GAME TIME

We had such a fun Sunday afternoon! We played board games inside with the whole family (that doesn't happen much anymore) since it was so cold outside (yes, it was snowing AGAIN!). These are two of our favorites. If you haven't played them, I highly recommend you do so soon!

This is such a classic. I grew up playing this with my 'Logan cousins.' It is so fun, and gets pretty wild! But that's the best part!

This is for a bit older group, but fun nevertheless. A great way to teach your kids about geography. There are also Africa, United States and Asia versions, but this is my favorite (probably because I've always wanted to go to Europe so bad).

Try 'em, you'll like 'em!

"LOVE"

I have been trying to think of something to do for my lover for Love's Day and I think this is it...

...photos of objects that represent letters in the alphabet. I'll either do our names or just the word "LOVE." I am excited! And I hope it works because I have wanted one of these and they are really expensive to buy.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

I am always on the lookout for cute homemade valentine ideas and then I usually end up giving in to my kids and buying them. Well this year will be different! I am going to make some and they will be way better than the GI Joe or Tinkerbell ones at Wal-Mart! So there! Here are some of my ideas..

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These iLove ones are my favorites, and if I can find the candy I need I am going to make them. Very hip and fun!

These butterflies are second in line. I am just not sure how the teachers will feel about me giving out gum...

This is a cute teacher idea as well. So many fun things, so little time...

All of these cards are on Family Fun's website. Click for link

FAMILY REUNION IDEAS

I am in charge of my family reunion this year. It is going to be very laid back and have lots of time for visiting. That's what I like most about reunions anyway.

One thing I did this year was make a coloring book for the kids. I got the idea from a Stake Relief Society meeting and felt like it would be a great thing for my family. Both my parents have passed away and many of their grandchildren won't ever know them. I thought this would be a good way to tell my parents' story. I wrote very simple information about both my parents and found clip art or drew illustrations to go with them. It turned out great. I hope the kids enjoy it.

Another thing we are going to do is have movie night. I made a movie/slideshow of lots of family photos- all the way from my dad's mission until right now. It is 17 minutes long, so I won't put it on here, but it turned out great. I let my kids preview it and they loved it! I made every family a DVD copy so they can watch it at home too.

FATHERS DAY GIFT

Here is our Father's Day gift for this year. I saw the idea on the internet and ran with it. The one with the goofy faces was the kids' idea, but they really turned out fun so I used those too. I am going to frame them all together. I hope Walmart doesn't mess up the printing (as they have been known to do in the past). Wish me luck!

FAMILY NIGHT LESSON

My sister-in-law did a great family home evening lesson a few weeks ago and I really liked it. It was a great parallel between the way the Nephites constructed defenses around their cities and the way we need to be spiritually prepared in our families. She said she got the lesson from LDSsplash.com. I was doubly thrilled because I thought it would work great for Primary too. So, guess what I am going to use for my Sharing Time tomorrow? Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out. It has the printouts for you set up in a very clever way. Happy Family Home Evening!

BIRTHDAY BANNER

This is the new birthday banner I made. Normally it has been our tradition to print out a banner for each child on their birthday, but now I can just use and re-use this. I am very happy with it and especially with how easy it was to make.

I just cut two 6-inch triangles out of each 12 X 12 birthday scrapbook paper (some patterned, some plain) and used my Cricut to cut out the letters. I glued the letters to the 'flags' and then taped them to a piece of yarn. Yay! Quick and easy and reusable! I am "going green." (After all, it is St. Patrick's Day... Ha.)

PS I really LOVE my Cricut!

YUM!

I have a love of strawberries and chocolate. But TOGETHER they are even better! If someone needs to know what to get me for Heart DayY, here it is! Or you can just remind my husband... I'm sure he's forgotten it's Valentines Day Saturday.

LOVE'S DAY

That's what my youngest calls Valentine's Day. I love it. She's so darn cute....

Anyway, I thought I would share some cute Valentine card ideas I've found. I really like making cards. It is a great creative outlet.

This is one I made my husband about 4 years ago. I wrote 50 things I love Y about him on those little cards and put them in pockets. The message says, "How do I love thee, Let me count the ways..."

This is a page from the book I made him last year. I took self-portraits of the mentioned body parts and some were a little hard to do alone, but it worked out okay. The poem goes: "Take my lips, my ears, my eyes, my 2 big feet (excuse the size), my hands, my face, just pick your part. You might as well, you've got my heart." Y

This is a card from Scrapbooks Etc. I am thinking about making him this year. Y

This is also a card idea from Scrapbook's Etc., but for mom's to kids. What a fun idea! I Y it!

These are some from Family Fun for class Valentines. Y

Hope you're Y LOVE-inspired! Now, go create!

FAMILY TRIVIA NIGHT

Every other week all the Gordons that live in town get together for Family Home Evening. We rotate turns and last night it was mine. Because the theme in Primary this year is My Eternal Family, I had families on the brain and decided to do something about families for family night. I ended up making a trivia game and had some of my other family members help me make up questions. It turned out very fun, so I thought I would share the idea.

I started out using an object lesson by stapling a paper chain together. We talked about how love links us together as a family and different things we can do, as a family, to increase love. (Prayer, activities together, service, hugging, etc..) It was a good discussion.

Next, we played the game-

First, we rolled the die. It had 3 different options on it: Memory Share, Trivia Time and My Favorite Things. Then a card was chosen from the appropriate pile and that person either shared a memory, answered a question or shared one of their favorites. (The clues were on the card). If the question was too hard for the younger ones, they were able to ask for help from an adult. We all learned things about our heritage and each other that we didn't know before. For example, we learned that my father-in-law's mother made machine gun ammunition during WWII, and that my mother-in-law's favorite hymn is "Be Still My Soul." It really was fun. I read somewhere that one family keeps all the cards and plays it at Thanksgiving every year. Everyone brings 30 new questions every year. What a fun tradition.

Some ideas for Trivia:

• What was one of the things Great-Grandpa Gordon did for a living?
  
• Where did Grandma and Grandpa go on their honeymoon?
  
• Who went on a mission to Brazil?
  
• How many people have broken their leg?
  

Ideas for Favorites:

• What is your favorite candy bar?
  
• If you were an animal, what animal would it be?
  
• What is your favorite holiday and why?
  

Ideas for Memory Share:

• Tell a memory from a favorite family vacation?
  
• Tell an experience you have had with prayer.
  
• Tell a memory involving your grandfather.

I will email you the patterns I made for the die and cards, just let me know, but you can just make your own very easily.

ALSO:

Last year for Christmas I made a family memory board game for my sister and her family. It turned out great and I keep meaning to make one for my family too, I just haven't done it yet. It is a great thing to do with your family too. Here is the link to make one on your own.

Good luck and have FUN!