Family Home Evening SUCCESS!

Here's one for the books! Anyone who tries to faithfully have FHE knows how miserable it usually is, so it is worth noting when there is a successful one. I had expected a total flop, especially the game (which inevitably ends in angry tears -- usually from James.) Besides, I thought the game might be beyond their ability. Amazingly, the kids loved the game, but it did end in tears -- because they didn't want to quit. And usually it bores us adults to tears to play kid games, but we actually had fun with this ourselves! And now, Megan has me sing the songs to her over and over so she can learn to sing them with me. In case you'd like to try what we did, I am including the songs and the game.

Thanksgiving Fun

SONGS:

Mr. Turkey (To the tune of Thumpkin)

Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey
Run away, run away.
If you are not careful,
You will be a mouthful,
On Thanksgiving Day,
On Thanksgiving Day.

Mr. Turkey (tune: If you're happy and you know it)

"Gobble Gobble, Gobble Gobble" says the bird.
"Gobble Gobble, Gobble Gobble" says the bird.
Mr. Turkey Gobble Gobbles, and his feet go Wobble Wobble.
"Gobble Gobble, Gobble Gobble" says the bird.

Albuquerque Turkey Sung to My Darlin Clementine (my favorite)

Albuquerque is a turkey
And he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles
And he's absolutely mine!

He's the best pet you can get yet
Better than a dog or cat
He's my Albuquerque turkey
And I'm awfully proud of that!

And my Albuquerque turkey
Is so happy in his bed
'Cause for our Thanksgiving Dinner
We have spaghetti instead!

Let's Be Thankful (To the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Let's be thankful for this day
Four our friends and our play
Let's be thankful; let's be glad
For our food and the things we have
Let's give thanks for you and me
And our home and family.

OR

Thank you for the sun so bright
Thank you for the moon at night
Thank you for my family
Thanks for friends who play with me
Thanks for everything I see
I am thankful, yes sirree!

Gobble Gobble. (Tune: Military Chant)

Gobble Gobble is the sound (repeat)
Of the turkey fat and round (repeat)
Thanksgiving Day will soon be here (repeat)
Then he'll surely disappear (repeat)

Did You Ever See A Turkey? (Sung to the tune of "Did you ever see a Lassie")

Did you ever see a turkey a turkey a turkey
Did you ever see a turkey go this way and that
(children make up turkey movements etc.)
Go this way and that way and this way and that way
Did you ever see a turkey go this way and that?

Turkey Pokey (to the tune of Hokey Pokey) Give the children a feather for each had, stand in a circle, and sing:
You put your right wing in You put your right wing out You put your right in And you shake it all about You do the Turkey pokey and you turn yourself around That's what its all about Gobble Gobble 2. Your left wing 3. Your tail feathers 4. Your left foot 5. Your right foot 6. Your beak 7. Your whole turkey self etc.

GAME:
Cornucopia Confusion
all of the players will sit on chairs forming a circle. There should be one more player than there are chairs. The player without a chair is the leader. The leader points to each of the players naming them as she points with cornucopia names such as "Cranberry, Corn, Apple, Turkey," anything related to Thanksgiving.

After names are chosen, the leader calls out two names, for instance...
"Turkey and potato!".
When she calls the names , those two players must quickly switch places.
The leader keeps calling at a quick pace, until suddenly she says
"The cornucopia has tipped over!" Everyone, including the leader, then scrambles for a new place. The player with out a seat, becomes the new leader. The leader may give the same name to more than one person.
This game can be confusing at first, but it is also very fun!