Family Home Evening

Is any family able to achieve the picture-perfect FHE? Growing up we tried really hard, but mostly laughed and joked (and poked and bothered) with the occasional lesson. Now with my young kids, and husband who was not particularly keen on FHE in the beginning, we too try each week to have a terrific learning experience - but, our pictures look nowhere near this serene scene from the LDS website. However, once I decided to make food a central part of the activities, we now have a lot more family interest in having it!

The above picture makes me laugh because both Michael and Jonathan look shell-shocked (Jonathan had been back less than a week when we snapped it), but despite the newness of their relationship, they both seem to think their fruit-roll-up Titles of Liberty are worth waving...

Our Family Home Evening consists of opening songs ("The Wheels on the Bus" is a real favorite); a "concert" where we all beat on our instruments simultaneously and then, just as the noise gets unbearable, yell "switch!" and start over again; a quick lesson that usually involves reading a short story from a religious story book with lots of pictures; and then, the moment everyone waits for (at least once the concert is over): the making of the treats!

My sister asked me to write up some of our favorites. One of the funniest (because it was strangely difficult for us) was our attempt at making Corn Flake trees (the lesson was on prayer - I know it's a stretch, but so many people have gone into the woods to pray!). We especially liked these because we were forced to eat all the candy bar "tree trunks" that were broken when we unwrapped them...

We've also made caramel popcorn "Liahonas" using a toothpick and gumdrop for a pointer - and dutifully followed Michael around the house as he carried the Liahona shouting "Turn right here! Now turn here!"

We made Snickerdoodles when we spoke about the Brother of Jared and had Michael smush each little ball cookie with his finger before putting them into the oven. We made an altar of scones when we talked about prayer and thanksgiving.

And, our all-time favorite activity so far: Graham Cracker Urim and Thummims. Yum.

Of Boys and Swords and Dvorak

We've heard that there are two kinds of little boys: gun boys, for whom all toys and sticks and even garbage become pretend guns; and sword boys, for whom all things become swords. For Michael, even the swords we gave him become a violin and bow half the time.

As a result of his interest, we changed our schedule a bit and now try to do something musical every week or two. We've attended string performances, Jazz festivals, and on Saturday Michael went to his first symphony! He sat through the entire performance (which, if you know our energetic little boy, is quite the achievement), even dancing to the beat a little in his chair sometimes.

We have yet to see anyone perform a Dvorak piece, which is Michael's favorite (seriously, when I pop in a CD, Michael asks to listen to Dvorak - he really wants to hear Symphony Number 9 in E-minor), and I love to hear him pronounce "Dvorak." He also reminds me that we need to get some Copland, since we heard the National Symphony Orchestra play one of his pieces and I don't have any of his music at the house - which is odd because, seriously, what American doesn't love Aaron Copland?

I must admit that I now feel quite terrible each time I look at his short little fingers that he inherited from me - as most musicians I've seen have much longer fingers. Hmm. Maybe it's just a phase and his poor stunted digits won't haunt him throughout life...

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home

Jonathan has an incredibly busy schedule, as he is still working through military out-processing requirements, has begun a new job, and is finishing schoolwork from the semester before he left for Kuwait. On Saturdays, though, he comes home early from a day of studying and we head out for something exciting.

Michael calls it his "Saturday Surprise" because we don't tell the kids what we're doing until we get there. Rain or shine, cold or hot (one time the heat index was at 110 degrees), each Saturday finds our family out in the DC area doing something fun.