Family Night - Trunk or Treating

For Family Home Evening we went down to a Trunk or Treat in a parking lot near Wal-Mart. Kim & Kylie dressed up as boys, Bradley was a ninja and the rest of us we as ourselves.

A good start on their pile of candy and one slice of pizza per person that didn't fill anyone up so we had to run through the drive through for more food.

Slip N Slide Family Night

For Family Home Evening we had a water fight and then the kids went on the Buzz Lightyear Slip N Slide. A great way to cool of on a hot summer night.

SMILE - Our Family Home Evening Lesson

Brian gave our Family Home Evening Lesson tonight. The subject: Smiling :-) We watched this video and got a good laugh.

Picnic at Hidden Valley Park

It was Bradley's night to choose our activity for Family Home Evening. He chose to have a picnic at Hidden Valley Park. It's nice to have so many beautiful parks so close to our home. Hidden Valley & Little Valley parks are both within a couple miles and have splash pads which are really nice in the hot summers. We didn't stay at the park very long since it was a school night and we needed to get home and have a lesson, scriptures & prayers and get to bed on time.

Sand Hollow Take 2

For Family Home Evening tonight we decided to not stay home. We headed back out to Sand Hollow to try out the boat again. Thankfully it started up and worked this time around. Brian had taken it to a shop and they wanted to much money so Brian worked on it himself and got it running. We all had a lot of fun on our tube. I even took a turn driving the boat so Brian could get have a turn too, something I swore I would never do.

All went well for a couple hours until the boat stalled on me. Then I flooded it. It would turn over but not start. Since it was getting late we opted to get pulled back into shore by a guy we met who had been in our ward in Cedar City. Brian is pretty handy so I'm sure he'll give it a tune up and having it running again in no time.

Kylie was exhausted. I personally could never sleep like this but she managed to stay asleep despite looking very uncomfortable.

FHE at Sand Hollow Reservoir

Brian's been trying to get our boat running. We took it for a trial out to Sand Hollow Reservoir for Family Home Evening tonight. We learned it still needs some work because it was overheating but we still had fun. The 5 kids all got on the 3 man tube and got pulled around for a little while. While we were waiting for the boat to cool down so we could start it again we had our family home evening lesson on the boat. While Brian was loading up the boat back on the trailer the kids went swimming. I'm sad I left the camera at home because there were some fun photos I didn't get a chance to take. I'm sure there will be another boating adventure soon and I'll hopefully remember the camera the next time we take the boat out.

Badminton

We set up a net and played badminton for FHE last night.
Kylie was a big help hammering the pegs into the ground.We had a great time playing together.

Kylie spent a long time pumping up the volleyball that came with the net. She didn't want any help and was quite persistent.

This tree kept getting in th eway so I was trying to the branch.

Brian was in charge of refreshments so he made a Krispy Chocolate Log.

Family Home Evening at Sienna Hills Park

It was Bradley's turn to pick the activity for Family Home Evening and he choose to have a picnic at a splash park. We headed over to Washington to Sienna Hills Park. When we got there we were the only ones there.

The kids having a "peeing" contest. Seriously where do they come up with such things?

While we were there a thunderstorm rolled in. There were huge raindrops and a beautiful full rainbow.

Brian had fun flying his kite. Brett wondered what would happen if his kite was hit by lightening? Maybe we'd have our own real live Benjamin Franklin!

This is a beautiful little park. There is a nice walking trail and we saw a bunch of rabbits. The thunderstorm made it perfect weather to be out. We then headed home for a quick lesson and more treats, brownies & cheesecake. We bought a cheesecake because Bryce was begging for one. The kids learned that they really don't like real cheesecake after all. They only like the stuff you make out of a box that isn't real cheesecake!

Family Home Evening Fort

Brian took care of family home evening tonight. He and Brett with the help of the other kids built a fort in the front room and then we had our lesson in the fort. We read from the Tales of Beedle the Bard and then read 3 articles from the Friend.
Thanks for the great fun and memory Brian!

Marvelous Monday

Today was one of the best all around days I have had. I was motivated today and felt great. I made it a 12 point day which means I got a lot of exercise in and ate right. I got my kitchen clean, laundry done and the girls room clean. I listened to a book on tape, read my scriptures and the Ensign and read for pleasure. We had breakfast & dinner as a family and I helped the kids with homework. One of those rare days when things just went smoothly. Of course the list of things to do is always endless but as my friend Melissa recommend I'm trying to focus on what I did get done instead of what still needs to be done.
It's almost time for Family Home Evening. When my dad came through in December he brought us a package of Oreos that have never been eaten. Shocking I know. Thanks dad - Brian & the kids get a FHE treat and I don't have to bake it!

2009 Habel Family Goals

Read The Entire Book of Mormon Together As A Family In 1 Year
Read at breakfast each morning
1.5 pages per day - try for a chapter but at least 3 columns
If we miss a morning we will read at bedtime
If we miss an entire day we'll read double the next day
On Saturday we'll read before we clean the house
On Sunday we'll read after lunch
Track progress with a chart on the wall

Have Family Prayers Together Every Morning and Night
Rotate oldest to youngest
Everyone will kneel down on the ground

Have a Lesson Each Week During Family Home Evening
Family Home Evening will start at 7:00 each week
If no lesson is prepared we will read an article from the Friend

Family Fun Night
Get back to having our family fun night every week
Friday night unless it is ward temple night - then we'll do it on Saturday

Eat Dinner & Breakfast Together As A Family
Breakfast will be at 7:20 on school days & Sunday - once mom is up on Saturday
Dinner will be at 6:15 each night

Bedtimes
Sunday - Thursday
9:00 - The kitchen closes
9:00 - Brush teeth & have family prayers
9:15 - Kids downstairs
9:30 - Lights out!
10:30 - Mom & Dad's bedtime
Saturday 1/2 hour later
Friday - No bedtime!

Media - Video Gaming
2 hour limit for all video gaming Monday - Thursday
No limit on Friday but no video gaming during Family Fun Night unless we are all doing it together as a family
Saturday - 4 hour limit

Chores
Everyday we work first then we play!
Chores, Homework, Scouting, etc. all done by 6:00 each day

Thou Shalt Thank The Lord Thy God In All Things

So my cousin (cousin in law?)made this really cute Thanksgiving turkey with her kids for FHE last week listing all the things they were thankful for. I thought it was such a cute idea and wanted to do it too. But that meant I needed to be prepared and go to Lowe's to get paint swatches and that didn't happen. So instead we broke out the butcher paper and markers and made a huge list of everything we are thankful for. We read from President Bednar's most recent talk on expressing heartfelt gratitude while praying. Then wrapped up with brownies & the movie Wall-E.

We definitely have plenty to be thankful for...

Family Home Evening

For Family Home Evening we played THIS GAME from this months issue of the Friend Magazine. The boys then escaped to the office for some more gaming and the younger kids watched a movie and took care of their babies.

Pumpkin Carving

Our Family Home Evening Activity tonight was pumpkin carving. The kids all did their own pumpkin designs (except Kylie who doesn't care yet).