Conference

      I decided to try a new activity at conference.  Well, actually I was forced to.   I was scrambling at the last minute because we were in the middle of moving chaos.  Coloring books and conference tents were packed.  I hadn't printed any fun conference packets that tend to pop up on Facebook and Pinterest.  Brian was running the boys to a Saturday morning batting thing and baseball pictures.  Anyway, candy and chip bowls with possible conference topics were the quick solution.  When the topics were discussed in the the talks, the kids could get a treat from that bowl. (prayer, missionary work, repentance etc...)
     I think in October we might do this only for one session.  The kids were a bit too focused on the candy and less on just enjoying the conference talks as a family.  Overall, we had a wonderful two days listening to counsel from our leaders.

Especially when each session started the kids (not Brinley) were RIGHT next to the treats. They would eventually relax a bit and just enjoy. You'd think they never got a candy in their life. (Actually, I had ALL of these treats on hand... so they are obviously not deprived....mostly clearance from Valentine's Day and Easter.) 

  Legos, coloring sheets, and candy bowls kept everyone in the room and pretty happy!



Lauron spent the night with Aubrey and then joined us for conference while her big sister had a gymnastics meet.

 

Apparently the talk by Elder Falabella where he challenged his granddaughter who was just learning to read, to read The Book of Mormon, made an impression on Aubrey. The next night she brought me a copy of The Book of Mormon and said, "I am ready to start." I was a little confused and it was past her bedtime. I thought she just wanted me to help her read personal scriptures for the night. I just read her a random verse and tried to send her off to bed. She was NOT pleased and burst into tears. I felt horrible. Now, in addition to family scriptures each night, she brings the scripture to me or Brian, and she reads one verse. She is in 1st Nephi 1:7 now.  Pretty adorable.