Back to School Feast

Tonight we had our annual "Back to School Feast!"

(to see our feasts of the past, click HERE).

This year our family theme is,
"I CAN DO AND SAY HAPPY THINGS EACH DAY!"

We started with a dinner that got rained out, so we hustled inside to finish the meal.

During dinner, we announced the new theme and sang the song, "I Am like a Star."

We talked about our goals for the upcoming year, and our hopes for our kids to be like the stars in that song.  After dinner, we ate blew out a candle on our cake to make a wish for the new school year.  (Their mother may have asked each of them to "smell the cake" then gave their face a little push). 

Following cake, the kids got their new key chains, and Darin gave each of us a Father's Blessing.

We are so excited for the 2018-2019 school year!  

Back to School Feast 2017

Last night we had our annual "Back to School Feast." This year, Darin and I decided that our new theme for the school year should be "Did you think to pray?"  After our dinner, we gave the kids their new gifts.  Every year we give them a key chain for their backpack with the theme on it to help them remember.  But, this year, we also did a little picture frame with the theme.  I hung them on their bedroom walls next to the light-switch.  My mom did that for me when I was a kid, because the last thing you do before bed and in the morning before school, is turn off the light, and it's there to remind you for your morning and evening prayers.

We sang, "Did you think to pray" and then we talked about all the times we should pray, and what we should pray for.  We talked about praying when we are scared or nervous.  We talked about praying for other people and praying to know how we can help.  We talked about being more sincere in our prayers, and thinking before we pray, and then being still and listening afterwards.  I hope this will be a good year of growth as we pray together as a family and that each of my kids will be diligent in strengthening their own personal prayers.

Our new key chains.

See our new sign above?  And the cute little picture frames with the writing below?  My cousin, Chandler, made them for us!  We LOVE them!!  She is SOOO talented and has an etsy shop you should check out!  All of her stuff is darling!!  You can check it out HERE.

Back to School Feast 2016

Monday we had our annual Back to School Feast!

I started to think about the new theme back at the end of the school year last year, and I came up with a really cute and clever theme but, as I prayed about it, I really didn't feel like it was what our family needed to focus on at that time.  I thought of a NEW theme, prayed about it, and got the same answer. Then, as I was reading some quotes from President Monson, I came across this quote:

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we....cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude."

We prayed about it, and knew this was the right family theme for this year.

We started our feast by reviewing the past themes

2014- "Kindness Begins with Me" (and we did the "warm fuzzy jar")

2015- "Who Can I Serve Today" (and we did weekly family service projects)

2016- "Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude" (and we plan on doing weekly thank you notes)

After we reviewed the old themes, and introduced the new theme, we gave each of the kids their own gratitude journal, and a new keychain for their backpack with the theme on it.

Next, we ate our "feast" and drank our sparkling lemonade, then Darin gave each of the kids (and me) a Father's Blessing.  It was a perfect summer night and we are all looking forward to the new school year!!

Making a wish for the new school year!

Back to School Feast

This year we had our 2nd annual Back to School Feast!

The Gunnerson Family Theme for 2015-2016 is 

"Who Can I Serve Today?"

I am hoping that this theme will help our family look away from ourselves, 

and learn to be sensitive to the needs of those around us.

I asked Matt what he wanted for the feast.  

He said, "those potatoes with the swimming pool."

"Mashed potatoes and gravy?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Done."

We also had roast, vegetables, rolls, spinach salad, and a chocolate almond cake.

I sure do love these kids!

We also gave the kids matching key-chains with our theme on it.

The kids keep theirs on their backpacks.

Darin and I have ours on our key-rings.

Hopefully, it will be an extra reminder to do a little service every day! 

Making a wish for the new school year!

Back to School Dinner

Sunday we had our first Back to School Dinner.

Our Gunnerson Family Theme for 2014 is:

 “Kindness begins with me.”

After dinner we sang, THIS song, and talked about ways to be kind.

We showed the kids our new “warm fuzzy” jar and told them every time they do something kind we will add a “fuzzy” to the jar.  When it is full we will do a fun family activity. (Yet to be determined).  After our little lesson, Darin gave each of us a Father’s Blessing.

(Side note: I spent probably 30 minutes writing and re-writing this phrase on the chalk board.  I did a really fun caligraphy writing and finally got really happy with how it looked.  Then, right before dinner, Andrew colored ALL over it, and I had to just write it in a hurry.  I now realize that the message is what is important, not the font.)