Kiva

I love the concept of micro loans. Small loans given directly to poverty stricken individuals or families in 3rd world countries who cannot get loans elsewhere. As a rule, these people could lift themselves out of poverty if just given the chance. While there are many groups that will take your money and put it to good use in a micro loan capacity, usually you do not know who you are loaning to. A while ago I stumbled upon an on-line organization which matches donations with those needing them in a wonderful way. At Kiva, you pick the specific person or group you want to help. Each has a profile so you know who they are, where they live, what their life is like, how much they need and what they need the money for. You can donate in increments of $25 and even see how much they have raised so far. And here's the best part. The loans are due within one year, you can watch as they repay, and you get your money back! While you always have the option to take that money out, I believe the exciting part is that you can use those same funds to simply re-loan to another person.

This year our family voted on what to do with a small jar of charity money we had accumulated throughout the year. We chose to give it to Kiva. Together we read through many deserving candidates and voted to sponsor an industrious single mom in Tanzania. 26 different lenders helped raise the $825 she needed to buy a second sewing machine and supplies for her small tailoring business. It will be exciting for us to watch as she succeeds in moving forward and repaying her loan. We look forward to using that same money to sponsor another next year. I love how this is connecting my children to someone across the world in such dramatically different circumstances than ours. For us, this is win/win!

For more information about Kiva, go to http://www.kiva.org/.

Simple Family Home Evening

Have you ever noticed that there are usually 13 steps on a staircase? Well, that is the case at my home. A simple and fun family night is to practice the 13 Articles of Faith. Everyone starts at the bottom step and you go step by step reciting the articles of faith. This is fun and helpful for primary aged children, not to mention it is always a good refresher course for mom and dad. :)

It's the lights, baby!

I'm sure all you Utahns (and probably all you out-of-staters if you're visiting) already do this. And, I'm sure everyone has enough to do by way of activities in December. But I'm gonna mention it anyway! Go see the lights downtown! Temple Square and surrounding area are gorgeous all lit up and festive this time of year. It is fun, easy, exciting for even the smallest of children, and free. Our family usually waits to go on the Monday night after Christmas. It gives us something fun to look forward to after the holiday, and it is usually less crowded then. So enjoy!

Wise man / Foolish man

A great time to discuss the wise man / foolish man scenario is while making a gingerbread house. (You know, building your spiritual house on rock or sand....) It's easy to get in to some deep gospel principles while gluing candy to cookie with frosting. I love it when great teaching moments just present themselves. Sweet!

Community Service

Looking for a service project? I found a great local volunteer website. It includes all kinds of different organizations that can use a wide range of service for all kinds of ages and groups. Just click on "volunteer opportunities" and then on the volunteer links on the right hand side. http://www.211ut.org/.

Scripture Cookies

Tonight we had family night with a lesson about the scriptures, and at the end we made Scripture Cookies (the kids had to look up all of the ingredients):
Beat together:
3/4 cup Psalms 55:21
1/3 cup 2nd Nephi 26:25
1 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (brown)
1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (white)
2 or Isaiah 10:14
Add:
2 cups 1 Kings 4:22
1 tsp Solomon 4:14
1 tsp D&C 101:39
1/2 tsp 1 Corinthians 4:6 (baking powder)
3 cups D&C 89:17
1 cup 1 Samuel 30:12

Use your cookie know-how for some of these ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees after reading History of Joseph Smith 1:37 and D&C 133:11. Enjoy!

Service From Little Hands

One super easy but effective idea for holiday service (any holiday!) that even little kids can do is to make or color some simple decorations and give or take them to elderly neighbors or to an assisted care center. Maybe spend a little time and sing a few carols too! The older generation always loves to have little ones around. It will surely brighten someone's day. I hope someone thinks to do this for me when I'm in my declining years!

Family Home Evening Sight

I found a wonderful sight that has ideas for Family Home Evenings.
You can click on it here.The blog address is fheplanner.blogspot.com

Spooky Mad Lib

For a quick and easy family activity around Halloween time, just gather the kids together for a mad lib ghost story. Probably more giggles than spooks! For extra fun, do it around a blazing fireplace and serve cider and doughnuts. Enjoy!


Ghost Story Mad Lib Word List
Fill in the blanks below with the words and parts of speech noted beside each blank.

_______________(01) room or building (eg. barn, attic)
_______________(02) adjective
_______________(03) adjective
_______________(04) something that gives off an odor
_______________(05) adjective
_______________(06) adjective
_______________(07) thing (singular noun)
_______________(08) thing (singular noun)
_______________(09) adjective
_______________(10) present tense verb
_______________(11) past tense verb
_______________(12) number
_______________(13) body part
_______________(14) past tense (-ed) verb
_______________(15) adverb
_______________(16) present tense verb
_______________(17) adjective
_______________(18) thing (singular noun)
_______________(19) thing (singular noun)
_______________(20) present tense verb
_______________(21) -ing verb
_______________(22) present tense verb
_______________(23) past tense verb
_______________(24) past tense verb
_______________(25) present tense verb
_______________(26) name of someone you know
_______________(27) -ing verb
_______________(28) past tense verb
_______________(29) past tense verb
_______________(30) past tense verb
_______________(31) past tense verb
_______________(32) body part
_______________(33) -ing verb
_______________(34) adjective
_______________(35) -ing verb
_______________(36) adverb
_______________(37) name of someone you know
_______________(38) -ing verb
_______________(39) things (plural noun)
_______________(40) thing (singular noun)





Ghost Story Mad Lib Story
Transfer your word list answers to the corresponding numbers in the story below.
We weren’t allowed to go in the _______________(01) and we really didn’t want to—it was _______________(02) and _______________(03) and smelled like (a) ______________(04). The steps leading down into the ___________(01) were ___________(05) and there was a _______________(06) _______________(07) next to the _______________(08). It felt _______________(09) and we wanted to
_______________(10). We ____________(11) toward the ____________(01), ____________(12) steps at a time till our _______________s(13) _______________(14) _______________(15) and we were too scared to _______________(16).
There was always a _______________(17) _______________(18) coming up from below the _______________(19) and we weren’t brave enough to _______________(20) it. One day there was a _______________(21) sound. It was coming from the _______________(01). We wanted to know what was making the sound, but we were afraid we might _____________(22). We ______________(23) and _____________(24), but each time the fear would _____________(25) over us, and we would back away, terrified. Finally, _______________(26) decided to face the fear and go down to the _______________(01). When we didn't hear _______________(27) we became encouraged and followed behind, praying we would not be _______________(28) by whatever it was that _______________(29) and _______________(30) down there. When we made it to the very bottom, we _______________(31), _______________s(32) wrapped tightly around
each other, barely _______________(33). Then, we saw it. It was _____________(34) and it was ____________(35) _______________(36). We moved closer, we couldn’t breathe ...
It was _____________(37) _____________(38) the ______________(39)
in the _______________(40).
THE END

Family Spotlights

You know how school classes, church classes and other organizations sometimes do spotlights on people so everyone can get to know each other better? Well, why not do some spotlights on the members of your family? You may find out a lot that you didn't know about your kids! Make sure to fill one out for yourself and spotlight someone each week for a while, or have a multi-spotlight night when everyone shares their answers. You may want to do it every couple of years or so as the kids grow older, and save them to read for years to come. Who knows, you may even get to know yourself a little better! Here are some example questions:
1. Favorite Color?
2. Favorite Food?
3. Favorite Dessert?
4. Favorite Vegetable?
5. Favorite Movie?
6. Favorite Book?
7. Favorite Vacation? Why?
8. Where would you visit if you could? Why?
9. Favorite subject in school?
10. What would you like to do when grow up?
11. Favorite computer game?
12. Favorite non-computer game?
13. Favorite church song?
14. What do you like to do with your family?
15. Favorite scripture story?
16. Favorite role model? Why?
17. Favorite restaurant?
18. If you could change one thing in our family, what would it be?
19. If you could change one thing in your school, what would it be?
20. If you could change one thing in our town, what would it be?
21. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
22. Do you have a special goal you are working on? What is it (if you care to share)?
23. Where do you want to go to college?
24. What is your favorite kind of animal?
25. What is your least favorite thing to eat?
26. What is your least favorite thing to do? (Be specific)
27. What is a special memory for you?

It's a good day.org - a G or PG You Tube

I was driving home from Southern Utah and noticed a billboard that said Its a good day.org a G or PG You tube. So, I came home and checked it out. It's a great sight for the family and has the following subjects:

• 13 Virtues., by Benjamin Franklin
• Just for fun, online games and painting for kids
  
• Printables, right now there are scavenger hunts
• Motivational, includes quotes and book reviews
  
• Kids Korner, includes crafts and games
• Board game and DVD reviews
• Family Corner: Family vacation, family time and family reunion Tees
• Story Time: This is great, you can click on a book and listen to it online
• Recipes: Has a featured recipe, and also weekly meals already planned
• Our Life: Begin your own family web-site..powered by itsagoodday.org
• Videos/Pics: place to upload videos and pictures to share

Shhhhhh!

"At the library you will find books of every shape and kind! At the library, the librareeeeee!"
(I've recently been diagnosed with Sesame Streetitis)
When looking for fun family activities, try the library. They are always having storytelling, demonstrations, fun shows and activities for minimal or no cost. That's in addition to being able to borrow and take home anything you find there...for free! Books, movies, music, magazines games, etc. We went this morning and I haven't seen any of my kids all afternoon. Quiet, resourceful kids expanding their minds...priceless!

Halloween costumes on a Budget

A great way to get use out of costumes is to share them with friends. Every year my friend and I share "past" costumes and this year we are both not buying anything new. Another idea is to get together as a neighborhood or a ward and have a costume exchange night. Everyone brings costumes that they no longer use or need and they share with each other. The only rule you have is that you can only take a costume that you will use that year. You can also go to family fun.com and get ideas on homemade costumes.

Trick or Treat for the Food Bank

My sister shared an idea that the teenagers do in her area on Halloween. Instead of trick or treating for candy, they ask for food items. Things that each of us have in our pantry's; canned goods, cereal, pasta etc. and then they donate it to their local food bank. I thought it was a great idea. Older kids can get together to trick or treat...and fulfill a service in the process.

Serving the Hungry

One really good idea for family service is to volunteer at the local food bank. There are several ways to do this. You can always take in donations of canned goods, and even do a separate project to collect the food first. They also always need help sorting the donations at their facility, especially during the holiday season, as that is when people tend to donate the most. When our family went a few years ago, we put together a few orders for families with mobility issues and then drove boxes of food to four different families that night, all over the valley. Our kids were invited into each of these homes and were thanked profusely for the help. There was one lady we helped that night whom I will never forget. She was a Russian immigrant and insisted that we try some of her special cake. She was just so thrilled for the company, probably more than the food. You should have seen her face light up when my son (about age 8 then) said the only Russian word he knew to her (goodbye). It was so very rewarding for us and for the kids to step outside of our comfort zones just a tad and serve a few people who were strangers in need. If you decide to do this, call their number first to schedule the time. The Utah Food Bank is located at 1025 South 700 West, and their phone number is 908-8660. I highly recommend it!

It's that time of the year!

Here's a quick and easy family activity and treat rolled into one. Home made gourmet caramel apples. You know, like the one's you can buy, but better! Granny Smith apples work best. Just melt a bag or two of caramels in the microwave, stirring every minute or two until melted. We used waxed paper with pan spray on top to cool them on. Once the caramel has hardened, get the family involved! Dip again into chocolate (milk or white) which has been melted in a double boiler. Then just go to town with whatever toppings your family wants. The kids love this! We used crushed Oreo cookies, toffee bits, chopped pecans, mini Reece's pieces, and white chocolate to drizzle on top. There are so many other combinations that would be fabulous. Depending on how big the apples are and how many layers of decadence you coat them with, it may be a good idea to cut them up and share slices. Bon Appetit!

Family Home Evening's on the WEB

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website has made it very easy to watch a talk or song from conference or a church video. And if you have a laptop..you can do Family Home Evening anywhere. Most talks average 8-18 minutes. What a great way to emphasize what our Prophet and leaders have shared over these next 6 months. The media player also has the following videos:

• The Life of President Monson
• Finding Faith in Christ
• The Mediator
• The Great Apostasty
• The Restoration
• Come unto Me
• Firm in the Faith
• The Good Samaritan
• World Reports April 2008 & October 2008
• Worldwide Leadership Training
• General Meetings for Relief Society & Young Women
• April 2008 General Conference Highlights (one of my favorites)

The new media player is wonderful, so easy to install and watch. It makes it very convenient to find a specific talk or song. What a wonderful resource the church has put at our fingertips. Enjoy!!

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

I have a friend that is a professor at the University of Utah and she told me that every 3rd Saturday the University has an activity for kids/families from 2-4 p.m. In October they are making masks and then in November it will be Holiday Cards. You can find the information here. I found it by looking up theUniversity of Utah Events Calendar. When you get there click on the category kids/family.

She says it is wonderful and she takes her girls every month.
I am excited to try it out. Oh, and the best thing is it's FREE!!
Let us know if you go and what you thought :).

Gardner Village

October is primo time to go and visit Gardner Village. The weather is great, the shops are so fun, and the witches are out! It's free, too. Everything is decorated for fall and Halloween. So many photo ops. The only down side is you will probably have to dole out a bit of cash at Sweet Afton's candy shop (not such a bad thing!).

Family Road Rally

Note: you must be a two car family to do this one!
Divide into two teams. Each team needs a list of things to accomplish around town, a bit of cash and a pencil or pen. One team should start at the bottom of the list, the other at the top (so you're not tripping all over each other). Each stop will require some sort of proof that the task was done, and you can't do more than one thing at one place. You can come up with all sorts of things, but here are a few suggestions:

1. Find an out of state car and write down the license plate number.
2. Have the driver put $5 worth of gas in the car while the others clean the windows. Keep the receipt as proof.
3. Find a stranger with glasses and have them sign the paper.
4. Go through a drive through and order some french fries. Eat them but save one as proof.
5. Buy a drink and share it. Keep the container.
6. Purchase some gum and have everyone chew a piece. Put the pieces together to make a mound of gum as proof.
7. Collect 5 leaves from 5 different kinds of trees.
8. Have the whole team sing a song for a stranger and have them sign the paper and write which song you sang.
9. Purchase 1 apple for each team member. Save them.
10. Collect some one's business card.
11. Make a copy of the list on a copier. Save it as proof.
12. Collect an information sheet from a house for sale.

When all of the tasks are completed, meet back at the starting place. The winning team must verify that they accomplished all of the tasks by showing proof. The winners each get a 100 grand candy bar. The losers each get a snickers bar.

Game or Movie Night, anyone?

One thing we like to do as a family is set aside Saturday night as Game or Movie night. Last time it was movie night and our daughter, Lauren made tickets for three different movies, had a snack bar set up and made sure there were seats and blankets for everyone. It's always good to have more than one choice for a movie. We watched The Game Plan. It was great, because everything else went on hold and we all sat on the couch and watched a movie together. And all of the extras that Lauren put in made it even BETTER!! This is an activity that everyone looks forward to.

It's all about the letter "P"

Tonight we're having a Picnic in the Park. We'll eat Pepperoni Pizza, Pop, Plums and green Peppers. Then, after the kidlets Play a bit, we're going to have a lesson on Prayer and Personal revelation. Dessert? Pie. Perhaps we'll go Pick some Pumpkins, too. It's a Plan!

Star Gazing

Last night our family did a fun little activity. After the kids were all in bed, my husband and I grabbed a couple of large blankets and spread one out in the grass in our backyard. Then we surprised the kids by waking them up and taking them into the backyard. We all lay down on one blanket and covered ourselves with the other. After I handed each person a "Milkyway" bar, we looked at the stars and just talked about the universe, creation and God's power. It was really nice. It only took about 15-20 minutes and next to no prep time. I highly recommend it! A few suggestions: get the chocolate ahead of time and wait for a clear, warm weekend evening.

Enjoy the Simple moments

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

I had an opportunity today to enjoy a simple moment. I was a little stressed and came upstairs and saw my three youngest girls lying on their backs, enjoying each others' company. So, I decided to join them. We started singing and laughing and we made a wonderful memory. So, today...take a moment to make a memory. There are so many things that we let occupy our time, let's let FAMILY be one of them. And don't forget to document it somehow! :)

Some ideas:
*Watch a sunset together
*Lay out on the trampoline and count the stars
*Sing while cooking dinner with the family
*Go for a walk around the block
*Go for a drive and look at the colors of Fall
*Pick a leaf and put it under a paper and color over it with a crayon..that is always fun
*Start reading a book as a family, maybe under a blanket with flashlights :)

Mall Scavenger Hunt

So, here's an idea that came to me instantly when we had a last minute change of plans for family night...mall scavenger hunt. This would be a good one for cold weather. Divide the family into two teams. Ours was boys vs. girls, each parent pushing a stroller. Make a list of items that each team must see and then check off. Winners get some sort of reward, or losers do some form of service for the winners. Each team must stick together. Here was our list: red high heeled shoes, umbrella, opal, book with the word "family" in the title, orange shirt, baby hair bow, pen, pair of blue socks, drinking fountain, security guard, hoop earrings, CD by Garth Brooks, penny, pillow case, chocolate chip cookie, plant, lipstick, vegetable, clock, something with Hannah Montana on it, toy truck. We had a little difficulty because the mall we chose to go to did not have a music store or a book store, though we did find a book with the word family on the front in the Hallmark store. Anyway, it was a lot of fun! We rode the merry-go-round after the girls toasted the boys, then the boys had to make cookies for us at home. A little pre-planning would be good to be able to customize the list to your local mall. Enjoy!