Sunday, October 2, 2016
October General Conference 2016
I always love General Conference and my kids do too! Putting forth extra effort to make it a special weekend is worth it. What has paid off the most is my investment in helping each child learn how to not only sit through General Conference, but to be engaged in it. While it takes extra effort and I don’t get to listen as much as if I let them run around, it’s my turn to train them and help them enjoy it. I will have many years of watching without kids when I’m older. (I do still get a lot out of it, and always re-listen to conference later). It is all worth it!
Saturday
Sunday
I love these smiles!
Both Sunday sessions were so peaceful and nice. Mark got more into changing the pictures on the Conference Center board. As always, the speakers were amazing. The girls passed out “Apostle Treats” every time an apostle spoke. (That’s one way we make the Sunday sessions extra special. It also helps the kids get through 4 more hours of listening/watching!)
We started off the morning with some yummy Breakfast Pizza (Thanks again for that recipe, Whitney!) This was easier than I remembered it being, and it was even faster to prepare having browned the sausage the night before. Everyone loved it.
Andrew and Courtenay’s family arrived the night before (on their way to California), and the older boys slept out on the trampoline. We encouraged the kids to play outside as much as possible before Conference.
Andrew got to play his new game with Christian.
Here we are ready to begin! The kids did great. It was harder for my older boys to pay attention as much as they normally do since they love their cousins so much, but overall they did great.
Natalie sneaked some pictures of the boys and me during the morning session. I don’t care how much they do in their packet or with the board, as long as they are paying attention. Both help them to do that, so I really encourage them to choose one.
When Mark tunes in, he hears so many words that he recognizes, and then finds the pictures for it on the board.
We had Loaded Potato Soup for lunch, which was yummy! (no bacon or onions this time)
Jon took Amy to her soccer game in Orem after the afternoon session. He watched priesthood session from his office.
Amy, Hailey and Macey stayed at the Hafens’ house so the grown ups could all go out for a treat. We had shakes and fries at Moo-Yah’s. Mmm! Afterward, we played a game at the Hafens’.
The Souths left for CA early Sunday morning.
After conference, I awarded each child with a big treat for taking notes on every talk. (I bought some of their favorite kinds a few days prior.) They each showed me their binders/notebooks, and it was awesome to see what they had drawn or written.
David and Janis were in town for a mission reunion and to take their grandson Tyler to conference. They stayed at our cabin, and stopped by both Friday and Sunday nights. We got to chat a little longer on Sunday night. These two are so full of light and love, it’s incredible!
I think it’s so interesting that my kids want to show them the things they are working on (like Tyler’s Book of Mormon reading chart) and some things they love (like the Halloween pictures on our wall and their Halloween picture books). I think they are so eager to share because of how loved they feel. David and Janis are so good at being interested in each individual (they are so patient) and in making you feel so good about yourself. I sure love those two! I’d like to be more like them!
Yay for General Conference!
We had Navajo Tacos for dinner. Yummy!
Sunday morning, we enjoyed whole wheat pancakes with peach syrup and whipped cream for breakfast.
