A Thankful FHE{Family Home Evening}

In our church, we dedicate Monday nights to what we call FHE; or Family Home Evening.

We use that time to be home together as a family, doing activities, learning about the gospel, and having treats.  It’s one of my favorite nights.

Here is a fun little November activity for a Family Home Evening of your own.

The Thankful Jar

The best part about this activity is that it kicks off an activity that continues through the month of November to remind us all about Gratitude.

What you will need:

Mason Jar

Twine

Scissors

Copy of each print I have included here

You can kick off the activity with a prayer, and then read this story about a woman named Borghild Dahl; found in this article.

Following the story, pass out this printable for each person and have your family fill it in with everything they are thankful for A to Z.(click on the pictures to take you to the download)

Once you brainstorm about those important A to Z thankful’s in your life, then you can create this cute little Thankful jar together as a family.

You will need to make a copy of each page that I have included here:

Start by cutting out the tag and just 2 feathers.  You will only need to make one jar per family, but you could always make more for your friends to do also.

Start by wrapping some cute twine or string around your jar and tying it off.

Once you have cut the feathers, you bend them down the line of the feather to make them stand a little 3D.  Use a dab of hot glue at the bottom of the feather to attach them to your jar.

Wrap another piece of twine around the top part of your jar, and then attach the tag and tie it off.

 

Your thankful jar is complete.

Now is the time for the important part.  You use this next print which you will need several copies of.

You will need to cut these apart.

Each time a member of your family thinks of something they are thankful for, then they fill it out on the slip of paper and slip it in the jar.

By the end of the month, you should have a very full jar.

On Thanksgiving day, dump them out, and read all about your family’s gratitude.

I wish I had a jar full of thankful’s to show you, but I am starting this with the fam tomorrow for FHE myself.

Enjoy!! Happy Thankfuls.

I would love to see photos of your thankful jars all complete.

A little project for the kids.

Last year, I let the kids make some bats out of scrapbook paper.  I used a cereal box to make several bats as a pattern.  Once we had a good sturdy pattern, they traced and cut.  It was a great activity one October afternoon.  Once we were finished, we added some ribbon and hung them from our lattice above the bar.  I wish I had a picture, but I don’t. 

This year, I took those same bats from last year and helped them fly.  I added a straight pin to the center, and let them creep up the wall in our office.

I love how fun it made our office look.  I only wish that they were out of black cardstock, and not pattern paper.

So… tonight for our Family Home Evening activity, we are going to make black bats. 

Want to do the same?

Here is a bat to print and use as a pattern.

Then all you need is a cereal box to create your sturdy pattern, some scissors, and some willing kids.

Once you have them all cut out, let the kids help you decide where to put them.  Use a straight pin in the center of the bat to attach them to the wall.  This makes the bat look like it is flying.  Once you take the straight pin out, you won’t even see the hole it left in your wall.  That is the beauty of using a pin.

Have fun and enjoy the night with your family.

What is going on here?

This morning, I woke up to a text at 5:12 am.  This is what it said:

No school today due to snow.

WHAT?  Snow?

Sure enough, there was snow on the ground. 

We are once again stuck on this mountain, and wouldn't you know I am once again almost out of milk.  Oh, and soda... could someone bring me a diet coke please?

Today was grocery day, instead of shopping we stayed inside and watched it come down.  Boy, was it coming down.

Isaac could not wait to get out in it.  So while I snapped some photos, he found his cowboy boots and came right out.

I couldn't help it.  The glow of the snow could make any face look adorable. 

Look at those lashes... I would love to have a transplant for some of those.

You have to remember this little guy has never lived in Utah.  He hasn't seen much snow.

I know what you are all thinking right now...

"She is the worst mother.  Where is his coat?" 

He snuck past me and I just couldn't get to it fast enough. 

I did get all the kids bundled soon after, and they took it outside. 

I didn't get any pictures, because I was on the phone chatting with a high school friend that I haven't talked to in over 5 years.

HI!! Jamie:)

In the meantime, I made Sugar Cookies.  YUMMO!!

Don't you love Stella's sprinkle job.  That girl loves her sprinkles.

This is my new favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe.  My old favorite, which I still love (you can find the recipe here), takes a long time.  They are delicious, but also very tedious.

This is my mom's recipe.  There is no rolling out, or chilling dough.  Therefore, they whip up in a snap.

My Mother's YUMMO cookies.

2 C. shortening

1 C. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 t. salt

1 C. powdered sugar

1 1/2 t. vanilla

1 1/2 t. baking powder

4 1/2 C. flour

Cream sugars and shortening.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix well and add dry ingredients.  Roll in to balls or drop with a cookie scoop, flatten with your hand, and bake.

350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  They are definitely better under cooked.  Add some frosting and sprinkles and enjoy.

We enjoyed them tonight for FHE.(family home evening)

We are beginning to talk about Baptism since Jex will be baptized this year. 

At the end of the evening when we shared something that made us happy  he said with tears beginning to roll down his cheeks(tears are always the spirit talking.)

"I am happy we could talk about baptism, and that I could feel the spirit.  It helped me know that I am making the right choice to be baptized. 

This is a special time in his life.

At the close of this Snow day, I got another text that read:

No school tomorrow due to snow.

When will we ever get milk and diet coke?