snow in June

Yesterday I came home from the pool with the kids and was trying to put the house in order when I got a text from Ryan saying he was going to be home early and he had an activity planned for family home evening. I am usually the one who throws FHE together last minute and so I was excited to see what Ryan had planned.

After dinner he brought out the surprise. He had found the snow making kit that Devin had given him for Christmas. All you had to do was add water and watch it turn into snow.


It wasn't cold but it was really fluffy and fun to put your hands in.
Kate had so much fun she didn't want to go to bed afterward. I asked Ryan if it would keep until tomorrow and he said that the directions say you can freeze it and have it be actually cold like snow. So I told Kate we would freeze it and play with it tomorrow. We then started going through the bedtime routine (teeth brushing, pajamas, books, etc) and finally I got her into bed and kissed her goodnight and right as I was about to shut the door she bolted upright and said, "don't forget to put the snow in the freezer!" I assured her I wouldn't forget.

In other news, Sawyer's fake smile can still be seen from time to time.
I just love it!

Having a big sister...

What do you do for Family Home Evening when you have a big sister?

Play Pretty Pretty Princess, of course! (even when its your birthday!)

and if you didn't see the slideshow of Dani's pictures, she posted some on her blog. I especially love this one of Sawyer! What a stud!

FHE - Obedience

So for enrichment this week we are making FHE kits. I have to make 10 of the same lesson nand put it all together in a manila envelope and we will exchange them and I'll come home with 10 all different and ready to go. I thought this was a great idea and when I signed up I was thinking I would just be able to go online and find some brilliant and super cute ideas that other people have done and it would be really fast. well....I had a hard time finding anything. I found some websites where you can buy them (here and here ) but none just laid out for me. I could have just been being picky...but since I had such a hard time with it, I decided to document it in case it is helpful for anyone else.

FHE-Obedience

Opening song: Do as I'm doing

Scripture: Romans 5:19

Story: “Jonah and the People of Nineveh,” Friend, Apr. 1998, 42

(with flannel board cutouts)

Jonah was a prophet just before the ten tribes of Israel were taken captive into Babylonia, a country east of Israel. Only a small part of Jonah’s story is told in the Old Testament, but the part that is recorded teaches us that the Lord offers salvation to everyone who will repent.

The Lord commanded Jonah to tell the wicked people of Nineveh, a city north of Babylon, that if they didn’t repent, they would be destroyed. Jonah didn’t want to go to that wicked place. He didn’t think the people would listen to him or want to change, so he got on a boat that was sailing west to Tarshish, Spain.

A terrifying storm arose and tossed the boat to and fro. The sailors cried out to the prophet, who was sleeping, to pray to his God to save them. Knowing that his disobedience was the cause of the storm, Jonah told them, “Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you” (Jonah 1:12).

Though they didn’t want to, the sailors finally did as Jonah asked and threw him into the sea. “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17.)

While in the fish, Jonah cried unto the Lord. He knew that he had disobeyed, and he wanted the Lord to forgive him. The Lord did, then caused that the fish “vomited out Jonah upon the dry land” (Jonah 2:10). He again told the prophet to go to Nineveh.

Jonah obeyed. To his surprise, when he told the people of Nineveh that the Lord was displeased with them and that they would soon be destroyed, they believed him and turned from their evil ways. They accepted the gift of repentance that would come through the Savior, and they were not destroyed. Both the prophet and the people he preached to had need of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ so that they could return to Heavenly Father. Because this gift is given to everyone, we too can repent when we make mistakes.

Activity: Jonah and the whale game

cut out these fish and write on them phrases about obeying and disobeying (ie "you didn't make your bed when your mom asked you to" and "you obeyed your primary teacher when she asked you to sit reverently") place them in a plastic bag. or, if you feel up to it, make a fishing pole out of a stick and string with a paper clip on the end and put a small strip of magnet on each fish so you can actually go fishing.

use this game board

and place 1 or 2 markers on the start (you can play all on one team or split into 2). the first person draws or goes fishing for a fish. if it is an example of obeying, move forward one space. if it is an example of disobeying, move back one space. the first team to the end wins (or if you're playing all on the same team, you all win!)

Treat: Goldfish crackers in blue jello

...or...

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon chips

(the jello idea might be fun for the kiddos....but it didn't sound yummy to me. this did. I thought the chips could represent fish......)

INGREDIENTS
2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
8 ounces raspberries
1 pound strawberries
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
butter flavored cooking spray
2 cups cinnamon sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Closing song: Quickly I'll obey #197