Harmon's Haven

Meet amazing dad Robbie, mother-in-training Jesika, 7 year old best big sister Bree, 5 year old boy in every way Gabe, 3 year old who thinks he's 10 years old who makes us all laugh McKay,
and 9 month old sweetest Quinn Marie...the Harmon Family!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Conference weekend!

Oh we love conference!! We did some fun things this year I just thought I would share...of course the old standard "Conference Bingo" was a hit again. Bree and Gabe are getting better at not "hearing" things that haven't been said just because they want to eat a treat! They both got to choose the treats at the store that week to put on the squares (marshmallows surprise, surprise...) and were SO excited Saturday morning to open them!  
Also I got a couple of new ideas from here ...and that is also where I got the packets with the bingo and some coloring pages. But my favorites were the print outs of pictures of the 1st Presidency and 12 Apostles, which I taped up on the wall, one for each child, with boxes under each person for the kids to run over and color in when that person came up to speak. Then we did the "Conference Spring Garden" which I am excited about. I had cut out all of the flowers that had pictures of the 1st Presidency and 12 Apostles on them, and put up some "grass and stems"...so they were curious the minute they saw it in the morning. They took turns coloring the flower for each speaker and then put it on the wall. Then after the talk I would write on their flower what they spoke about. Now, for the next few months we will "pick" a flower and do a FHE lesson/activity about that topic. I love it cause it's a great way to review what they spoke about, and keep the spirit of conference around even longer.
We also started a couple of traditions: We had a pre-Conference camp out in the back yard Friday night...so fun! (Ha, I slept in the house with McKay, but Robbie and the kids loved it! It was perfect cause they stayed up late, and woke up early, and then both fell asleep during the afternoon session!) Then had a BBQ lunch with burgers and beach salad (that acini de pepe salad that we love...but it's pretty involved to make so I never make it, but Robbie loves it...so I thought it could be a great Conference treat!) And then crepes for breakfast on Sunday morning (first time for the kids and they were a hit! I wanted to do something that we didn't do very often.) It's hard to just "start" traditions when you're not sure what you want to do...and neither of our families had any particular Conference traditions...but these were fun and we'll see if they stick!

But aside from the treats and the traditions, Conference was just amazing. My father taught me to always go to Conference with questions, and then listen for the answers. And just like in every other Conference they were answered.  I was blessed with ideas and inspiration on how to be a better mother, a better person, and a better follower of Christ. The brethren are so inspired and without fail, speak with power and the spirit. I am so grateful for a living prophet and apostles and the guidance I receive from them. Such a blessed weekend!  

3 comments:

Amber said...

Wow, you are one amazing mom! I love all these conference ideas and can't wait to be able to use them in our own little family! I love your conference traditions as well, what a fun, great ideas! Thanks for sharing these!

Lizzy said...

I'm glad you are a mom before I am-and can just give me all your ideas someday :) I need to start writing them all down!

Kelly said...

I love all your ideas Jes! I definitely want to try the spring garden. What a great way to incorporate the conference talks in FHE after and my girls would love the visual. We tried something this year that they liked (got the idea from Casey's brother.) We had cups with different topics written on them and a different treat or snack in each one, and if they heard that word they could take one of those snacks. It kept them listening a little better.

Thanks so much for sharing. I love conference too!