5/40 - Family Creative Nights

 Challenge 5 of 40 is maintaining Family Creative Nights. I think this has quickly become one of my favorite nights in the week. It started with Ana reminiscing one day late last fall about how they loved listening to Adventures in Odyssey when they were younger. We would check out the various volumes that our library had (usually on tape) and the kids would listen to them for three weeks straight until they had them all practically memorized. Ana then said that you can go online and listen to all past episodes with a monthly membership to the Adventures in Odyssey club. That piqued everyone's interest since our local library did not have every episode and our knowledge was limited to what we could check out. So after a brief consultation with the rest of the kids, there was enthusiastic consent to instate Family Creative Nights. Our plan is that at least once a week, we gather around the table, log in to our account, and starting from the beginning, we work our way through every episode while pursuing some sort of creative undertaking of your choice. I think we have made it through volume 11. There are over 60 volumes to go through. Each volume contains about 12-15 twenty minute episodes. It quickly became a favorite family activity with everyone. The kids regularly ask, "Can tonight be an Odyssey night?". This is what a typical Odyssey night looks like. Activities chosen have included drawing, coloring in a coloring book, painting, crafting with beads, yarn, or other materials, making miniature dolls and furniture, or anything else that you want to do with your hands while listening to Odyssey. 

Earlier this week on an Odyssey night, David got out this puzzle to work on. I didn't have a current project going, so I joined him while the girls worked on their projects. Once Scarlet went to bed, our internet stopped working, so we finished the evening talking while putting together our puzzle. The other two girls joined in the puzzle putting together effort once Scarlet was tucked away in bed. I think the older kids each commented several times throughout the evening how much they enjoyed this quality time together as we talked about all sorts of life matters on their minds. My heart is full.

Yesterday was an early out day and the kids all brought home their instruments for practice. They were goofing around and decided to play Mary Had a Little Lamb together, each taking a note in the song. It took about five takes before they could do it without one of them laughing. They are each at different skill levels from beginner to advanced, but it was really cute to see them do this.

  I am so proud of the way they treat each other and love one another. With David graduating this year and going off to college next year, I am treasuring these last days with all of my children under one roof. What a sweet time this is!

Tell me: What are some of your favorite memories of doing things together as a family?

I remember one time - I was probably about six - we all went outside when it had freshly snowed and it was dark outside (probably 5:30, but felt like it was REALLY late!) and Mom and Dad made a track in the snow and we played Fox and Geese together in the dark with only our porch lights to light our way. It was one of the coolest things in the world to my little eyes.