Activity Days: Temples

We took the girls over to the temple grounds and walked around so they could see the different symbols, talked about getting a temple recommend, worthiness, sealings, eternal families and baptisms for the dead by proxy. There was a couple who came out all decked out in their wedding apparel. This was a great way for the girls to realize that one day they wanted to walk out of the temple doors with their husband too! We then took them a little further away from the temple and took pictures of the girls with the temple in the background. The small visitors center has lots of things to help us learn more about the temple. We watched a video regarding the sanctity of families and the importance of eternal families. The girls loved looking at the Christus and we took a group picture in front after listening to the presentation by the sister missionaries.

Activity Days: Prayer

This idea came from: LDSActivityDayIdeas.blogspot.com

We began by discussing when to pray and remember to really talk with our Heavenly Father instead of just saying the same thing over and over. We gave the girls a paper and pencil. We told them to take a few minutes and write down the things they could pray about. We then had them share their first idea with the group. We then talked about how sometimes we can't hear the Spirit, even though we are doing good things.

We did a coupl object lessons to help them understand these concepts a little better. First: We told them it was Saturday and that we they preparing for Sunday by playing church music - the church music represented the spirit of the Holy Ghost. Using a CD player we played a song quietly for a second. Then we had one of the girls turn a vacuum on. We could no longer hear the music so we turned it up above the noise of the vacuum. While that was going, we had another girl play with the baby. We then had the other girls talk with each other but no one could hear! Although everything that was going on were good things, when we don't take time to listen and pay attention to the spirit, we will let the world distract us from our what our Heavenly Father has to teach us.

Second: We paired the girls off in two with partners that they don't normally hang around with. We gave them about 1 minute to talk to each other, study each others voices and come up with a plan. They were going to have to find each other without saying each others names and without seeing each other. We then had one girl from each partnership go with me and the other with my partner. We had took them in my backyard and blindfolded them. They then were told to find each other. They loved it! We told them this was like trying to listen to the spirit and recognizing it.

Next we had the girls come inside and decorate prayer rocks. That got a little crazy with painting and all but they enjoyed themselves. I hope they remembered a little about what they learned about prayer and now are to say the prayers for FHE to pass off Learning and Living the Gospel #5.

Activity Days: Grooming & Hygiene

This week for Activity Days we talked about personal hygiene & grooming. First of all we had a skit where we had one leader dressed nicely and all clean and the other leader was a wreck, hair and all. I got to be the messy leader. Then the girls picked out items from a basket and we discussed their use and the importance of our appearance. We finished off with manicures and pedicures plus a healthy snack. The girls loved painting each others nails!

Activity Days: Paper Heart Attack

We needed to complete some type of service activity and my original plan was to pick up trash on the streets of the neighborhood or local park and then do ice cream in a bag but it was way too hot! I went with a paper heart attack, this is where you cut out paper hearts and write messages to the person you will be attacking. We chose the primary presidency in which we thanked them for all their hard work. We also made rice crispy treats which we left at their doorsteps and covered their doors with the paper hearts, then we knocked on the door and ran. The girls enjoyed all the work but really struggled leaving the rice crispy treats. We had to send them back after knocking at each house because they kept walking off with the treats instead of leaving them on the porch. It was rather silly of them! They enjoyed a rice crispy treat after.

Activity Days: Cupcake Decorating

We reviewed the twelfth article of faith:We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Then learned some techniques to cake decorating. The girls loved using all the different icing tips and goofing around. They were more thrilled to eat their creations than anything else!

Activity Days: CTR Hemp Bracelets

Ideas found at mormonshare.com: A short lesson to teach them to learn to sing the Hymn, Choose the Right, understand the importance of choosing the right, and making a ctr bracelet to constantly remind them to do so. Activity Description:We followed the "Living and Learning the Gospel" suggestion to learn how to sing the hymn "Choose the Right" by playing a game. The game was played similar to musical chairs or hot potato, only the "potato" was a chewy candy wrapped in several layers that had the lines written on them. (Note: Make sure the lines are rather simple using only one line of the song at a time) When the music played, the potato was passed around. When the music stopped, the person left holding it had to recite or sing all parts that had been unwrapped until then. The winner was the person who was able to recite/sing the entire song without help. The chewy candy was to remind them to "Chews the Right."Next we played a "Sink or Swim" lesson found in an LDS Family Home Evening book that consisted of choices or situations they could face and whether they would sink or swim depending on the choice they made. Afterward, we braided hemp bracelets and weaved alphabet beads into them that spelled CTR. The girls had fun learning how to braid hemp bracelets for one, but also, knowing they made their own CTR bracelet and knowing the significance of it was fun for them. We used the Klutz book Hemp Bracelets for guidance, it is a wonderful book with thorough instructions! The girls were excited to know they could do this at home.

Activity Days: Manners

We discussed different situations where we use our manners. Talked about the importance of manners and had a little role playing. We then practiced using good manners while having cupcakes and juice. Who isn't willing to do a little work when there is a treat involved!?!