After reading "Growing Kids God's Way", I got inspired to start a weekly family night. For us, this ends up being on Sundays. We decided to take turns planning it, that way we would all have to step into each other's world at least once a month. Josiah got to plan it first and we got a cheap pizza Pizza Hut and watched a Bugs Bunny movie on our Roku. It was great because he had a budget to work with and he learned a lot. He even figured out how to save some money, and we did something out of the ordinary.Hailey planned the next Family night. She wanted a tea party, so we made "high tea" for dinner. The kids helped me make cucumber sandwiches (had to add lunch meat and cheese for Michael). We sliced up some fruit and had some scones and mini cupcakes to boot. We also used fancy dishes, which the kids always love. We worked on our table manners, too. Michael and I are planning on taking the kids to the ANZAC Tea Parlor when they are ready. He wants it to be a dress-up affair. He said he'd even wear his dress blues for it. They're table manners are rather appalling at the moment, so this may be a few years off yet.
Michael took most of these pictures. I think he's having fun with the new camera, too. I bought this hat at the ANZAC Tea Parlor years ago, it belonged to the owner's mother. I love it! I'm such a hat person. I so wish hats were in style because I'd wear them a lot more!
I took this pic of Michael being a sweetheart and choking down some tea for our daughter's sake. He's a black coffee guy, so this is a real stretch for him. What a man!
Hailey ended the night with a rousing game of "Trouble". I'm sure going to enjoy seeing what the kids are going to come up with. It will be Michael's turn to plan one next. I'm sure it will have something to do with the outdoors, which will be a stretch for me since I don't like doing outside activities during the winter. Anyway, the kids are really looking forward to it and it is good for our busy family to have a scheduled evening where we know we will be spending time in each others' worlds. The idea of these nights is to build a solid family identity which should help them feel more secure and make good choices. Yeah for Family Nights!
How about you? Do you have a special family night? If so, I would love for you to leave a comment and give me some Family Night ideas.
God Bless,
Jackie
17 comments:
Love the family night idea! Looks like you all had so much fun. We haven't done anything quite like that so far, but it comes with age, for now they're favorite thing is just to pile on Daddy! lol
We have many board games. Also puzzles and now the wii. Last night we played baseball on the wii, it was really fun and fast paced. Sunday afternoons are usually family times. Saturday nights are often game nights. The thing that really encourages family time all the time is not having tv in the house. Yesterday our children were pretty happy as we let them play the wii all day long, that was quite a treat!
I love the idea, and you are doing well with letting each person choose the events. I LOVE the hat, and I'll tell you that they will only come back when we are willing to wear them. So wear them! Jay and I are so boring doing the same thing; we have family night every Saturday with deep time of prayer, a movie, popcorn and apples.
I'd love to have family night. Colin's so tired by the end of the day, I'm not sure how it would work.
Don't worry about whether hats are popular. Be like me and wear them any way. I love hats.
Poor Michael! What a trooper!
It looks like Hailey's tea party was a smashing success.
I can't wait to do this with our kids. It needs to be when I'm back on my feet.
Love you, Sis! Wish I looked as good as you in a hat! LOL!
I'm so glad to see younger families incorporatin' family night. It is soooo important and the bones of a strong family. Kudos to you!!!
God bless and have fun with your gang!!! :o)
Yep, our family night is Thursdays. We often play games (or video games) as a family. We have put together puzzles, went out to eat or bowling if it was in the budget. We've done crafts together, but Yohn mostly just watched. Ummmm... we've gone to the park and fed the ducks, played catch with a football or baseball, geez I know there's more, but I'm not thinking of it. Read books and took turns reading with funny voices.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head. But one idea I wanna try eventually is writing a story. One person tells a sentence and then the next person takes a turn and so on and so on. Can you imagine how crazy that story will end up? It's sure to be a great memory though. Also, since your new camera has video you could find an easy play online and make a movie.
Have fun! We also have family days at our house that we try to do once a month on a Saturday in which we do something all four of us that's not at home. There's a lot of hiking trails around we explore, or bike riding. If we have extra $$ it can be used for these days too, so we can go to the movies, or roller skating.
Love this post. We have Sundays as our family day/night too.
Even though our teenagers generally react with indifference or say 'I dunno' to the question of what are we doing all kinds of games usually go over very well here.
I like your idea of taking turns being responsible for the evening because my well is running dry and I find myself doing the same things over and over.
I forgot I was going to say that, I love hats too and buy them whenever I see good ones at thrift stores or my favorite tea shop but hardly ever wear them. Would love for them to be more popular too.
How nice, Jackie! We used to do regular-ish ;) family nights but alas haven't for awhile! Love how you give each person a chance to pick something! :) The Homespun Heart blog has TONS of ideas on family nights if I recall correctly if you are ever looking for an idea! :) I so need to plan one of these with my hubby! :) I like hats too but am kinda chicken to wear them! I love BIG, FLOPPY sunhats the best! :)
So wonderful!! Nothing like family time and great memories!
Blessings,
Jill
What a lovely tradition you are beginning Jackie! You will never regret the time you spent with your children in these sorts of ways. *LOVED* the high tea night...so wonderful! :)
Hmmm...ideas for family night ~ my kids enjoy swimming...or on a clear night going for a walk and looking at the stars...take along mugs and a thermos of hot cocoa. :)
Have fun!
Love,
Camille
Yes, this is such a great idea! I am trying to incorporate more of these into our family! We do more of a Friday night Game night. And we play games the kids choose.
What a fabulous idea! Wish I would have thought of that when I had kids at home. Now it's just me and hubby, and he's gone most of the time, so it's just me. I would play games by myself, but how would I know if I won or lost? Heheh...
Love the family night photos. (Great hat, by the way! Looks good on you.) :)
We love family night too. Love playing games and watching movies. (Love to laugh together - which is what normally happens on family night.) Such precious memories!
Thanks for sharing. :)
What a fun time you all had Jackie! Board games are always fun to do as a family! We don't really have a designated 'family night' at the moment...so thank you for the inspiration!
I also love your new header photograph...your two little ones are so cute!
God Bless
So fun! I love it!
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