have a fire in your backyard, you can do this over a gas grill, or light some briquettes over tin foil on the cement, and then once they are white, roast your mallows), and play games by flashlight.
• My friend, Rachel had this suggestion: "I have a friend who likes to put together a humanitarian school kit or two or three with her kids at the beginning of the school year when supplies are cheap. It helps those who aren't going to school to be excited about a school project."
• Have more ideas??? Please send them so we can add them to our list!