Wholesome Recreational Family Activities

Have you played together as a family lately?  Growing up my family played together all the time!  And I knew that I wanted to be a mom who played with her kids.  And play I do!  I taught a lesson on Sunday about having fun with your family.  I had an entire page filled with ideas.  I want to share them with you too!  Go and play with your family!

You can...
go letterboxing  This is seriously so much fun!  And there are boxes all over the US.
have breakfast in the park
hike/backpack
go to dinner & a movie
have a family mailbox.  Write notes to each other.
start a family cookbook
play charades
play Twister
visit a museum
cook together
go for a joy ride
have a weenie roast
dance
karaoke
wash cars (this always turns into a water fight at our house)
go to the park
go fishing
make homemade ice cream
visit a working farm
go bowling
start a family scrapbook
make a family time capsule (I still have 2 more years to find ours!  Oops)
go for a bike ride
have a picnic in the family room
family slumber party
fly kites
play HORSE
write to a missionary
tell ghost stories
go to a concert
go bird watching
take pictures together
visit a water park
feed the ducks
attend a play
go to the zoo
go to Temple Square or visit a temple near you
attend a sporting event
service...bake cookies, bread, make cards, etc.
start a family hobby
shop at the farmer's market
visit the state/county fairs
go swimming
visit your state capitol
put a puzzle together
volunteer together
visit a photo booth (see picture above)
And for you Utah folks...
attend the free summer concerts at Brigham Young Historic Park
See the International Peace Gardens
visit the Utah Olympic Oval
see the Utah Museum of Natural History
attend a concert or play at the Sandy Amphitheater
go to Gardner Village
go see the Church History Museum

The possibilities are endless!  Check your local community calendar for free/inexpensive activities in your area.  Get out there and play!  It's the small and simple things that your kids will remember.  I remember the big vacations that my parents took us on but it's the little things that I look back on and smile!  Ok...the big vacations make me smile too.  But you get the idea, right?  


So moms out there, take off your shoes!  Get dirty right along with your kids.  You'll have more fun than I can tell you!  And your kids will thank you!

Roses and Thorns - A Family Tradition

I believe strongly that families should eat at least one meal a day together.  I know that it builds strong bonds and that it builds lasting memories.  

A couple of years ago we started something called "roses and thorns" at the dinner table.  Every night we go around the table and each person says the best part of their day and the worst part of their day.  When one of us has had a particularly rough day we can talk about it and support one another.

It's been such a blessing to our family.  Our 4 year old is so excited every night that we can barely get through saying the blessing on our food before he says, "I'll start!"  

Try it with your family tonight!

Halloween S'Mores in A Jar...You've Been Boo'd

Arent' these CUTE? I whipped these S'more jars up this afternoon.  They are for our neighbors.  They are getting BOO'D by us tonight (shhh...don't tell).  The idea is that they will give treats to two of their neighbors and then they will pass it on and before you know it the whole neighborhood has gotten TREATS!  Click HERE for the link to the ghost poem and the ghost.  

Want to make these?  You'll need:
1 one quart mason jar, lid and ring
m&m's in seasonal colors
1 Sleeve Graham Crackers
Halloween Peeps
Brown Sugar

Crush the graham crackers into crumbs.  Put 2/3 of the crumbs in the bottom of the jar.  Push down slightly.  Add 1/4 C m&m's.  Next add your marshmallows around the jar.  I was able to fit 6 peeps in my jars.  Put the remainder of the crumbs in the middle of the peeps.  Press down.  Add 1/4 C m&m's and top that off with 1/3 C packed brown sugar.  If there is still room left in the jar add some more m&m's.
Cut some cute fabric into a circle, place over lid and then screw on ring.

Make a tag that says: 
1. Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the peeps into bits with kitchen shears or cut up with a knife. Return the bits to the mixture. Mix well. 
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 8" or 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.