Family theme Night 3- 2016

Back to school dinner #3
The past 2 years we have done a family theme night after the October general conference opposed to a back to school dinner because our kids where only in preschool. With Eli starting Kindergarten this year (sniff sniff *sigh*) we decided to switch to the back to school dinner timeline. I along with so many others got the idea from blogger Stephine Clark Neilson.
The kid got so excited, our family theme dinners are the only times we ever eat in the formal dinning room, which we ordinarily use as a formal living room. haha. I strung pictures from over the years on a wall for us to look back on, the kids went crazy helping with the balloons and gold confetti! The star garlands that I hung throughout the room where from the baby shower my sister did for me in April.

This year our theme was taken from the April general conference talk by Elder Uchdorft our theme is "begin with hope" with so many new things this year it seemed appropriate. Also as I read the book for Mormon in less then 90 day (a ward challenge) I noticed many times the emphasis Mormon , and Moroni put on faith hope and charity.
This years menu was:
Ceaser Salad
Fresh grapes and Pears
Corn
Pan fried sweet potatoes
Yummy Chicken

Chocolate toffee layer cake
(it was delicious, for real)

we had a blast decorating- the kids helped too.
We served the meal in courses and between courses we introduced the family theme and discussed it.
As a special gift for each of the boys we gave them a set of scriptures with a case and our testimony written in the front. We had a few sweet moments with the boys, short ones.


After dinner and dessert we took a few pictures as per tradition.

the boys letters to Santa

For FHE one night in December we wrote letters to Santa for our activity.
the letters are written out but i will copy them down here
Eli:
'Dear Santa
 (a picture of our family)
for Christmas morning I want a moter truck car that goes fast and oranges and a car airplane.
Eli'

Kayden:
Dear SANTA,
please bring me toys, kite green, lightning McQueen cars , dusty for Christmas, house, candy canes
Kayden
(some scribbles)

Christmas FHE light tour

Yesterday was Family night at our house and this one we really kicked off Christmas season. I love doing FHE's that coordinate with whatever holiday - maybe its my kids young ages but it helps hold attention and excitement for the lesson longer. Last week we read the Christmas oranges story and had oranges, this week we read a story out of the friend and then did a simple activity that is in the story. We then decorated cookies we had made and cut out earlier, and then we went

together as a family to look at Christmas lights. It is a fun tradition we do each year, I love traditions!

My boys FHE and sissors

They are learning to use scissors in preschool. they are obsessed with cutting pictures out of magazines and glue them to things so for FHE we have been doing that with themes- being kind, closer to Jesus Christ, family etc. but they do it all the time.. Its so fun this age they are in.

I have let them cut up everything BHG, pottery barn catalogs fitness magazine and old Friends and Ensigns. 

Planting

Monday this week we had a BBQ at Grandma & Grandpas house. My kiddos LOVE that we are so close to them! Its one of the nice things about being close to home. I never thought I would live back in my home town, really, NEVER, but it is so very nice to see how well my kids know and love their extended family.
We planted a new thornless blackberry bush is our small garden this week. We talked about Testimony and faith. We talked about caring for things consistently so that little by little they get stronger and give fruit.
I love being a mom.

FHE treats SMORES

okay, because we canceled the camping trip I thought I would use the SMORES stuff at home. I thought i would be the worlds coolest mom for this, but actually the kids loved lighting the marshmallows on fire. But they wold not eat the SMORES or the puffy cooked marshmallows. All they wanted was the plain raw stuff.
Well it fun anyways and I did enjoy the SMORES.
Maybe they will like them over a campfire better....

Our weekend

For Mitchell’s birthday I got him movie tickets. SO on Friday we went and saw the new avenger’s movie. We went on Friday. It was a good movie I really enjoyed it.

We picked the family theme for the next months until October conference.

We had a fabulous time as a family. All weekend we ate late dinners at home. I filled our fridge with tons of homemade food to enjoy as we relaxed, and we let the kids stay up with us. We watched the back to the future movies together.

Good times.