What Are Your Favorite Family Activities?

It is important to spend time together. A common expression today is that quality time is more important than quantity time.  This statement might have some validity to it, but both are actually important.   It is hard to experience the good quality time if we don't invest in quantity time.

I can spend hours with my kids doing whatever only to find the highlight or memory maker of that time invested might be narrowed down to a fifteen minute experience or a short conversation that took place.

Our kids grow up so fast. How many of us have experienced that?  When they are first born you think to yourself that you have a lifetime to share with them, and before you know it they are turning eighteen, or going off to college.

My oldest has recently turned eighteen, yet I can remember the day she was born as if it was last week. I can not believe how fast the time has gone!
Recently I almost lost my mom. That event really drove this point home for me.  It really made me re-evaluate what is important in life. I was reminded of how many times I allowed more pressing, but less important things get in the way of my relationships with my family and friends.  I had to face the fact that I do not know how much time I have left with them. The Lord could call them home at any time.

Take time to spend with your family. Even if you don't have anything to talk about, just enjoy the time together. If you invest the time, the bonding will inevitably stir up the relationship at some point or another.

Here are just a few things my family enjoys doing together or would like to suggest. Being we don't have a lot of money to blow, we are always looking for things to do that cost little or nothing:

• Chatting around the dinner table. Sometimes, in order to get the conversation going I will ask what the best and worse part of the day was for each family member. We then attempt to go around the table, but often don't make it because of the conversation that is spawned from asking that question.
• Watching a good movie
• Scrap booking
• Playing games
• Playing music (instruments) together
• Video games: Only one of my young ones is a gamer, so often if I see him playing by himself I will ask to join him. Rock Band is a great game to play with the whole family. We have a blast when we play together.
• Shooting a bow or pellet gun in the back yard
• Hang out on the trampoline
• Take a walk
• Bike riding
• Cuddle and fall asleep on the couch or in the comfie-chair (my 18 year old still does!).
• Training or playing with the dog
• Tickle fighting (well, at least I like it 'cause I always win)
• Cooking or baking (dad's, too. I'm a dad)
• Build a family web site together
• Go to Rita's

These are just a few things we like to do or suggest. If you have any family activities you would like to share, please feel free do it here.

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