Happy 206th Birthday!

Every year since I was born my family has celebrated the birthdate of Joseph Smith. He was born December 23, 1805. Every year the party is different from previous years. It is fun and festive and often silly. It isn't a "holy day" or even a holiday. It is just a birthday party. 

This year I got to host the party. We had dinner together (there were 19 of us) and then I split everyone into groups and each group rotated through three stations.

Station Number 1 - using tinker toys create a memorial that is 38 1/2 inches tall. The actual Joseph Smith memorial in Sharon, VT (his birthplace) is 38 1/2 feet tall–one foot for every year of his life.

Sara attempting to stabilize this group's memorial.

Another group's memorial.

Eden peering through the head of Joseph Smith. :)

The final group's memorial.

Station 2 - create a skit or story about one of the events in the life of Joseph Smith. I had printed out some stories from the Friend magazine. Each group used these stories as their basis for preparing their skit.

Natalie played the role of J.S. in this skit. 

Brinley was the angel Moroni appearing to Sam as J.S. 

Sophie is Emma Smith and Natalie is J.S. while my mom is the mob trying to attack them and steal the plate (doesn't she look menacing?).

Station 3 - each kid was given a description of Joseph Smith and then was supposed to decorate a gingerbread man to match that description. 

Finally, we sang "happy birthday" and had cake!

All the little girls got to blow out the candles.

Happy 206th birthday Joseph Smith!