The Big Family Home Evening

I think I have mentioned this on the blog once before, but one of the main reasons I try to keep this up is to record a family history. (It is also why I sometimes bug people to make comments so that I can obtain their insights on our family activities).

Today's blog is not real exciting and the videos posted aren't well filmed, this is simply an attempt to document a glimpse of a Besaw family tradition.

It seems that about once a month we have some event (holiday, birthday, etc) where all the families that live in Utah (we really miss Carl's family) get together at my parent's house. It is always chaotic and at times the noise level is unbearable; however, I feel these get togethers will be something Tyler and Marcus will remember fondly throughout their lives.

Growing up I never had grandparents who lived nearby. I do have some good memories of times with my Besaw cousins who lived in Layton while I was growing up, but the distance and circumstances still kept us from being as close as we may have preferred. I remember while growing up some of my friends talking so fondly of spending time with cousins and grandparents. For me, spending time with cousins and grandparents was great, but it was not something to be enjoyed regularly.

One reason I chose to get my Master's degree from BYU rather than an out of state college was so that my children could remain close to family. Sometimes I wonder if I would have more financial success if I had followed a different path; but when we have these get togethers I am always glad that I stayed close.

A couple of weeks ago at our get together, Tyler found a crazy hat and vest in grandma Terry's dress up box and clowned around with Clayton and his other cousins. Morgan and London kept wanting to play night time and turning the lights off, much to the annoyance of the twins. Marcus' entertained with his almost crawl.

After a little bit we all ate dinner together...a big batch of grandma Terry's special home made chicken noodle soup. Then, grandpa Rod and grandma Terry gave a lesson on being kind. When grandma told the story about two little boys who put a silver dollar in a poor man's shoe you could have heard a pin drop. All the kids on the couch were definately listening close.

All in all, I am grateful for the lesson, grateful for the dinner, but more importantly grateful that my children are able to enjoy their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that live so close. (They are also lucky to have great visits from the family that doesn't live close!)

Here was a rather spirited opening song of Follow the Prophet:

Here is Tyler and London singing Book of Mormon Stories...and Kennedy wanted to make sure she got some face time as well.

And is there any way to lead a song more spirited than the way Clayton does here?