Fall Festival

Last week was our ward fall festival.  The ward mission wanted to come up with an activity that would maybe interest some of our ward members that we don't see very often.  We thought that a fall carnival would be fun.  As a ward mission we received approval from the Bishop to go forward with it.  We then talked with each of the ward auxiliary leaders and got them involved in helping with our booths.  

A few weeks before our big activity we planned a linger longer fireside with a speaker giving a missionary message and to let our ward members know that the carnival was coming and to think of who they could invite out.  Flyers were made and passed out and personal visits were made to encourage people to join us.  It ended up being a wonderful activity with many people coming to support it.

In one of our meetings a suggestion was made to have "Minute to Win It" type games to earn tickets to then spend on "prize winning games" and fun carnival foods to eat.  The Minute games were inexpensive to put together and easy to play.  We had games like stacking pennies, building a pyramid with solo cups, balloon blow over, dropping pennies into a jar......and more.  

Some of the prize games were donuts on a string, fish pond, balloon darts, and ring toss.  Some of the yummy foods were cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs, shaved ice, and hot cocoa.  Our activity was held inside the church because it is now too cold to do activities outside.  Our festival was a grand success with many people participating in helping with the booths and others coming just to enjoy!

There is more than one way to do missionary work!

Skylar playing donuts on a string.

            Rafe enjoying a hot dog!

Rick manning the cotton candy machine outside because it was making too much of a mess on the inside:(  I felt bad that he was outside most of the time.  He said he didn't mind, though.  

He's such a good sport.  I love this guy!!

Bishop and little T getting the hot dogs ready:)

          Haivyn, Kylah, Isaiah, and Naomi enjoying some treats.

Katie, Amari, Halle, Naomi and Havelah posing for a picture.

                    Darrell Allen and John Beckett manning the fish pond.

               Tracy Beckett at the fish pond!

Kelby and Jessie taking care of the penny stack booth.

Carter Ence trying the "Suck it Up" game.

Halle Bartley and her friend give me a smile.

Mike and Jen Shepherd enjoying some cotton candy.

     Alejandra Hainey holding baby Tom Harrington.

Scout and Rafe showing me their yummy shaved ice.

       Henry sporting a batboy mask!

Henry "fishing" for a prize while Rafe and Scout wait for their turn.

Sarah's turn at the "Donut on a String" Booth.

Brother Carter is giving Seth a little help with the push of the head:)

Tammy Sheffield in the background.

My sweet granddaughters got a crown painted on by Aunt Sarah.

A last picture with my littles.  Charlie has not quite learned to like me yet and usually cries whenever I pick him up but I am happy to say that all of the others REALLY like me:-)

A fun night and a successful missionary activity!