In honor of Jacob, we decided to have a turtle family night!
We decorated plates like turtles...
We ate stuffed turtle shells
We wore turtle necks, well the girls did. Could you see Whittaker men in turtle necks? :)
I made this turtle bread
And for dessert we had a turtle cake.
The grand finale of the night was letting Jacob go.
Your turn...
Share your what your family does to connect. Simply write a post on your blog, LINK back to this site somewhere in your post and then put your URL into Mr Linly below. I can't wait to get more ideas!
Oh and as for the Olympic night. I was over the Olympics by the time our family night came around. Maybe we can do it in two years when they come back around. :) Thanks for all the ideas. H






it's so amazing... whenever i see there is a family night update i have to read it straight away!!!
i love your ideas and the way how you raise your kids!
be blessed...
Posted by: christian | August 27, 2008 at 01:11 AM
You're one of the first blogs I ever read in my life (yeah internet newbie) so I have a soft spot and have to read daily.. never wrote before now.. but I just had to - I am blown away by your creativity and how much you give to your kids!! This family night is amazing!! Made me wanna cry, it was just so loving and thoughtful and even the turtle bread?? wow! bless you!
Posted by: Marie | August 27, 2008 at 02:45 AM
I hope Jacob is very happy : ). I LOVED your turtle necks : ). Fun!
Posted by: Becky | August 27, 2008 at 04:11 AM
That turtle bread is awesome.
Posted by: Lisa@ Tropical Mexican | August 27, 2008 at 04:58 AM
Seriously? You are my hero. I can't wait to be a mom so that I can try to be as cool as you.
Posted by: Tracie | August 27, 2008 at 05:04 AM
Yeah my husband and I are huge nerds. We had Math night :-)
Posted by: Kristy Black | August 27, 2008 at 05:23 AM
Four years. London Olympics don't roll around until 2012. You have the winter olympics coming in two years...maybe frozen rings-popsicle things as dessert. You can freeze the house and wear winter clothes. Then you can put Losiah on a car creeper and send him head first down your driveway...you know like the skeleton. Of course while you have the olympic anthem playing on your laptop and the girls wearing clothes from different lands. Good times.
Posted by: jimmy james | August 27, 2008 at 05:38 AM
I love it!! What a wonderful idea. The pics of Jacob were great.
Posted by: Charlotte and Larry | August 27, 2008 at 05:48 AM
Heather, I love your family nights! Can you come over and do one for us? I'm so not creative.
Posted by: Heather | August 27, 2008 at 06:30 AM
It ended up being so cute! I don't know why, but sometimes the last minute ones turn out the cutest! Your turtle bread is super cute. What kind of bread is it? You never told me.
Posted by: Jacinda | August 27, 2008 at 07:09 AM
I did the linky :)
Posted by: Jacinda | August 27, 2008 at 07:15 AM
I know summer is in four years, i was talking winter... Which if you know me is more up my alley! H
Posted by: whittakerwoman | August 27, 2008 at 08:29 AM
i want to know what was in the stuffed turtle shells for dinner. is there a recipe? looks yummy - and did your kids eat the lettuce?
Posted by: jennifer ward | August 27, 2008 at 08:53 AM
this is soo cute! have the girls grown since I have been gone??
Posted by: iamthird | August 27, 2008 at 08:54 AM
What a great idea! Turtles are great and your turtle bread is too cute and the rest of the food is very creative. I bet Jacob was honored being the star, or inspiration for family night ;)
Posted by: Ruth | August 27, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Hi Heather!
I'm subscribed to your and Carlos' blog and it's so encouraging to read! :) Not sure if you're still doing the whole "ask a question and I'll answer" thing but here's my question: How did you and Carlos meet? When did or how old you were you guys when you got married? Seems like you guys have an amazing marriage relationship and I was always curious as to how it happened! :)
Also, Losiah's adorable! I'm a Korean-American so it's awesome to see him being adopted by such amazing, Jesus-loving parents. It's like destiny.
Posted by: Julia | August 27, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Thanks for the inspiration! We had a wonderful time at our first ever family night:) BTW: I linked up!
Posted by: Tina | August 27, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I think the turtle cake would have been my favorite. Great Family Night idea!
Posted by: Ali | August 27, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Love the turtle bread! Looks just like Jacob!
Posted by: Joanna Kurtz | August 27, 2008 at 01:31 PM
I want the recipe to your stuffed turtle shells...That looks so good.
Posted by: Shannon | August 27, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Oh yeah...and I want to know how you get your kids to eat stuff like stuffed turle shells.
Posted by: Shannon | August 27, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Sorry, guys I have no recipe for the turtle shells, I chopped up some yellow squash, red bell pepper, chicken, onion, and then I added some homemade teriyaki sauce. Something like that. :) H
Posted by: whittakerwoman | August 27, 2008 at 04:07 PM
too cute!
Posted by: Rhi | August 27, 2008 at 08:34 PM
What an awesome idea!! I totally stole one of your ideas this week. I didn't orchestrate it to the extent you did. In my defense, I was in a whole other country and not in my home, with all my stuff.
Posted by: Simone | August 28, 2008 at 08:38 PM
You are just TOO creative! YOu can come up with ANYTHING even on the fly!
Posted by: Billie | August 29, 2008 at 04:47 AM
Heather,
You have inspired me so much with these family nights! Thank you for sharing all of your ideas with us. We had our first Family Night tonight and it was a huge success. I've got to get busy planning our next one!
Thanks again!
Posted by: Nicki | August 29, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Hi Heather! We just had our second family night. I linked it up above. I just wanted to comment in case anyone with older kids might be reading. To any of those parents...You've got to try it! I wasn't sure if Fam nights would work for older kids, but mine LOVE it (ages 14, 12, 11, 11). Being a blended family we don't get to have weekly family nights, but bi-weekly seems to be working fine! They have even been asking when the second one was happening! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 29, 2008 at 09:09 PM
I'm joining the turtle bread fan club.
Posted by: Anita | September 04, 2008 at 08:03 AM