FHE Packets. . . ADDICTION

I have an FHE Packet addiction. :) I love making them for myself and other people :) At one point my hubby "grounded" me from making any more. I wonder why. . .

I have had a few questions about them lately so here are my answers.

So this is what I have from the wonderful exchange groups that I have done over the years. I think I have participated in 8 exchanges X 12 people ish in each = just under a hundred of these. . .

I love having them in the envelopes (they are labeled for me) -but I can send my kids to the "tote" and ask THEM to pick out an FHE. They love it. It is like opening a Christmas Present. What one will they pick? (I sometimes lay on top ones I would like covered.)

The zip lock on the side is a few cute little props for some of them that fit better on the side than to bulk up the envelope.

I also have this:

It is something you can buy at an churchy bookstore . It's a book with full color Family home evening lesson, complete with a scripture, activity, treat idea etc.

Here is an example:

This has happy camper and sad camper. Little things "scenarios" you read and they put them in the happy camper or sad camper back back. (SOOOO CUTE!)

So I bought the book and cut out all the pieces and such and laminated them. The full pages of directions etc I just slipped in sheet protectors. This one is in a binder. and the big pieces I put in sheet protectors.

This is what I did with the little small pieces:

Put them in ziplock bags with a label of the lesson number. I actually have done TWO of these books one is more just Sabbath day games to play. (All of it very useful when I taught primary!!!)

FYI - I have my own little laminator my M.I.L. got me for my birthday years ago. They run about $25 - 30 at Sam's club or Costco. The lamination sheets are cheapest at Sam's at around $23 for 200 sheets. (Costco often doesn't carry them). So it is a little investment - but I love having them.

When my kids are older my plan is to have THEM teach the FHE's and just use the packets and games etc to keep the younger kids entertained.

PS as mentioned before, I have some FHE packets stored on line you just need access to the account. I am more than happy to share. It's a good start if you would like to take a look let me know!

One more thing I have is some pre-made talks. Again a book my M.I.L. had on hand and I simply copied, colored and put in a binder. Honestly I don't use the talks themselves much. I write a simple talk and use the different pictures for visual aids. However the gospel art kit is pretty good too!

(I did use the talks more when we were in Primary - we had a binder with a few for those kids who forgot they had a talk - so they could still give a talk.)

SIDE NOTE: Just a side note. I "make" my kids memorize their talks for primary. And yes, there have been times when I forget until right before. I honestly believe if you write it in a simple format, with the pictures as aids - they can be memorized. My kids usually run through it about 4 - 6 times. (Then they are done.) What I have found for my Sunbeams - is to have a question and answer talk. This means that I participate too. This helps calm nerves, and makes it a little less to memorize. I usually take parts when it is hard to have a visual cue for it too.

Here is an example of one my Sunbeam just did for her first talk.

(Assigned Topic: Heavenly Father speaks to us through prophets.)

ME: What do you do when you want to talk to Heavenly Father?

Kaylee: Pray! (pic aid of prayer)

ME: What do you do when you want Heavenly Father to talk to you?

Kaylee: Read the scriptures! (pic aid)

Me: What is another way Heavenly Father can talk to you?

Kaylee: Prophets! (pic aid)

Kaylee: (Pic aid) This is President Monson. He is the prophet today.

Me: What are somethings that he has asked us to do? (OK I FORGOT TO SAY THIS ON THE ACTUAL TALK - and she TOTALLY COVERED FOR ME! :)

Kaylee: (pic aid) Say your Prayers

Kaylee: (Pic aid) Keep the Commandments

Kaylee: (Pic aid) Clean up your toys. (I loved that talk thank you Pres. Monson!)

Kaylee: (pic aid) Help other people.

Kaylee: (Pic aid) Follow the prophet he knows the way! (Pic aid) Because he talks to Heavenly Father!

(PS pic aid for Heavenly Father is very hard! I just covered up Joseph Smith on the First Vision.)

Anyway - just thought I would share how I have found it easy to give an effective "Sunbeam talk" :) (Personally I would much rather ask a question or three then whisper everything in her ear for her to repeat. We have found that this works well for us!)

(And we like to skype grandparents and practice on them first!)

General conference Ideas

A dear friend sent me some General Conference ideas and it asks for suggestions. Thus I need to blog them so I can link up. :) The good thing is that now I can have all the ideas and links in one easy to find spot! HERE (Her blog had a TON of cute ideas.)

Just a few from me. (None of which are original - all are stolen.)

During conference get out one of those 72 hour kits - and check them over. (This would make you do it every 6 months so nothing goes bad.) Let the kiddos eat the fruit leathers, trail mix, granola bars . . . whatever . . . that are going to be expired before next conference. A GREAT way to rotate your 72 hour kit. (Which by the way I heard was changed to a 96 hour kit after Katrina - it was determined that 96 hours of food would be wonderful.

(And - I like to use Mountain house Freeze dried Meals in my 72 (96) hour kit because they are good for 5 - 7 years - just make sure to bring extra water. :) and they were at my Costco this month. . . of course I use regular food too - but it is nice not to have to replace EVERything every 6 - 12 months. . .)

We use the conference Bingo and the kiddos get cheerios for the morning session for markers and skittles or m&m's for the second session. It keeps their attention for a few talks!

I personally like to have something for MY hands to do too. Keeps me focused. I have done afghans and hand quilted baby quilts in the past but now live in Arizona. . . :) So I used to sit and color little people objects for my FHE packets. My hubby grounded me from doing anymore when he learned I have 130 packets/lessons done.

But now I am doing some for a single sister I V.T. in the ward. :) So I am happy to have a project this conference. If you would like some Family Home Evening packets - shoot me a comment saying so. I have a few on a site online you can down load them from. They are not all done by me. . . but they are pretty good.

NOT a conference idea - but I participated/lead a Family Home Evening Packet Exchange. I loved it! It's a MUST :) if you have little kids. Basically you get about 10 people together who want to do it. (We had RULES that just basically said there needs to be laminated (or something like) little things for the kiddos to manipulate for the story or lesson or game. Things needed to be in sheet protectors and we sent the files to a site to keep them so if we wanted to make them as gifts for other people we could just print off and color.)

You do 10 of the SAME packet. You all report your Topic so there are not repeats. (Sometimes we did themes like holidays, articles of faith, scripture stories. . . )

You meet together in two months and exchange - you walk away with 10 DIFFERENT packets. With things YOU would have never thought about doing because they aren't YOU. :) ie one did a packet with David & Goliath complete with a picture of Goliath with an "X" on his noggin, that you took a spoon and flung marshmallows at to "take him down." How fun is that?

My kids love them. When I am lazy (most mondays) I just ask them to pick out and FHE packet from the tote. Whola I LOOK like the coolest mom with major prep. work. :) The kids LOVE the lamination things and the different ideas that the many people bring to the table.

I also use them for primary lessons when they match up. And when my kids are older I plan on THEM teaching the younger ones from the packets :)

If you would like any more info on the FHE packets. Or even the site where 27 ready to print packets are stored . . . let me know!