FHE

Like 6 or 7 years ago, I got on a kick to improve our Family Home Evenings and to somehow make a record of what we do. So, I compiled a list of our favorite church songs and family games...

...and asked the kids to conduct the meeting with an agenda. (Some kids were more excited than others about this opportunity, haha)

Sometimes for the lesson, we discuss a concept in True to the Faith.

Sometimes we Index names for Family History or talk about spiritual experiences or general conference talks we've come across that week. On Fast Sundays, we have our family testimony meeting. Other times we watch inspirational videos on lds.org, or I teach part of the lesson I prepared for my Mia Maids at church.

This month we played "Restoration Jeopardy" for two weeks with questions about the Great Apostasy, individual apostasy, and the latter-day Restoration of Christ's church on the earth.

Team "Jeopardy Gods" (Stirling won the game for his team single-handedly.)

Team Visionaries. Cam was the scorekeeper, and I was the game show host.

The next week it was Team Stop! vs. Team Peaches!

Winners got "100 Grand" (bars) in prizes, and the losing team got Blow Pops (because they "blew it" :) For the second week's game, once I announced prizes included Dr. Pepper, Getty was all in.

I also wanted to try out a "Feeling Meeting" for Family Night. You choose an emotion and go around the room and each talk about the last time you felt it. I got the idea from a friend and this list from author Pia Mellody:

Anger (resentment, irritation, frustration)

Fear (apprehension, overwhelmed, threatened)

Pain (hurt, pity, sad, lonely)

Joy (happy, elated, hopeful)

Passion (enthusiasm, desire, zest)

Love (affection, tenderness, compassion, warmth)

Shame (embarrassment, humility)

Guilt (regretful, contrite, remorseful)

The rule is nobody can comment—you just listen and respect that person's feelings. So it's a way to be more aware of what you're feeling, learn to express your emotions appropriately, and accept and respect others' feelings. With a house full of boys, I figured the "Feeling Meeting" would cause outrage and hysterical laughter, but I threw the Hail Mary...

Touchdown :)

They decided to start with "Anger" (ha) for our first meeting, and I learned a lot.

Other parts of FHE are Family Business and Calendaring, which are tied for the least liked of the meeting. Family business consists of a more formal family fight and sometimes mutiny, and Calendaring consists of no one paying attention to what day we are scheduling... so it takes forever. The treat is the favorite part.

But "Monday Funday" nights beat all...

Pickle ball at the park. Doubles vs. Cy and Cam

Getty was sore from riding dirtbikes all afternoon, so he took some pics for us.

Hahaha not sure what Rob's got going on there...

 Then, "beat Dad" tournament...

 

Whelp, nobody beat Dad. Big surprise.

Mia and MK have moved out together and are not even home for family nights anymore. 

That's just wrong :(