Geo Trax

I love when a cleaning project opens doors to a fun Family Night. Last weekend we cleaned out our garage and added more shelving to make room for all the stuff a large family can collect in a small house. While cleaning the boys found their huge collection of Geo Trax up in the rafters. Can't remember when we put them away, but I remember we were thinking way in advance and decided to keep them for our grandchildren. That was obviously before set number two came along.

The boys were begging to play with them, but we kept insisting the garge had to be finished before we would bring them down. So that is how we came up with last Friday's Family Night.

 

 We pulled the car out of the garage and the entire family built a huge city and train tracks. We let the kids keep it up all weekend long. This was a smart idea on our part since they spent the entire weekend in the garage happy and occupied. When the big boys were ready to build a new track they would let the babies out to take care of demolition. Then the niehgbor kids would help them create a bigger and better track.

I'm sure most of you have a toy or game that has been pushed to the back of the shelve or put into the attic and forgotten about. Pull it out! It will make for a GREAT Family Night!

Night Walk and frozen yogurt

This last Friday Night was one of those nights we did not have a plan. We all talked about what we wanted to do for Family Night at the dinner table. It was decided upon to take a nice long walk to Golden Spoon for some frozen yogurt. The boys all got in their jammies and we headed out in the dark with our flashlights. So maybe you can say it was a modified Pajama Run.

The walk itself from our house to Golden spoon is about 2 miles. On the way we played a version of Geography. Instead of naming places we named foods. So someone would start by saying a food like "banana's" the next person has to name a food that starts with "s" which is the last letter of bananas and continue. This is a good way to distract your kids from the long walk.

We enjoyed some frozen yogurt together and then walked the 2 miles back home. This time we played the same game, but had to name different animals.

So if you ever get to Family Night without an idea. Put on your walking shoes and grab some flashlights and take a walk together. Fresh air and exercise is always good for the whole family and you'll see how quickly everyones mood changes because of it.

Make your own Pizza night

Pizza Night is always a big hit!

It is pretty simple, I help the kids roll out the dough and then let them build it however they want with any ingredients they want.

But it is desert that they all really enjoy making and eating. We make a pizza desert. This particular pizza is just chocolate and marshmellows, but you can get pretty creative with desert as well. Peanut butter, fruit, nuts, pretzels, coconut and candy. That is just a few toppings that came to mind.

We usually throw in a movie or board games between dinner and desert, but it is the pizza making that really puts a smile on my families face.

So make your next Family Night a Pizza Night

Boxing match

I found these inflatable boxing gloves on clearance quite some time ago and the big boys have been iching to use them. So this last Friday Night was a Barna Boxing match. We took turns pounding eachother silly. Even the little boys got into the fun.

Ok so I must admit it was quite satisfying punching my big boys. I know you know what I'm talking about.

Eventually we were tired of being beat up so the fun turned into a game of freeze tag. Now that is a good way to add in an extra cardio workout during your day. Especially with fast 7 1/2 year olds.

Whatever night you decide to have as family night go out and smack eachother around all in the name of FUN!

Night Walk and Pillow Fights

When I asked Wesley what his favorite family night was he said he really loved the night we had a pillow fight.

Keeping it simple, cheap and easy!!!
This particular Friday Night we did not have a plan of what we were going to do. So after dinner we asked the boys if they had any ideas and one of them suggested a pillow fight and the rest of us thought that was a fantastic idea.

Considering the night was still young we decided to take a night walk together around the neighborhood first. The whole family put on their matching lighted visors and headed out the door.  We looked ridiculously cute. Can you just imagine 8 beady eyes walking down the street.

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Got home and spent an hour on mom and dads bed having a good old fashioned pillow fight. Didn't take long to tire us all out so we ended the night snuggled in bed telling silly stories. One would start the story and then pass it on to the next person to continue...and so on. This had us all busting up laughing.

Time well spent and didn't cost us any money! This was a few years ago and it is Wesley's favorite. So if you havn't had a pillow fight lately with your kids....plan one for your next Family Night!!!! Your kids will remember it forever!!!