General Conference

 This weekend was General Conference!  Getting the most our of Conference is always challenging with the kids.  This year I drastically lowered my expectations for the kids and.....it turned out great!  This year I asked them to watch all of the first Saturday session and then they were free until President Monson spoke.  They were great during the first session, coloring in they General Conference notebooks, listening, etc.  At the end of the first session, Matt had run outside for something and Sydney ran after him.  I ran after her, since it was freezing and she was not wearing pants!  After a successful retrieval, I came in during the closing prayer and saw the boys all kneeling, arms folded...ah!  A mother's dream come true!!!  In the past I have provided Conference bingo, word searches, etc. for the kids.  This year I printed some coloring pages and a few note-taking things for Zack.  Derek disappeared for part of the second Saturday session, but the other boys stayed and played quietly or listened.  Sunday I provided them with nothing (we spent the night at my parent's house) and in the morning they stayed right with us and played quietly.  Zack got a little excited by the Mexican costumes they had on display: 

 Sunday afternoon we headed to Temple Square where Zack was able to sit with my parents and Michael during the session in the Conference Center and Matt and I and the kids sat outside.  It was a beautiful day, but a little chilly if we were not in the sun. 

 There were still so many bright colors on the grounds. 

 Sydney was a little fussy.

 A quick walk during one talk put her right to sleep. 

The boys colored on the iPad during conference.  I only had to stop them wrestling once, er, twice.  :) 
In the past I have been more strict about what I ask of the kids during General Conference.  Matt convinced me that a)we needed to watch without constantly shushing the kids and b)it needs to be a positive experience for them and 8 hours of conference is a lot to ask of a 2, 5 and 6 year old.  Zack was great and watched all of it.  It ended up working really well.  I was able to watch, the kids watched what I wanted them to and we all hung out as a family all weekend!