A Fun Family Tradition

We started a new family tradition a few years ago. I got the idea from the Ensign. The article I read had something to do with creating family traditions around watching General Conference. The idea was to have a family trivia contest shortly after the conference. So that's what we do. On the Monday night after (one day later), we have everybody write down some questions, preferably with the answers. Some of the questions are trivial, like "What color was Sister Dalton's blouse?" or "How old was Pres. Monson when he set the grass on fire?" Some are a little more profound, like, "What was the theme of Elder Perry's talk?" Then there are the funny ones like, "Why is it so long?" (General Conference)

We form two teams, hopefully evenly matched, and I act as the moderator, asking the questions and keeping score. This would be moderately entertaining, in and of itself, but my husband and children have managed to take it to the next level. Each team comes up with a name. In previous years, the two teams were called "Pokémon Masters" and "The Cannulas" but this time they went for new names: one team was "Mr. Incredible and Friends" and the other was "Swagmeisters #YOLO." Every time I talk to my teenagers I learn something new. I had no idea what YOLO meant but now I'm in the know.

What makes it especially funny are the team cheers. Our old team names used cheers from the TV cartoon Pokemon or from jokes that you only understand if you have had a child on oxygen with a nasal cannula (I won't even try to explain). Mr. Incredible and Friends had cheers that all came from the movie. "Oh yeah, right, the TAN superhero gets caught." "I'm just getting a drink...I'm thirsty." Swagmeisters weren't quite so on the ball but their cheer got the biggest laugh of the night. The whole team was supposed to do a big raspberry but the 8-year-old's raspberry showered everybody on her team. The team didn't really appreciate it but we all thought it was hilarious.

This is a great family tradition because so little effort is required on Monday night, yet the family gets rewarded for listening to General Conference in knowing the answers. Plus, everyone has a good time, young and old. And somehow the two teams are tied in the end, every time. It's amazing!

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