Everyone at home is the key there, by the way, and it is rare!

She and I made a decision to start a family night on Thursday nights, and strongly encourage everyone to be and stay at home with us.

It was a GREAT idea!

We are rotating who gets to plan the family night – which is also a great idea!

We have had three so far and they are my favorite thing we are doing this summer.

The first one took place the evening Tate, Blake and I returned home from Madison after Tate’s appointment with his orthopedic surgeon.

Addie was in charge and we had a game night!

We played Guesstures and laughed so much my face hurt the next day!

I planned the next week and decided to have dinner around the fire and night time swimming.

It was SO relaxing and enjoyable!!

Only some crazy kids swam because the rest of us (meaning me!) were sitting around the fire in sweatshirts and blankets, ha, ha!

When we finally drug ourselves back inside way too late, we all commented about how very nice it was to slow down and enjoy a fire and each other.

This last Thursday was Tate and Eliza’s turn to plan our evening.

And plan it they DID!

We also used the time together to celebrate their Forever Family Day anniversaries, which are both in July.

They chose a special meal and I was very thankful Addie was off work that day to help me prepare it all!

Sweet and sour meatballs with ramen noodles and cheddar cheese biscuits – and they loved it!!

For dessert they requested crepes with peaches and cream.

It was also a huge hit!

And crepes are very fun to make, by the way.

After dinner Tate and Eliza had a coloring contest planned for the rest of us.

While we were coloring, they asked each of us questions that they had planned and written down in a notebook.

It was a very creative family night and the questions were very good!

I got second place in the coloring contest, thank you very much!

Addie Mae was first place.

Someone, named Blake, tried to cheat – but the judges of the coloring contest were not falling for any of that, ha, ha!!

Nice try, Mr. Moschel.

We ended the evening around the campfire again.

PERFECT.

Just perfect!

It was by far our best family night yet!

Chad is in charge of this week – I wonder what we will do?

I have to say that sitting around that fire brought back memories of farm life at Adoni Acres.

We had camp fires and food around a fire a lot when we lived on the farm!

They are AWESOME memories – so here’s hoping these family nights will be awesome memories too.

There is nothing better than being together – we are just better together, you know?

I sure hope this family night idea sticks around!!

Memories made and memories now kept!!