Family Game Day

What does a family do on a hot, Texas day with dreary clouds that refuse to rain?

Play board games of course.  Turn off the t.v. Make a little natural popcorn.  Pour yourself an ice cold drink and get ready for the fun.

Our game of choice today was Labryinth.  We have had the game for awhile now, but only recently have taken the time to figure it out.

The pretense to the game is that you are a wizard or witch trying to cast a spell for the king.  To cast the spell, you must gather supplies and return back to your home in order to prepare the spell. 

Here's how to play:

• Pass out 6 cards to each player.  (3 if you want a really short game)  Each player looks at the first card in his/her stack and places the stack face down in front of him/her.
• The youngest player will begin.
• Each turn consist of 3 moves:
• Visually locate the item you are trying to gather.  (Remember the top card in your pile.  The one you already looked at.)
• Take the extra game board piece and slide it into position on the board. You can slide it into any spot that has a yellow triangle pointing at it.  This will change the maze you are navigating. *If you knocked a player off the board, his/her game piece will get placed on the piece you just put on the game board.
• Finally, you will move your wizard or witch along the maze onto any spot possible.  You may also choose to not move your wizard at all.  If you can land on the item you are seeking, place your wizard there.  Flip the card over and consider this item gathered.  Look at the next card in your stack.
• The next player takes his/her turn.
• Play continues in this manner until a player is able to gather all items to cast the spell and return home.

My boys love the magical quality of this game.  I love the strategy, planning, and thinking involved. 

This is a go to gift item for friends and family.

If you would like to check out the game in more detail, click here.

Exploring the Nature

Ahhh, The Great Outdoors...

Camping is just one of the many things my family has been busy doing the past few weeks.  T Man is in Cub Scouts and we have two annual camping trips.  This time the camp site was right on the water. 

At first, I was worried because neither of my boys are great swimmers.  My fears were soon put to rest when I realized that the water had a gradual entry.  The boys were able to play in the water's edge with little problem.

Being near the water had the added benefit of allowing JJ to stay outside on a very hot day.  As I watched nearby, I would noticed my little guy wetting down his clothes to cool off.  He is becoming such a big boy.  He didn't even need me to take care of him.


Sunrise Over the Lake

Camping is such a great way to unplug and get in touch with nature.  I thought I would share a few tips of the trade to get you started.

First of all you need to select a location.  Discover America is a site that helps you locate various activities by location in the United States.  Simply select camping and fishing from the drop down menu, how far you are willing to travel, and your state. 

You will get to view a list of camping grounds in the area you provided.  It is not a comprehensive list, but it will definitely get you started.

Things to consider when selecting a camping site:

1.  Does the site have electrical hook ups?  Hard core campers will think this unnecessary, but for many families this is a priority.  With RV camping and various camping gear that can be purchased nowadays, electricity can make camping for the non-enthusiast much more comfortable.

2.  Are there public restrooms?  Any family with kids would want to make sure that bathrooms are available.  Most kids just will not do their business in the woods or an open field.

3.    Are there enough trees to provide adequate shade during the hottest part of the day?

4.  Can you swim on site?

5.  Is fishing available?

6.  Is geocaching available on site?

The above are only some of the questions to consider.  Sit down with the adults who will be on the camping trip and discuss options and concerns to ensure you get the most out of your nature experience.

Now that you have selected a site, you can begin to plan some activities for your down time.  This doesn't mean that you are providing your children with a step by step itinerary.  It simple means that you provide a pressure valve several times a day to reground your child and help to keep him or her from becoming overstimulated by all there is to see and do when you are spending the bulk of your time outdoors.

    

Activities to Consider: 
1.   structured free play:  Simply steer your child to a location that can provide a space to play with relaxation built in.  Remember the lake front that has a gradual entry? It  proved to be a hot spot for my kiddos.  Making motes, digging, and exploring the shallow waters was very calming amongst a day that was filled with high energy.

Here is a bit of the natural learning that took place:

Little J learned that digging in the slug next to the water causes the water to seep up from the ground.  This lead to discussion on sea level.  He also learned how to make a mote that would fill with water as the waves rolled onto the bank.  It took a while to make walls that didn't collapse, but he was eventually successful.

T Man explored the marine life in the shallow waters and practice balancing on the moss covered river rocks.  He explored every nook and cranny he could physically reach.  He even managed to squeeze in some swim practice as well.



2.  bring arts and crafts into nature:  Something as simple as building a small boat and sailing it in the waters can provide that much needed pressure valve, as well as, hours of entertainment. 

This was the activity of the day on our scout trip.  It took about 10 minutes to assemble the sail boats, but the fun lasted for most of an afternoon.

Another idea is to create a simple nature journal that you take with you on outdoor outings.  Click here to find out how we made our own.

Have a budding naturalist or scientist?  Check out these awesome nature bags.  They have a bit of everything to make exploring outdoors fun for all involved.

3.  cook with the kiddos:  Allow your child to make his or her own meal... sandwiches and chips, smores around the evening campfire.  Cooking is an engaging activity most kids love.

4.  pack up your bikes and go for a ride:  Put a couple bandages and wipes in your pockets.  Camping bike rides tend to have a few more cuts and scrapes due to the uneven terrain.

5.  hike through the woods:  Don't forget that trusty nature journal or nature bag.  This is the best time to put those to use.

6.  locate geocaches... hidden boxes with small treasures:  You will need a GPS and to have chosen a campsite that has several boxes on site.  Our Boy Scout den actually hid several boxes as part of our fall camp out last year.  If you are lucky enough to locate a camp like the one we used, you will have tons of boxes to hunt down.

Don't know about geocaching?  You are definitely missing out.  Check out this site to find out more.



Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for your next camp out.  Spending time in the outdoors and amongst nature is a wonderful time to connect with Mother Nature and to go unplugged. 

Bright Blessings.

Family Game Night

My family has had so much fun playing games lately.  We are considering inviting another family over to have a game night with us.  Snacks, good company and several board games going at once.  The kids are sure to love it.

Games to Try Out:
Wildcraft... Learn medicinal uses for herbs while working with your family to gather berries for Grandma to bake a pie.  cooperative game
Orges & Elves... Help the elves collect gems for the royal family.   cooperative game
Mancala... Move gems around the board and try to to collect more than your opponet.
Pentago... Move marbles around the a square.  Spin one square and try to make 5 in a row.  Great strategizing game.

Pentago... Move marbles around a square.  Spin one square and try to make 5 marbles in a row.  Great strategizing game.

Othello...  My boys love this game though I have yet to play.

Cathedral...  Place more buildings in the medieval city than your opponent to win.  Watch out because your opponent will try to block the land from your access.

Shut the Box... Roll the dice.  Add up the total.  Flip down tiles that equal the total.  Be the first to flip over all 12 tiles to win.

When it comes to purchasing games, I am a bit picker than I use to be.  I use to go with mass produced favorites like Candyland and Monopoly.  Though I still love these tried and true favorites, I have been having fun looking for more unique games to try.

I didn't think my boys would like cooperative games, but cooperative games have become a favorite at my house.  Cooperative games are when the players work together to win or lose as a team.  Working together toward a common goal has helped the boys to get along a bit better.  The aggressiveness that was present before has lessened tremendously.  We do still play competitive games though.  I think there is lot to be said for both winning and losing.  These are both important life skills.

Another thing I am quite fond of is games made from natural materials like wood.  If at all possible, I choose wooden games over plastic or paper/cardboard ones every time.  It is more earth friendly.  The quality is better and the texture of the game itself is so much more inviting.

Games I'd Like to Try:

Handy... Balance balls between the hands of players.  Drop a ball and the hilarity begins.
Chocolate Fix... Sudoku on chocolate.
Knot So Fast... Tying knots and speed will let you when this game.  Perfect for the family boyscout or camper.
Pop Belly... Feed the pigs til they pop.
Walk the Dog... Collect dogs, but watch out for the dog catcher.
The Secret Door... Use clues to figure out 3 treasures behind the hidden door.  cooperative game
Enchanted Forest... Go on a treasure hunt through the land of fairies.  cooperative game
Castle Panic...  Defend your castle against monsters.  cooperative game

I can't wait for another holiday, birthday, etc so we can get one of the games above.  I must say Handy will probably be the next purchase as it is both cooperative and challenging.  I know I will hear tons of belly laughs when the balls start to drop and roll all over the place.
 
So...
What are some over your favorite family games?
 
What is important to you when you purchase a game for your kids or family?

Nightitme Blessings

The dark comes like a blanket

hugging us at night.

The Moon shines like the heart

providing gentle light.

The stars call forth our sparkling dreams

like waves upon the shores.

To greet the nighttime pilgrim

as we journey through sleep's door.

SOURCE

Meal Time Blessing

For sun and rain
For grass and grain
For all who toil
On sea and soil
That we may
Eat this daily food
We give our loving thanks
To thee.

Reposted from Garden Mama.

Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the friends we meet.
Thank you for the family we love.
Thank you for the stars above.

SOURCE

Story Sack

A Story Sack is a wonderful way to get your family involved in creative story telling.  All you need are a few materials and alot of imagination.

Here are some items to consider:

• a small sack, bag, or bucket in which to store your items
• small toys or house hold items
• nature items such as rocks, pinecones, sticks, etc.
• seasonal items such as handcut snowflake, icicle ornament left over from your tree decorations, jingle bells, etc.
• bits of string, strips of material
• sewing odds and ends (buttons, lace, etc.)
• the choices are endless. 

How to Use the Materials in Story Telling:

• Decide if each person will choose an item or if one item will be chosen.
• Have the oldest person begin the story weaving the use of his/her item amongst the details.

*If using one item, pass the item along to each individual as new people add to the story.  If using more than one item, each person should add his/her item into the story as the story is continued.

The above description is only one way to use a Story Sack.  You should create your own family traditions all the way.

**Idea courtesy of earth family.**

Simplified Holidays

My holidays as a child were a gluten fest.  We received just about everything we asked for plus things we didn't even know we wanted.  Starting out as a new mom, I followed this model to a tee.  I think more time was spent unwrapping some of the gifts than actually playing with them.

I remember several times looking at the heaping pile of toys wondering... "What was I thinking?"  "Do my kids really enjoy all this 'stuff'?"

After JJ turned 2, I began to rethink my holiday spending.  At the time, it was mostly due to money restraints.  It wasn't until the last year that it was truly with the intent to simplify.

To keep track of the gifts I had purchased and what was still needed, I created a template.  My children would get a gift from each of the following categories:

• parent gift
• environmental friendly
• book basket
• technology
• from sibling
• kid’s choice
• additional item.

This has worked great the last two years.  This year we went with old school toys: marbles, jacks, pick up sticks, etc.

Next year though, I think I have an even simpler plan.  I was reading a post on Simplicity Parenting by Vanessa Kerr.  She made a suggestion that falls right in line with what I, myself, do to simplify the holidays. 

Here are the 4 areas of family gift giving:

• something you want
• something you need
• something to wear
• something to read.

Isn't that just perfect?!  Plus, the teacher in me loves the sing- song rhyming flow of the words themselves.

Closing thoughts to ponder:
What is it that you feel is most important as far as gift giving?

How do you plan to simplify the holidays?

Halloween Photos 2010

With money being tight this year, we made some inventive costumes that wouldn't require me to go out and purchase much of anything.

Little J was a hunter and T Man was a hunter that had been attacked and turned into a vampire.

The boys loved their costumes.

No hunter goes without his skinning knife.

Little J was not impressed by the vampire "hunter".

Pumpkin Painting

This year instead of carving pumpkins we painted them.  J bugged us all week to paint his.  We only had green, purple, and blue paint but this didn't stop his fun.

When the time finally came, he appeared less than enthused.

  

 Little J quickly perked up and began his masterpiece.

Looks pretty good, huh!

This little beauty as well as 3 others still adoren our table.  We have had them since the 2nd week of October.  There are no outward signs of decay, so I think they will last til the end of November.  Yippee!!

How to Make a Recycled Lantern

For the Autumn Equinox this year, we made a recycled lantern.  We talked about this being one of only two days during the year where the balance of light and dark are equal.

Make a lantern is super simple.  i use this same method to make vases for Mother's Day with my kindergarten kiddos.  Frappuccino jars are perfect as a vase.

Anyways, here are the directions if you would like to make a lantern for your family as well.  If I had thought to add a wire handle, we could of used the lantern on Halloween to light the way.  How much fun would that have been?!

1.  Tear tissue paper.  I like to select about 3 colors.  For this project, I just took recycled tissue paper from our gift bag collection.  The colors were not what I would have chosen, but not buying new paper made this project FREE.

In the above picture T Man is tearing the paper WAY TOO BIG.  You need fairly small pieces to get a more mosaic look.

These pieces are optimal.  Some are rather small, some long and slender and yet others more square like.  This makes for an interesting desire on the lantern.

2.  Mix equal parts of elmer glue and water.  I mix the two together with my fingers until the consistency is even.

3.  Place the glue and jar on a safe surface.  Make sure the torn tissue paper is close at hand. 

4.  Begin by rubbing the glue mixture on a small section of the jar.  Apply tissue paper over the glue allowing the tissue to overlap.  (Sorry I did not get a picture of this step.  My boys were getting glue everywhere.  Next time I plan to place a sheet on the floor before we begin.)

Continue applying glue to small areas and laying on tissue paper until you get the desired look.  If any of the tissue seems to be too thick of wrinkled just add more glue and flatten it out.

5.  Once your lantern is just like you would like it apply a finally layer of glue over the entire covered surface.  This will ensure that the tissue paper does not come off.

I placed a tea light candle in the lantern and left it on the front porch. 

If you want to carry the lantern, place sticky tack on the bottom inside of the jar and press the tea light in place.  Wiggle the jar around before lighting the candle to ensure that it is secure.

To make a handle, cut a length of sturdy wire about 2 1/2 times the circumference of the lip of the jar.  Wrap and twist the wire into place.

Now, cut a piece of wire the about 12 inches in length.  Tread under the wire that is already attached to the jar.  Pull about 2 inches of the wire out and up, so you can twist the wire back onto itself like you would a bread tie.  Do this on both sides.

I always swing the jar from side to side and wiggle it really well before placing the candle in position.  Nothing turns a smile upside down like shattering the creation you just completed.

These would look beautiful on the table at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  They would also make a wonderful gift for guest to take home as well.

Getting Gifts From Others

Getting gifts from others for my children has been hard.  You are always appreciative of the thought, but you still want to stick with your beliefs about simplification and the open endedness of the toys.  You want toys or items that will enhance your child's play and free time.  Not "things" that will become part of the household clutter.

This year I had to enlist my mom to help out a bit with a few items for the holidays.  Below you will see some of the items, she is getting for the boys:

Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game is perfect for anyone wanting to better understand the properties of herbs.  OR so the game proclaims.  I did read on another blog though about this game.  The mother is very particular about the items she purchases and absolutely raved about this game. 

This Happy Camper Bag is perfect for my nature loving JJ.  Not alot more to say. 

T Man thinks this beaver tote is too funny.  Has been wanting it for some time to use as a lunch box.  It may not be the most appropriate lunch bag ever, but if he gets a laugh during the day, it is worth it.

This a ten sheet set of beeswax used to make your own candles.  Great for kids with allergies.

Both boys are getting an Earth Friendly Nature Bag.  I think this will bring hours of fun for the entire family.  The bag contains note cards, a magnifier, observations squares and more.

Cat's Cradle string games definitely need string.  The brightly colored string game string from Klutz is perfect for beginners as it is very thick and durable.

Recommended by professional artists for those inspiring to do the same.  I think T Man will love drawing with these creamy, colored pencils.

So what are you getting your kiddos for the holidays?

What criteria do you look for in gifts?

Do you go with items you know your kids will use and love? OR items your child request (even if you know it will seldom be used)?