Thursday, April 1, 2010

Gather round for Conference

For my fellow Latter Day Saint families I have wanted to share a little tradition our family does for conference, we have been doing it for several years now.

Each Conference season we pick a new puzzle for our family to work on. Over the years we have gotten quite efficient, cracking the puzzle on Saturday morning and setting a goal to finish it by Sunday night. I clear the living room and move our dining table in front of the TV, complete with goodies and munchies galore- free for the taking, IF you are helping with the puzzle.
As you can see we are still in jammies, hair undone and sodas already cracked. From the looks of the photo, this was Sunday afternoon, with the puzzle almost finished.

My kids are always excited to see what puzzle I pick out for us. (this was a Walter Wick puzzle, one of the displays we saw at an art museum)
Okay, turn your head to look at the puzzle. I have uploaded it 5 times and it keeps flipping it, regardless of the fact it is normal on my computer. *

The family loved this puzzle, plus it had a few "I SPY" elements or hidden goodies to find. Sometimes we will do a place we have been or a place we want to go. We get competitive, too, complete with a 'tap' of a piece, to let others know you are having success at your corner.

I will be the first to say it isn't perfect.
There may be bickering over which section of the puzzle someone gets to sit by, or who gets to finish the edge.....

But I have been amazed how this has changed our conference weekend. I have seen my kids get into the talks, commenting and talking about it with me as we work quietly. I have felt like we are growing closer and making memories, instead of 'shushing' each-other form across the the room. Most important, we all stay awake, eager to finish what we have started- and while there around the table together, gentle lessons are learned and vital conversations had.

I love our puzzle weekend, and just wanted to take a minute to write about how great it has been for our family.

This year I am boarding a cruise on conference weekend, hoping I get time to catch up with my DVR and the spiritual messages shared when I get back in town. I was surprised at how disappointed my kids were that we would miss our puzzle weekend. We may just have to make it up another Saturday, soon. It is satisfying as a mom to think they even care.

8 comments:

The Mecham Family said...

What a great Idea! I think i'll try that this weekend! My kids would love if we helped them with a couple.

Kristina P. said...

I love this idea!

I had about 27 hours of TV on my DVR when we returned to Disneyland.

Wendyburd1 said...

So wait what exactly happens? Do you listen to the talks as you work, is that it? If yes, I like that idea. I have a hard time with all talk and need more visuals. I am such a visual person. I love puzzles too! I have a game that allows me to do jigsaw puzzles on my computer with ANY image I want!

Carrieann said...

This sounds great! It's so easy to forget that sometimes all our kids want is our time. And I have issues uploading the pics, too. Sideways is more special!

Pedaling said...

this is a great idea.

i'm out of town too- it's just not the same, is it?

The Mecham Family said...

Ramona- Hope you are LOVING your cruise! I just wanted to thank you for this posting! Because of it, I pulled out a puzzle this weekend and we actually watched/listened to Saturday conference!! And then on Sunday too!! It was perfect!!! I plan to continue the tradition from now on!

Lee Weber said...

What a great family idea.

Calvin said...

You've been back a while now.... I think I have been rather patient