Family Fun

Last Year 2007 We (The Sheldon Paul Family) fell in love with the movie "Ultimate Gift" (if you haven't seen we HIGHLY recommend it). We then learned there was an "Ultimate Gift" experience. Instead of buying it (my "frugalness" again took over) we decided we would create our own and use it as our goals for 2008. We did this, but did not totally complete it in 2008 -- so one of our family goals this year is to complete our Ultimate Gift Experience in 2009. For January each child wrote down two family activities that can be completed in two-three hours. Then each month we pick one and do it "spontaneously" (anyone that really knows me truly knows how much I have to let go of my "control" in this situation). Last year we only did two, but had a great time doing them. We wrote down new activities for this year and pulled on last Friday (January 16th). One of Meagan's was chosen and the activity was Pinic at the Park. Our time frame was right after lunch so I asked Meagan to come up with an idea we could do. She suggested Apple Shmear (something we thought was fun from the moving "Cheaper by the Dozen"). So we headed out grabbing only a tennis racket for our adventure. On our way we stopped and visited Grandpa Paul who had just arrived home from the hospital. While they were visiting I ran to store bought a few apples and some pints of ice cream that were on sale. We got to the park and discovered we had the really nice tennis racket that probably shouldn't be used for apple shmear. So instead we created our own games. Apple Toss -- which team could toss the apple the furthest without dropping it (Sarah and Conner won). Apple neck relay-- who could carry an apple between their chin and neck then pass it off to the next person -- then we had a race doing this (I think Sheldon won), then we had an ice cream race -- who could eat their ice cream the quickest but after each bite you had to go touch trees to take the next bite adding on bites each time. All of us except Conner gave up long before the ice cream was gone. Then we played how many times can you clap while the apple is in the air (Sydnee -5, Conner 9, Loryn 10, Meagan ??, Sarah 11, Marylynn 9, Sheldon 14), and we also had a race with apples on our heads along with how each person could be creative throwing an apple. We didn't realize how much fun apples could be. We decided we'd get a different tennis racket and play apple shmear Saturday Morning. So Saturday morning we headed over to our park for a real game of Apple Shmear. We had so much fun. We didn't know that we could actually hit an apple a good distance with a tennis racket. We made up some rules as we went along that anyone is welcome to use. It's a lot like baseball just with apples and a tennis racket not a baseball and bat. The bases alignment is the same. Three strikes is an out and if you shmear the apple it's a Home Run. If you start with only a partial apple and shmear it then it's only a double. If your fly apple is caught your out. We played "workup" and Edwards thing we used during wiffle ball. We also recommend using an older not very good tennis racket. You may throw the apple at someone to get them out but it has to be below the waist. It is always amazing to me how much happier everyone is as we play together. I love doing fun things and am so grateful I have a family to do them with. I believe that is part of our Heavenly Father's plan and we found this to be a great "wholesome recreational activity"