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.