Family Fun

The past week or two, I've been listening to the Gospel Solutions for Families series from the Mormon Channel when I'm doing household chores after the kids are in bed. I really liked the two-part conversation about Family Fun, where they discussed the importance of fun and simple ways to have fun with your family. Here are a few of the ideas that stood out:

• Work parties - The whole family gets together to do chores, but make it a party - music, food, dancing, etc.
• Cookie Fridays - Make your home a place where your kids and their friends like to be. One mother discussed a tradition she had of making a lot of desserts on Fridays, and having all their kids' friends over.
• Milestone celebrations - birthdays, graduation, accomplishments, etc. Make them memorable and something to look forward to.
• Family support - as much as possible, have the whole family attend the events of each kid. E.g. soccer games, recitals, etc.
• Spend money on memories, not things. One family said they didn't have a living room couch for 18 years because they put their money toward going out as a family instead.
• Family council = sitting on mom and dad's bed with a carton of ice cream and some spoons.

A part of the discussion also covered "wholesome recreational activities" as mentioned in the Family Proclamation. In that document, family fun is put on the same level as faith, prayer, forgiveness and other gospel principles. Having fun together helps to create the environment where things like forgiveness, work, and repentance possible.  

I've tried to have a little bit more fun this past week, and it really helps (of course). Too often I take life too seriously and too personally and I forget that can actually be a fun guy. Here are some of the ways we like to have fun and be silly as a family:

• Pillow fights for family home evening activity
• Daddy Days - going out on Saturday to different fun things around town.
• Food traditions - We just started doing Egg Castle (German Pancakes) on Sundays. We're working on other traditions.
• Family bike rides. We invested in bike stuff this past summer and we've had the opportunity to go out a few times.
• "Don't tell me no" game. We stole this one from Uncle Eric. You ask the kid, "Do you tell me no?" and then tickle them with either the "yes" or "no" response.
• Games in the morning. A couple times a week, I'll play a short game with the kids in the morning before breakfast or before I go to work.
• Tickle attacks. Sadie often instigates this one. She taught the kids my tickle spots, so sometimes we just like to play this for awhile. Sometimes I like to be a steamroller and roll over the kids too. The kids love it, even Tanner is really into it, right in the middle with everyone else.

What fun things do you like to do with your family?