FHE

We have a new system for Family Home Evenings - it's been on trial for a while now and seems to be working for the moment.

One person is completely in charge of FHE - everything - from running family meeting beforehand right through to the treat or game or whatever at the end. I like it this way because I only have one person to follow up every week.

This week it was Peet's turn - he was desperate for a turn. We also take one of the most recent General Conference talks as the theme for the whole night - we're all about easy.

Unsurprisingly Peet picked Dieter Uchtdorf's talk from the Priesthood session - of the infamous 'roll up their sleeves' comment.

He started the lesson by asking us each to draw the three things we most enjoy doing with the family.

Great start to a lesson.

Roger: going to the beach, reading the scriptures (he can be a bit of a goody-two-shoes), and going on long drives.

Kim: reading generally, eating dinner together, and working (I can be a bit of a goody-two-shoes too - though not as often as Roger).

Thomas: road trips, bush walks, and going to the beach.

Jesse: (she couldn't keep to three) sleeping in the same room, camping, having a fire at home and talking.

Peet: going to the beach, talking and walking over the Goodwill Bridge.

Louisa: talking in Mum and Dad's bed, driving a long way to set up a fire and camp (she kept herself to three by squeezing them in together) and swimming.

Max: driving in the rain, swimming and climbing mountains.

The lesson progressed from there as Peet talked about work and the joys thereof etc.

But the lesson for the parents was that the next time it rains we should hop in the car and go camping with a fire, and talk as we drive.

FHE

Family home evening this week was a puzzle and some scripture reading - and Rocky Road for dessert. (We did the puzzle on the not-flat lounge table for an extra degree of diffculty.)

The deal was that everyone could have one piece of rocky road before the puzzle and one piece when it was finished. It was harder than anticipated and didn't get finished till the next day - and one piece was missing. I was accused of hiding it on purpose so no-one could have more Rocky Road until Louisa found it the next day - under the mat.

Tom has been home for a month and a half now and we still haven't had a regular FHE with him - he was in Toowoomba working with Lee this week.

But we are glad to have him home - Louisa said that she has noticed that since Tom has been home Alec has not been a 'grumpy goose' when he gets home from work - just a 'slightly grumpy goose.'

Flood

Brisbane had a heap of gorgeous unseasonal rain - inches and inches. So because we can't resist a flood - and because the mongrel council 'fixed' all the roads around our place years ago so we can't get flooded in - we went to check out the floods along Cedar Creek Road. Roaring creek with closed roads - Alec reckoned it was a wonder Matthew wasn't killed when the truck he was in was swept down Cedar Creek in a similar flood a few years ago - tractors ferrying people across the water. Now the kids want to sell and move to the end of Cedar Creek Road so we can be flooded in.