Wholesome Recreational Activities

"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."

-The Family: A Proclamation to the World

I've always loved that "wholesome recreational activities" is part of this list, and I truly believe that getting out and doing things together as a family makes for a successful family (not even always "getting out", just doing things together really).

Wholesome: Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being.

Recreational: Relating to or denoting activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.

Okay, so the "wholesome" part we might need to work on just a little, but we've got the "recreational" part down. After all, what would YOU do if Chic-fil-a sent you a bunch of free sandwich/biscuit coupons? You use them right? But as a family...of course. I say it's wholesome in spirit.

Last week we took a trip to Chic-fil-a for breakfast before dropping Darin at work. The little spontaneous family activities are some of my favorites. The ones where you just wake up and say, "Let's use these coupons for breakfast today." Although, even the little ones can be fun to plan ahead too because they give you something too look forward to throughout the week. Like when we planned to go to the library for FHE a few Monday's ago to watch Big Hero 6. I was super excited about it all weekend, Shae was excited for it all day. He was so cute at the movie too, it was his first "real" movie experience and he did great--besides that one time he kept yelling out "It's the bad guy!" and wouldn't stop.  He just sat curled up in our laps with his blankie. It was precious. That might not have been the most "wholesome" activity either (according to the dictionary definition), but it sure was fun!

Shae wanted to play in the kid area at Chic-fil-a so badly but he was just too short (and not a good climber) and wasn't able to get himself up to the top where the cool tunnels and slides are.

Through the glass in the play area.

The only thing he could do in the play area was drive the plane.

Awkward almost family photo.

I promise not all of our family fun is centered in food and movies, just a good chunk of it...

We also really enjoy being outside together. Whether its going to the beach, taking the ferry to the farm, the playground, or just a simple walk, we love to be outside (except when it's 95 degrees with 100% humidity, which it has felt like the past few weeks.  Then we eat as much junk as we want and watch as many movies as possible...I kid I kid).

A couple Saturdays ago we got up and went on a family run together. It was so fun to go on a run TOGETHER. Darin and I ran together often when we first got married, but with the kidlets, we always take turns going or I go with the kid(s) while Darin is at work. I say "kid(s)" because I used to run with Shae all the time, but man, that double stroller adds a good bit of weight to the run. I've only actually RAN with it once. (I still absolutely LOVE the stroller, especially walking with it :).  Hopefully I can build up some extra strength to run with both kids, but for now, I'm all about these family runs where Darin oh so willingly pushes the stroller and I jog next to him. My idea of the perfect run.

We ran up to the park. This girly tried out the swing for the first time and loved it.

Shae just HAD to bring the goggles with him. Toddlers are the best.

 Playing our favorite playground game: Pirates. He was chasing daddy around with the sword (stick) trying to touch him.

"We should not need a hurricane or other crisis to remind us of what matters most. The gospel and the Lord's plan of happiness and salvation should remind us. What maters most is what lasts longest, and our families are for eternity." ~Elder M. Russell Ballard