Fun and games

Family Home Evening usually only consists of a song, a prayer and short 5 minute lesson, followed, of course, by a treat. Our Family Home Evening board has a hook for "activity," but by the time dinner and cleanup are over, we only have about half an hour before bedtime, and once I pick up a neighbour who joins us for FHE and then drop her off again, we're out of time. So usually we just ignore the 'activity' hook.

But this week, due to an unforeseen trip to the walk-in clinic (a gash in Benjamin's forehead) and a trip down to Brampton to look at Bathroom vanities, FHE ended up happening on Tuesday instead. And because James was home early, and dinner happened early, we had some extra time. So after a quick lesson on the role and importance of prophets and the upcoming General Conference, and after the treat (Cheese strings - yikes! I dropped the ball and completely forgot to make a treat!), all five of us sort of migrated to the living room.

I think it was Colin who started it off with the games. Our living room isn't huge, but we do have an unimpeded 12 foot space in the middle, which lends itself to running games (when you're 3 and 5.) Colin plays a game at school called "chat et chien" (cat and dog) where the dog stands in the middle and all the rest have to race from one side to the other side and try not to get caught by the dog. It's not much of a challenge in our living room, but Colin and Caleb love it, and Benjamin just runs back and forth laughing his head off. After a few minutes I suggested "What time is it, Mr. Wolf?" the old children's classic. Colin started off as the wolf, and when he yelled "lunchtime!" and turned to chase us, I let out an unintentional squeal of laughter. Then I laughed even harder at the fact that I had squealed in my excitement. Then I laughed even harder because Benjamin started shrieking in imitation of me as he ran around the room. Then James cam in and joined in. After a bit, we moved on to 'Simon Says,' but that didn't last long because Caleb couldn't get the hang of it, and couldn't stand "losing" every time the leader didn't say "Simon says." Instead, Caleb suggested a new game. This was his explanation:

"It's called Mrs. Peacup. You go like this around the room (a mix of dancing and skipping about, arms waving.) And then someone says "tick tick tick tick" and you go on the floor and roll."

He was so certain of how to play and specific in details, I thought it must have been something he learned at nursery school. I inquired such, and he replied that, no, it was a game he had made up. Just now. As it turned out, I had to be Mrs. Peacup, because Mrs. Peacup is a girl and I'm the only girl. Which meant I had to stand at one end and say "dance" and "tick tick tick tick." After I said "tick tick" and both boys rolled on the floor, right onto each other in a pile by the fireplace, Caleb laughed and declared it was a tie.

It was the most fun activity I've ever participated in. I totally felt like a little kid all over again.