Mission Impossible: General Conference

Our family looks forward to General Conference every Spring and Fall.  We have fun family traditions like the yummy food, ice cream Sundaes after the Priesthood session, pre-conference FHE , post-conference FHE, and of course the M&M game (except we used Skittles this time).  We've tried lots of different activities over the years to help the kids stay involved and hear the words of our prophets-- Conference packets, activity centers etc. . . Pinterest had tons of Conference ideas for kids this year, but nothing that seemed any different than what we've always done. So, I decided to come up with my own ideas.  Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who just lets me go for it (and even participates!!) when I get crazy ideas.  

I came up with a Mission Impossible theme, and our Conference Fun started Friday night! The children were called to the living room and we sat there waiting for Scott.  Suddenly the Mission Impossible theme song began playing and Scott came down the stairs wearing sunglasses, a black trench coat and carrying a sleek silver briefcase.  (Sorry no pics of this).  The kids' faces were priceless, they were SO CONFUSED.  Finally, Scott opened the briefcase and pulled out a manila folder marked "TOP SECRET" and read the message inside explaining that in preparation for the upcoming conference there were certain missions they must complete.  After completing each assignment they must return to "Head Quarters" aka. Living Room to receive their next mission.  We then handed out black clothing to each of our little secret agents and they changed and got started on the assignments (clean up the family room, create our graffiti wall, sort skittles).  Scott played the music and made a big deal out of each of the 5 assignments-- it was SO CUTE!

Agent G, Agent D, Agent E, Agent T, and Agent S pose for a pic

 Reading about their final mission.

Their last mission was completed individually.  First, they had to make it through the "laser hallway" and then knock 3 times on our bedroom door, where Scott was waiting.  He gave each child a folder with their special assignment. 

The Special Assigment:

  Each child was given a different General Authority they were to "monitor" during conference and would return and report on what they had learned the following Monday during FHE.

Agent G. learning about President Uchtdorf

Our Graffiti wall Before Conference

Prior to each session of Conference, each child received a  "Top Secret" folder which had an individual assignment (based on age and skill) for them to complete during that particular session of conference.  If the assignment was successfully competed, their efforts were rewarded:  we kept the rewards and assignments (including a couple bonus assignments for each child) in the silver briefcase Scott used the night before:

Dallin and Sierra working on one of their assignments-- marking scripture mastery scriptures.

Grant's completed assignment:  a model of a temple made of Legos (see Moroni on top?)

Our graffiti wall AFTER conference

It was a GREAT conference!  We had a lot of fun, and were spiritually fed as well.  At one point during conference Grant exclaimed "This is the most special kind of Holiday".  I feel the same way.

September Review

I LOVE September, and not just because it is my birthday month (although that certainly makes it even better!!).  It's a busy and happy time of year with school and sports and the beginning of fall (my favorite season).  Here's what we've been up to during September. . .

The older kids started school in August, but in September Trent started his neighborhood preschool group.  We rotate hosting preschool and teaching. . .super fun-- for me and HIM :) !  Here are our preschool cuties showing their apple stamping project.

Now that he is 3, Trent gets to go to the preschool library storytime all by himself.  He was SO excited to go the first day!  We have the most awesome children's section.  I love our library!

Sierra is on a competition dance team this year.  She is loving it.  Here are the girls after our practice "stage hair and make up" day where we had to go and learn how to do their hair and apply stage makeup (including false eyelashes).  We kept telling the girls "this is NOT pretty make up, it's JUST for performances on the stage!!"  I don't think Scott was prepared when we came home and he saw his daughter in HEAVY makeup and little dance shorts.  

Dallin turned 10 years old!!!  I can't believe it!  He requested a fruit pizza rather than a cake-- fine by me! :)

Dallin has really enjoyed playing football this season, so we got him a new ball.

I'm so glad that even though he's getting older, he still likes the same things he did when he was little-- namely, Legos.

Grant went on a Kindergarten Fieldtrip to a pumpkin patch.  They had a hayride, picked an apple, and then picked a pumpkin.  The children were instructed that they could pick any pumpkin they wanted-- as long as they carry it.  While all the other children went home with adorable little pumpkins, OUR son  picked out THIS monster (and carried it too!!).  To Grant bigger is always better.

After nearly 11 years of marriage, Scott and I finally got a Honeymoon!  My mom and dad came out to  watch the kids for a whole week while Scott and I headed off on a roadtrip sans children (woohoo!). 

Our trip began in St. George where Scott competed in the Kokopelli triathlon.  He did AWESOME!  He did the same course last year and managed to shave 6 minutes his time this year!  There was a big turn out and some tough competition, but Scott still took third in his age group! 

(Holy cow, look at the muscles on his calves and thighs!)

The next day we drove out to California where we made our way up the coast during the week.  We started in Santa Barbara, then up to Pismo, then to Big Sur and Monterey.  On the way home we stayed at an adorable little inn in Morro Bay.  It was a great trip and we're already starting to plan our next "honeymoon".  Hopefully it won't be another 11 years! :)

Since no one was there to take pictures, we took a lot of pics like this:

We watched the sunset every day at different beaches

LOVE the Redwoods!!

We found the most awesome little beach near Big Sur.  We walked past this huge rock (see below) and I saw what at first I thought was a dog, and then I realized it was a baby seal!  It was adorable!