General Conference is Coming!

One week to go till General Conference!

I'm hoping to spend this week reviewing last conferences's talks and preparing some things for our kids to do so they will be able to listen quietly and hopefully learn something valuable.

For the past few conferences, we have gathered up some paper and crayons/colored pencils and when a new speaker comes on, we have them draw their picture, then write 2 or 3 things that the talk is about, or that they like from the talk.  Then we stick them on the wall under the TV. 

We leave them up for about a week, then we put them in a binder and use them for family home evening lessons, although this year, I think I will have my older kids put them in a binder so they can study them on their own, and make a book for the younger kids to take to church for sacrament meeting.

There are also a billion ideas on pinterest if you are looking for something to help your children get the most out of conference...so that YOU can get the most out of conference.  If you want direct links to the following ideas {and many, many more} you can visit my pinterest General Conference page here.

http://www.somewhatsimple.com/general-conference-activity-for-kids/

http://angbrimwil.blogspot.com/2010/09/activity-day-general-conference.html

http://belindasgreatideas.blogspot.com/

http://classicalchristiancuddles.blogspot.com/2011/09/lego-to-see-temple.html?showComment=1317251048906#c5443607132935269953

http://www.alittletipsy.com/2010/03/lds-general-conference-easter.html

http://www.sugardoodle.info/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4322&Itemid=5

http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/teaching/general-conference/general-conference-note-taking-packet-and-question-for-you/

Conference Bingo is always a hit at my house.

http://fluffybunnyfeetdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/09/general-conference-packets-for-my.html

Ironic

Don't you love it when you find a great book to read, and you want to read all the time, day and night, nonstop?

So you do, and you avoid the laundry, and making dinner and sleep because you can. not. put. it. down.

And then it is over.

Don't you hate it when you find a great book to read and then you finish it?

{sigh.}

             

Just DO it already.

Have you ever been afraid to try something because you thought you might be bad at it? 

But you really want to do it, and for years you think about it, and buy all of the supplies you need to do it, and consider taking classes, then come up with all kinds of excuses not to do it like blaming your busy schedule or your children or exaustion in general?

That's how I am with art.

 Last year, I found this blog, which inspired me to just do it already, and to try watercolors in particular.

 

It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be...

and it was kind of fun.

and relaxing.

And I learned that even though it isn't a super amazing work of art, that I can do it.

And that maybe I'll try it again.  Soon.

It didn't even take up very much time. 

So if there's something you have been not trying for whatever reason, I'm here to tell you that it's not as scary as you think.

Get out there and try it!

You'll be glad did.

Apple Slice Pancakes

I saw this recipe on Pinterest a while back and had to give it a try.

They were super easy.

Use an apple corer to core the apple, and then slice the apple into thin slices. {the thinner you slice, the softer the apple after you cook it.}

Then dip it in prepared pancake batter.

Cook it like a pancake and then butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on it.

They were really good.

My kids really liked them, too.

My husband thought they were more of a dessert than a breakfast. 

Our breakfast routine is getting pretty stale here {muffins, cereal, pancakes, repeat}....anyone have any good ideas for quick, easy breakfasts?

I LOVE Free Stuff!

{Just imagine that's an F instead of a P...}

Today, I have a story for you.

Once upon a time, I was running errands.

I spend quite a bit of time in the car, and one of my favorite past times is looking for junk.
As I drive through the backroads, I have my eye out for old barnwood or other cool stuff left in fields.
When I drive past a dumpster, I have to look in to see if there is anything awesome that was thrown out.
I have a junk radar.
It's a blessing {to me} and a curse {to my husband}.

Back to my story, though.

I was driving through town a while back when I spotted the most beautiful letters leaning up against a building in a little alley.

They were about two feet high, and just sitting there all sad and alone.
I admired them from afar for a few weeks before I got a hold of the owner of the letters.

"Excuse me sir," I said to the man at the shoe shop, "are those your tall letters leaning up against the building?"

"Yes." he said, with a questioning look in his eyes.  "I just removed them from my building because I got new letters."

"Oh." I said {as casually as I could}, "what are you going to do with them?"

"Throw them in the dumpster" he said.

"THROW THEM IN THE DUMPSTER?  WHAT!?"  I screamed inside my head. 

Then he said, "Do you want them?"

I had to restrain myself from shrieking "YES!" and hugging the man at the shoe shop.

I had to restrain myself from running outside and shoving them in my car as fast as I could.

I still have to restrain myself from grinning like a crazy-person everytime I think of my awesome FREE letters!

THE END


...not really.  I was wondering what you guys think I should spell with my awesome letters.

 I'll probably use the A for a collection of As that I have been gathering for Ammon's room, but I haven't decided on the rest.

 I will either paint them or modge podge some old maps onto them...I haven't decided yet.
What do you think?