Free Form Fridays

For the past two months, I have been trying to do something I call "Free Form Fridays" with the kids.  Nearly every Friday, I have taken one of the kids out on a night on the town.  Spending time with them, or some such thing...

When I envisioned the thing, I thought I would take them to do whatever they wanted, within reason or budget.  Secretly, I envision them getting creative with their choices, but I guess if that little fact stays a secret, it's never going to happen.  So far, the general consensus has been to go to the water park or the mini golf place.  There is nothing at all wrong with those places, and they have enjoyed it, but maybe going forward, they need a little spark of inspiration so that they don't get bored of mini golf.  (I say bored, but there are seven kids, so it's something like 2.5 months between each turn for each kid, because we don't make it out every Friday...)  Also, some Fridays, I just don't feel totally up to walking all around creation, maybe choices in front of them would help us be more consistent every Friday if I'm not feeling at the peak of health.

So far, we have done the following:

• Ruth - Chinese food and mini golf / laser tag
• Lily - Waterpark
• Adam - Seven Peaks (the waterpark), then go home and have a snack, then take a little nap, then watch a show.  (This is the way Adam described what he wanted to do over and over.  He was very insistent on it, and must have thought plenty about it.)
• Noel - Drive around and try as many claw machines as we can before Noel got tired.  (We got about 20 of them in.  Won two stuffed animals.  More on that later.)
• Kate - Chinese food and mini golf
• Mary and Emma - Haven't gone yet...

A primer for future Free Form Fridays

Activities that include dinner Trafalga - Orem Trafalga - Lehi Seven Peaks (Summer) Go to a museum Learn to make cookies Learn to make doughnuts Go to a baseball game Go to a basketball game Go to a soccer game Go Ice Skating Play games on the Wii Play Zoo Tycoon Play a board game Do service for a neighbor Explore the BYU library Something else the kids think of

Activities that include a snack or treat Go to a movie Go to a play Learn to make a pie Learn to make a particular meal Make something from one of the "Geek Dad" books  (electronics, woodworking, chemistry, etc.  Lots and lots in those.) Canoe down the river  Go to a corn maze Assemble and paint a model car or plane Go to the NickelCade Something else the kids think of

I'll try to remember to make a post about Free Form Friday from time to time...