Playing Frisbee in the Park

Today for family home evening we went to a park across town.  We had bought a couple of cheap frisbees from the DI and thought we would toss the frisbees around with the boys.  David, Donovan, Michael and Aleky all did really well, even with the cheap frisbees that couldn't seem to fly straight!

 

(Aleky)

(Donovan)

(David)

(Quinten)

(Michelle)

(finally posted 9/6/12)

Family Night by Provo River

It's Memorial Day, a national holiday, but I had to go to work. So Michelle and I wanted to do something with the boys when I got home. The fact that it was raining and hailing meant that our boys had been stuck in the house all day and we needed to get them out (the tomato plants appeared to have survived the hail). But when I got home I was tired and had a headache. Michelle felt similar and we had to pool our energetic resources to come up with a plan.


We decided to run over to Maceys grocery store for their soft-serve twist ice cream cones. After that we were going to visit the mall's playground for some fun. And with 5 minutes notice to the boys we were in the car and on our way.

The ice cream was great and we have plans to go back for more (later). As we left the store we drove down State Street in Orem looking for a sporting goods store that a friend of ours had told us about. The boys had so much pent up energy that they were nearly uncontrollable and certainly embarrassing in both stores! (We love our boys but sometimes...!)

As we walked out of the store and the store clerk "yells" at our kids so that they don't run and play in State Street we changed our minds about the mall and decide that an outdoor venue is needed for our children (thankfully it had stopped raining by then). So we headed for the mountains.

We stopped at the first park we came to and decided to let our boys throw rocks in the river, one of their all-time favorite activities. As we approached the river we noticed that it is much higher and fuller than normal. Because of the increased flow of water I didn't want my boys getting to close.

(Of course, we still let them climb on the bridge...go figure!)

After throwing lots of rocks and a few tree branches in the river we spent our last few minutes of our family night at the little playground. Our boys ran all over the place and were climbing on everything. The last of the pent up energy being released before we had to go home and go to bed.

As we were driving home we asked the boys what their favorite part of the activity was. "Throwing rocks", "Pooh Sticks", and "The slide" and sounded from the back of the suburban. Finally, "Everything!" summed up the family feelings as we headed home for the night.

Bowling for Family Home Evening

The other day our boys rediscovered the plastic bowling pins (and ball) and have been playing with them non-stop. Usually they are taking setting up the pins in our "bowling alley" in the basement. The last time they had the pins out Michelle had put "X"-s on the ground so the boys would know where to set up all the pins. She even place a "ball guide" on the floor showing the boys where to roll the ball to hit the pins. So the boys have been playing bowling (until the get bored and decide that it's more fun to play swords with the pins instead of simply knocking the pins over).

David has been begging to go bowling ever since this recent discovery. We decided that going bowling as a family would be a fun activity. I was especially keen on the idea because I've spent so much time studying lately that I feel like I don't hardly see my boys at all, let alone have any time for being a good daddy. This would be a chance to spend some time with them. And we've always had good memories when we've gone bowling. And we always do a lesson for Family Home Evening and this would add a little variety to our lives.

So bowling was our Family Home Evening activity. We started off with some well behaved boys, sitting quietly waiting their turn to bowl. That lasted for a full 30 seconds, until David wanted to throw the first ball and Donovan couldn't stand it standing still. Michael and Aleky were right behind and so the sitting thing and taking turns was a challenge.

Having completed an intensely close and competitive game, the boys come together just long enough for one picture. David still can't believe the score.

I managed to pull off a 100+ bowling game. However, the stunning victory came from Donovan. He did us the bowling ball ramp for most of the game but the final frames he decided he was big enough to throw the ball unaided. (David was also throwing the ball unaided for the last part of the game.) In the end, he almost broke 100 and he beat mommy by 1 pin! Way to go Donovan!!!

Based on our score it would appear that we all need to head to the bowling alley to practice our aim, throw, and sense of fun and togetherness. What good times for our family.

FHE Roasting Marshmallows

Even though the days have decided to become hotter we thought it would be fun to roast marshmallows over a campfire. We haven't done that nearly as much as we aught to with a wonderful firepit in our backyard. So Michelle and I decided that a fire would be a great for Family Home Evening.

Little did we know or anticipate that we would have a friend join us for the evening. I have to say it was really cute to have Jayden come over and play with our boys. Whatever she wanted to do the boys were enthusiastic to join in. (Maybe we need to have more friends come over to play!)

Jayden thought a fire and roasting marshmallows was a fabulous idea. After all, they had already had a "picnic" in the club house and had played all sorts of other games and had all sorts of fun running through the yard. I'm still not sure that Jayden actually asked her father if she could come over or if she could stay until bedtime. But we enjoyed her company all the same.

Michelle helps to load up the marshmallows on the roasting sticks. No one wants to be left out but we only have 4 sticks.

Jayden is afforded the honor of the first marshmallows. But decides to aid in teaching her the true art of marshmallow roasting.

Okay, so the first marshmallow caught on fire but it could have happened to anyone...

Actually, the boys decided it was all sorts of fun to create a sugar torch. I suppose there has to be a learning curve in the art of marshmallow roasting but it seems like such a waste of perfectly good marshmallows. But boys being boys found the courage to eat their burnt marshmallows anyway.

Regardless of the actual state of the marshmallows, we had a fantastic evening. Jared did come searching for his daughter and we managed to keep him a few minutes as he roasted a marshmallow and had a s'more with us. With perfect weather and a beautiful family, it made for a wonderful Family Home Evening.

FHE Around the Campfire

Tonight we had a quiet evening around the campfire. At least that was the idea when the logs were placed in the fire pit. But the boys don't really do "quiet" if they don't have to. So our FHE was all we could do to keep the boys focused for a few short minutes. I'm sure that the marshmallows/s'mores for treats after FHE helped to keep the boys attention.

Each boy was able to show Grandma Jones that they could say their own testimony. Then we recited "The Family: A Proclamation To The World" or at least the first half that we have memorized so far. We had a very short discussion about baptism (because David gets to give a talk in primary next week about baptism). And that was the length of their attention span. As soon as we said the closing prayer the boys were off to play.

David had a blast throwing the frisbee and playing soccer with Aunt Cheyenne. Aleky thought it was great to hack everyone to pieces with the foam swords. Michael and Donovan played with random toys, roasted lots of marshmallows and tried to jump into the soccer game. Finally they resorted to throwing frisbees over the fence so they would "have" to go get them from the neighbors yard.

In the end, the boys managed to stay up an extra hour playing and eating marshmallows. They loved it. Now that the kids are in bed it is finally time to relax!

The Best Thing About Wal-Mart...The Arcade

If you were to ask my boys what is the best thing about Wal-Mart I'm sure they would tell you that it's the arcade. It doesn't matter which Wal-Mart store we go to our boys can locate the arcade instantly! The electronics section of the store is the next best thing. Tonight we had to go shoe shopping since David out-grew his Sunday shoes about a month ago and we keep planning on getting to the store; we've even made it a couple of times only to discover that the store is out of shoes that are his size. As we walk into the store the arcade must have been calling because the boys made a bee-line there and David planted himself in front of the most expensive game in the arcade. The boys were fascinated with it, even with no money. David is just sure he knows how to drive and loves to practice at any chance he gets. Donovan and Michael aren't quite as sure but they'll take the wheel if you let 'em.

David made the fatal mistake of forsaking his seat to explore the other games and Michael was quick enough to sneak in his own turn at the wheel.
David was back in an instant but didn't dare throw Michael out of his seat with me watching. So he did the next best thing and decided to coach Michael on the fine art of vehicular navigation.

The reason for our Family Home Evening outing was to find David some Sunday shoes. We were fortunate this evening to locate some shoes that fit David. After trying on the entire store selection of (Sunday dress) shoes in his size (both of them) he was able to make his decision. Then, with the drudgery of shopping out of the way, he proceeded to play on the shopping cart. I have to admit to being just a little guilty in encouraging such rowdy behavior as I was the one directing the cart through the isles at top speed!

Poor Michelle was subjected to the emotional scaring of her family tear down the isles having a grand ole time, in public! She walked casually behind, checking prices on various items and spotting a deal on winter boots insisted that we stop horsing around and get serious (okay, I made that part up, but she did stop and we did too). This time there were boots in everyone's size so we got each boy a pair of snow boots so we're almost ready for winter.

Having accomplished the purpose of our trip to the store we quickly exited the store and headed home. It is always fun to drive past the Provo temple en route to our home. The boys get so excited every time we pass the temple. Many times the talk about mom and dad getting married in the temple (even though it was actually a different temple, at least they have the right idea). Tonight they were just excited to spot Moroni coming up over the trees!

Having safely arrived home we quickly got the boys ready for bed, brushed their teeth, said their prayers and got them under the cover...and not a moment too soon! I think it took them all of 30 seconds to be sound asleep! What a glorious outing for our family. While it might not qualify as a typical Family Home Evening (FHE), we had an enjoyable time.

Family Home Evening - Obedience (Starring Jonah & the Whale)

Tonight we had our Family Home Evening (FHE).  We discussed the importance of obedience, listening & obeying.  We shared the Bible story of Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1:1-3).  In this story Heavenly Father tells Jonah to go to Nineveh to teach the gospel and Jonah doesn't listen and obey.  Because he was disobedient and didn't listen and obey Heavenly Father he was swallowed by the whale.  Just like Jonah, when we don't listen and obey we will get into trouble.  But when we do what we're supposed to do things will go well.  

I thought it was a great story with a wonderful point but somehow I don't think my boys got the same message I was trying to share.  While I'm trying to make the point about being obedient, David is jumping on the couch and I have to keep asking him to stop jumping and sit down.  Michael was to busy running back and forth between the couch and my amazing picture of Jonah that he didn't even know we were talking to him.  Donovan was so tired that he just sat there, so lethargic that he didn't make a sound the entire evening!  Aleky was the only child who seemed interested in what I was say but I suspect he was secretly thinking about eating my scripture pages.

This is the second FHE in a row that we've been able to hold the gathering together by sheer will-power.  I'm not sure what happened but our children have gone wild; pure, raw uncontrollable energy oozing from these poor children.  Maybe it's the cooler weather (and not playing outside) that has caused this explosion of fitfulness.  Whatever the cause, we need to find a way to harness this energy or find a way to drain it because neither our house nor our sanity will survive an entire winter of this commotion!