Remember the Thankful Box and when I required my family to submit–in writing, no less–their “thanksgivings” in order to eat Thanksgiving lunch?
Well, I came up with a new version for Christmas dinner :).
Last night, as we finished the last bite of “Company’s Coming Beef Tenderloin” and all the mmmmmmDELICIOUS fixins that accompany half a side of red beef, right about the time we needed a wheelbarrow to cart us out, I required a “ticket” to leave the dinner table. The kids were desperate to leave so they could pick up where they left off with Rockband, so they reluctantly willingly complied.
This time around, they were required to submit–in writing again–their Outstanding Memory of 2007. Everyone penned one (or more) thoughts that were memorable–good, bad or ugly; then, we took turns drawing them out of the box, reading them, guessing whose memories they were, and then that person was the next to draw.
I’ll just say this about that:
— GREAT idea!
— FABULOUS conversation
— they actually ENJOYED the exercise
— we SAVORED our year…even the difficult things…
…and I’ll tuck those “memories” into an envelope marked “2007” and share them with my family years down the road.
It’s kind of like a time capsule of thought….hmmmm, or a PENSIEVE :)! No wonder I thought of it ;).
Come see the most embarrassing moment of my life, over at my Wordless Wednesday! I like your Wordless Wednesday post! Hope you had a great Holiday!
DEB
That sounds like a great idea. 🙂
That sounds very entertaining. My mother decided she wanted to share a poem with us and then asked everyone else to recite a favourite poem, and it was fun trying to remember the words~ not that we succeeded without getting out books!
What a great idea!
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I did finally do that 7 Things meme:o)
wish I started that 37 plus years ago.
another great idea…i was planning on using our thankful box for new year’s day meal…but i’m thinking i might do one for new year’s EVE meal too…best memories for 2007 and then one thing you want to do in 2008.
happy almost 2008!!
I am totally stealing this idea! Pure genius! I wonder what my favorite moment was…it’s hard to pick just one – there are so many!
I would imagine your favorite 2007 moment had to do with a certain little trip with a certain little someone… ?
This is an idea we’ll be using next year, thanks for the idea.
What a great idea, I’m going to do this too, it will be lovely to review the best bits of the year!
what a wonderful idea…I will have to remember for next year!!
Deb, funny girl, you are :).
Beccy, if I had to recite a poem from memory, that’d be pretty sad…I can’t even remember what I write, let alone anyone else’s. Great idea, though!
Pamela, you can do it for the NEXT 37 years (even if you get the girls to mail you their thoughts).
Elena Jane, I know! It’s never too late to do this; New Year’s sounds even more appropriate :).
Susan, hehe…do you really think I chose just ONE?? I chose one for almost every MONTH! And yes, our trip was October’s memory (and might top the one for “best” of the year).
I do hope all of y’all will do this who’ve indicated you’d like to…even if you get a little resistance in the beginning, everyone will end up enjoying it (I promise!!).
🙂
Oooh! How cool is that? I love that idea. I’ll have to try that next year with everyone.
Okay, I seem to be back in the (more) normal flow of things. I missed the last Pensieve’s Poetic License, but am looking forward to the next one.
Here’s wishing you and your a happy, healthy 2008!
~Maria
Glad it went over well!! :^)
Hey Robin, any idea what happened to Bossy’s blog? Does anyone know how her daughter is doing? I wonder what happened to make her blog disappear! :^( Worried….
You are the queen of good ideas! Robin, you’re my hero. I love the lion-rabbits, they’re too cute. Happy slightly late holidays to you and yours!
What a good and fun idea!
(Came here by way of Ann Kroeker.)
Good choice going with Rockband rather than Guitar Hero. Do they have the entire setup? Before I became a “blogger” and just as digital cameras came out, I chronicled our journeys by pics and now as we look back, we can compare – and did it this year – thumbdrive with pics and watching them on TV. Your time capsule idea is great – NLM
Oh, lucky lucky kids. We wanted to get Rockband too but it isnt out over here yet. We thought of having it shipped down here but we left it too late so decided to wait.
I bet you are having loads of fun with it. Guitar hero has always been a big hit at our place.
What a fun idea 🙂
I’m stealing it and only because you added the tidbit about saving them in an envelope. A wonderful addition to our scrapbook. Thanks, Robin.
That is another great idea. I think the kids will really appreciate it in years to come.
Brilliance again… a pre-concieved table exit strategy that produces a family time capsule. Creative and clever. I hope you publish the results in your memoirs some day. :~D
You’re a good mom! I should have thought of something like that. We did bring out all the old photos and watched them. Time capsules are fun and help you to remember the good times.
Maria, congratulations on returning to your “normal flow”! Me? I’m afraid that won’t happen until my kids return to school…until then, it’s VERY sporadic blogging :/.
Nancy, I don’t know :/…lemme know when you find out.
Jenn, awww, it’s nice to be Queen, and I’ll take your “good ideas” over my usual “good intentions” ;).
Anna, Oooo, she’s a good one!
NLM, yes, they have the entire set up, and although they don’t have Guitar Hero yet, they want it. We’ve been surprised that they’ve enjoyed as MUCH as they have; they’re learning to rock out with several bands we grew up on, lol, kind of crackin’ me up (“Mom, have you heard of Aerosmith or Boston?” kind of thing, lol).
How great that you compiled a “central spot” for your journeys…mind are scattered all over the place. Maybe that should be a New Year’s resolution…?
Karisma, they wanted GH, but we weren’t gonna binge them with both…I’m sure before it’s all said and done, we’ll be home to it, too. I MUCH prefer these to violent KILLING games :/… there’s enough of that on the nightly news…….
Robinella, you just reminded me I need to scoop ’em out of the box and slip ’em in an envelope…oopsie!
Dawn, I think so, too.
E-mom, your comment just made me s m i l e :).
NLW, you’re right, they DO help you remember (and I need all the help I can get!) :).
Rockband Rocks!!!
I like that idea – AND I think that would make for really cool scrapbooks! Using their words in their handwriting.
You win the “Best Idea Award.” Love it.
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday and that 2008 is healthy, happy, and safe for you and yours…and also that you keep on blogging.
Cheeky, there IS something about k n o w i n g someone’s handwriting, isn’t there?
Swampy, Awww, girlie-Q, you’re the sweetest EVAH! 🙂