I Can Choose to be Happy FHE

Today we talked about choosing to be happy.  Surprisingly, it kept Brayden's attention even though he was in a very tired mood.

Preparation: 

Print and cut out the wordstrip “I can choose to be”

Print and cut out each letter of the word “happy”

Print (or draw) and cut out a happy face

hide the happy face somewhere in the room

come up with some things that help us to be happy (or use my list below)

Song: “Smiles” (CS #267) 

or When We’re Helping We’re Happy (CS #198)

Prayer

Scripture: Psalms 146:5

^aHappy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

Lesson:

Set out the “I can choose to be” word strip with the scrambled letters for “Happy” underneath.  Since my oldest is only 2 1/2, I will spell the word and let him help me with the letter sounds.  Once we make the sentence, repeat it all together.  (this is where I would share the scripture)

Help the children remember things that made them sad and point out what made them happy.  Then tell them that there is a happy face hiding somewhere in the room. You may either hide it in a hard spot and let a spouse or older child find it or let it be easily found by a toddler.  I had my husband look for it :) Once the happy face is found, explain that sometimes it’s easy to find a happy face/feeling and sometimes we have to try really hard to find it.

Lastly, you can ask what sort of things make us happy.  After hearing some answers, list some things you have come up with.  Maybe present them in a fun way? (ie- on the back of the letters to “Happy” or hidden around the room)

Repeat the phrase “I can choose to be happy.”

(optional): sing “If you’re Happy and You Know It.”

Helpful Resources:

“How to Be Happy” by Marlin K. Jensen.  http://www.lds.org/new-era/1999/08/how-to-be-happy

A printable version with the words and everything can be emailed.  Just leave a comment.

Birthday FHE

This was our FHE activity a week ago.  Because it was my birthday last week and I just get really excited about it.  So, I adapted this idea from Chocolate on My Cranium, but her idea was way too much for my little young family.  So, I used her cake and found some other candles to print just by searching for candles. Here's the idea.

BIRTHDAY FHE

Preparation:
   Print a cake
   Print an outline of candles on yellow paper
   Cut out the candles and have tape ready
   Make birthday cake or cupcakes for a treat

Song: You've had a birthday

Prayer:

Lesson:
   The way it worked for us, my boys were both just interested in my printed cake and wanted to hold the candles, so while I got tape ready, we all took turns saying one thing we liked about birthdays.  The last candle was used to introduce the lesson and I said "I like birthdays because they remind me of why I'm here on Earth."

Then I summarized the lesson from chocolate on my cranium and it was something like this:

In heaven, we all made a good choice to follow Heavenly Father and come to Earth. Because of that good choice, we got our bodies as a gift on our birth day!  (from Birthdays: A special Celebration by Stephen C. Duncombe)

Even my short summary of the message was quickly losing attention, so I focused on the gift of our bodies and how they can do amazing things.  I asked what our hands can do?  No response. . . so I suggested clapping.  When I suggested that our legs could jump I got a great response! Gotta love little boys! I came up with a few suggestions of what our bodies can do:
   hands - clap
   feet- stomp
   legs- jump
   eyes- blink

Finally, I bore a testimony that if we keep making good choices, we get more great blessings.

Of course the biggest his was our ice cream sandwich cake that Brayden helped make.  I got the recipe from pinterest. Here's the link: http://www.thyhandhathprovided.com/2009/02/ice-cream-sandwich-cake.html 

I know it's been a while, but. . .

I need some help with Blogger!  My "template" option is not here and I really want to change the picture at the top.  Anyone?  I guess I just haven't adjusted to the new blogger.   Here's what I tried:  I went to blogger.com, clicked on my blog and looked at the lefthand side options.  All that's there is "posts" and "settings."  I've clicked both those things, but there's no "template" option to be seen.  So, help me out if you have any ideas.  Thanks!

Brayden

Brayden is just a joy.  His tantrums are practically gone and the crying and hitting is fading as well.  He's getting much better at expressing himself through words instead.  He says some of the funniest things too.  He tipped over Preston's scooter a couple weeks ago and I think I must have said something about that "being bad news."  Now he refers to almost any bad decision as "bad news."  Haha.  He also says "tonight" whenever referring to a time.  So he'll say we did this tonight. . . even if it was yesterday or earlier the same day.  Does that make sense?  He says his own prayers now and there's usually something in there to giggle about.  He'll say "Thank you for Ranch dressing"  or "Thank you for Mommy, Daddy (no and. . . we're practically one person). Thank you for Mommy. Thank you for Mommy play with me.  Thank you for trains.  Thank you for Mommy, Daddy."  Haha.  Then he'll do his proud laugh when he's done and say "I said prayer about Mommy Daddy!" (or whatever else).  

I really try to stress the principle of choosing to be happy with Brayden.  So, when he does get in a frustrated mood or get upset about something, I'll remind him that we need to find a way to be happy.  Or I'll tell him that instead of getting stressed and upset when Zander cries he could try to help make Zander happy.  (that did wonders!) Anyway, when we were in Utah, Brayden asked for the iPad and then said "iPads make me happy."  Hahaha.  Earlier this week we were pulling out the train set (his new favorite game) and he did his little giggle and said "trains make me happy."  I just love that boy.

In our family scripture reading, we're using some children's scripture books and we were reading about when Christ calmed the sea.  He really like the story because we were rocking him like the boat and it was thundering outside so it was a perfect setting.  Then we told him how we need Christ to calm our lives sometimes and he was very attentive.  Not sure how much he grasped, but it was very darling.  The last 2 or 3 days he keeps wanting to read that story again :)

Isn't it Nice. . .

When your kids are all asleep?  Yes.  Yes it is.  I bask in the silence when I have the chance.  For his nap, Brayden piled up a bunch of his favorite stuffed animals and asked to sleep on the floor with them.  Oh the silly things that kids do. 

The Boys

My boys have both grown so much!  In size and personality! 

Brayden always has something to say and loves to repeat anything and everything.  In addition, he's now big enough to hit his head on our counter.  He must have grown an inch while we were gone!  He is using a binky again (I think he missed Daddy while we were away and regressed a bit).  He is still taking a nap.  Usually.  But, I have to open his door at 2 or 3 to help him wake up sooner so he'll still go to bed at 7:30 or 8.  Some days he doesn't nap, but he still gets rather ornery on those occasions.  So we try for a nap :)  He loves friends right now and will ask to play with them.  He loves playing with Zander, but only if they start playing together.  If Zander's jumping in to share his toys he's not such a big fan.  He wears big boy underpants all day now with a few exceptions.  One being when he needs to have a messy.  He hasn't quite decided he wants to do that in the toilet yet.  He did it once at Preston's parents house while we were gone and was so proud.  He still talks about it, but asks for a diaper anyway.  I've decided that I can just wait for him to be ready.  He's done awesome with everything else! He even holds it during his 3 hour naps! Amazing.  He also wears a diaper at night.  I'm not actually sure how or when to stop that either. . . I don't think he's ready yet, but I haven't tried.  I'm usually fairly perceptive about when he's ready, so I'm just holding off for a bit.  Anyway, besides potty training and all that,  he is becoming a very sweet boy.  He loves to be my helper and is actually quite helpful.  He puts laundry baskets back, puts trash cans away, throws things away, helps clean up toys.   He is amazing.  I've started letting him help clear the table on occasion.  But sometimes (like tonight)  I don't really clear the table.  I do the very minimum and there are still a few things on the table.  It'll be a bummer in the morning, but I'm exhausted. 

Zander is getting so big!  He is very bright and picks up on things very quickly!  He can say several words clearly enough that other people can understand.  He doesn't consistently talk, but he does say single words.  Today he said "juice" and he was pointing at juice box of Brayden's.  He usually just opens his mouth and pants at me if he wants food or drink.  He's like a little puppy :)  He has said "stars," "doggy," "Daddy," "Mum mum," "Jesus," "temple," "moon,"  "bird," "Grandy,"  and a lot of other on-timers.  He walks 50% of the time.  I think he's a little afraid of falling on our hardwood floors, so he's pretty cautious.  He still has the best laugh and the best moments of my days are when Brayden and Zander both decide the same thing is funny and they have a laughing fest.  Even if they're laughing at me, it's THE BEST!  Zander currently has 5 teeth and tons of light blonde hair.  Both boys got some pretty awesome tans at Lake Powell.  They're fading, but man, they have such great skin!  Zander has developed a very sneeky side and thinks it's hilarious to do whatever I warn him not to.  Every kid has to go through it I guess, but it can be really annoying sometimes when I really mean no.  Zander loves high fives!  He has started helping to clean up too.  He tossed half the mega blocks into their bin today! He is also learning to leave his binky in the crib when we leave.  He'll toss it in himself.  Zander loves pulling things out.  He loves to explore cupboards too.  He is my into-everything baby.  He is soaking everything up socially.  He is very socially advanced in my opinion.  He started laughing at a week old and was already interactive on a small level.  He loves to be involved and enjoys watching shows with Brayden.  Hmm... what else?  I'm sure there's so much I'm missing, but he is still a little bundle of joy.

Go Zan, Go!

Yep. . . in to everything!

Haha.  I thought it was awesome how they were sitting back to back.  It didn't last for long.

Loves his train set.  This is an example of something he doesn't always love to share :D

Brayden attempting the slolem ski on Wii fit

Watching a show together.  Haha. Look at those expressions! It looks like they're watching something complex or disturbing. Haha.  I really have no clue.

5 Years and Counting!

Today marks our 5th Anniversary!  Marriage is awesome!  Life is great!  Couldn't be happier!!

This is probably the shortest (but still sweet) post ever.  Ha.  Right after one of the longest :)