I may have gone a little bit overboard.

We made and sent approximately 35 Valentine’s all over the US and even some to France in a pen pal type exchange.  Then, one week later, we made another 30 or so cards for our local homeschool group.

With a boat load of candy to choose from each child made “Love-bugs”.  Too cute.

A few days ago Brother gave me gave me this:

It’s a post-it note with those precious words that make every mother’s heart melt…which was obviously the effect he was going for because a few minutes later he appeared with this:

It’s a post-it note invitation which (loosely translated)reads  “You are invited to Brother’s birthday party tomorrow.”  He handed one out to every warm body present and made a few extra for absent family members.  It was easy to see how serious he was. Fortunately, Brother’s concept of “tomorrow” precisely correlates with Annie’s - It’s always a day away.

Skip ahead to this morning - Sister’s away at a sleep-over and won’t return until around 11.  When she does The Cousins will come too.  Perfect setup for an impromptu party if ever there was.  A quick trip to the store and we had everything we needed for our “Happy Snow Day Party.” (Happy Snow Day because unlike Happy Birthdays there are no presents.)

My two little helpers washed grapes and celery, made Kool-aid, blew up balloons and vigilantly monitored the state of the cake.

After the festivities, Papa appeared with a grand scheme for more fun.

I’m not certain who enjoyed the day more… the kids or the grandpa.

What crazy fun do YOU have when it’s cold out?

~Another something from back in October~

Chances are if someone* gives your daughter an activity book for her birthday she’ll be most enthusiastic about the single most involved project listed.  And you’ll have make it happen for her because … it’s her birthday.  On the upside once all is said and done your efforts will be duly rewarded with multiple smiles and “Look at me!’s” and a significant increase in courage.

*Thanks, Jenni

**All photo’s by Brother except #2.

Cat Cube - $6.99 and carried by most pet stores. … THE best toy on the market.

.

Brother insists on playing Parcheesi.  It’s his favorite game and yet in all the times we’ve played we have yet to make it to the end of a game in one setting.  It just takes too long and the attention wanes.  Neither child seemed to mind the lack of closure but it was driving me nuts.  So here are some game time strategies I’ve started using to keep me sane. (not just with Parcheesi but with almost anything we play)

Set a timer - We play until the timer goes off (usually 15 to 20 min) and whoever is “ahead” at that point wins.  Be sure to establish what “ahead” means before you start.

Play with fewer pieces - In the case of Parcheesi we often only play with 2 pieces each which automatically speeds the round.  This principle can be easily applied to Candyland (remove the picture cards), Battleship, Uno (deal fewer cards) and a myriad of other games.

Use House rules - If the real rules say a piece can only be played on a roll of five then house rules might allow you to play on fives or ones. Or house rules might allow play on even numbers or multiples of 3.  Besides speeding up the game this is great way to sneak math into everyday fun.

Take a break - If you absolutely must play by the rules consider taking a break before fun turns to frustrating.  Sometimes we break for a few minutes but more often than not around here it’s a few days.  For that kind of break you either need a phenomenal memory or a digital camera.  Here’s a picture of our current Parcheesi game taken over a week ago.

Finally,

Pick short games - Gamewright creates terrific age appropriate games. (We love Rat-a-Tat-Cat and Hiss.) while classics like Connect-Four and SET move so quickly that you can easily play more than one round at a sitting.

Click on over to Shannon’s for more Works For Me goodness.

**something I meant to post back in early Oct.

A local festival with all the standard festival fair… music, arts n crafts for sale and food designed to clog your arteries.

We made stuff with glue and glitter, tossed rings for prizes and

had our faces painted.  All of it was fun 

but nothing else

satisfied like

the Lincoln Logs.

No flashing lights. No beeping. No buttons to push or batteries required.  Imagination a plus.

How’s this for a Fun Day suggestion?  With all the green appearing in the backyard both children gravitated toward the one spot of brown.  I let them, despite my personal misgivings about stains in clothing and such because what is the point of childhood really if not to unabashedly immerse yourself in the world around you?

I feel like maybe I’ve not been completely honest with you so I’ve decided to come clean.  My children watch television AND they play video games AND I don’t put limits on how much they can do either. . . and without limits they don’t actually do either that much.  Shocking isn’t it?  But just to prove that it does happen I snapped these pictures.

This is what they were playing …

and this is how they were playing it.

Following their Mario Party bonanza, Dad got a wild hair to visit Safari Park.  So, we did. (Unfortunately my camera lost power minutes after our arrival so I don’t have any pictures of the lions or tigers or bears… oh my well.  I’ll get them next time.)

At home again, Sister pulled out the cotton balls and glue (among other things) and got crafty for an hour or so.

Later, we conducted a very scientific experiment.

Observation:

Brother’s Fire Engine can move small objects.

Hypothesis:

Brother’s Fire Engine can break through a domino wall.

Test(s):

(Sister’s) Conclusion:

Brother’s Fire Engine is weak.

(Brother’s) Conclusion:

“I need a new engine.”

Did you ever play marbles as a child?  No?  Me neither.  But I totally wish I had because… what fun!  By no means did we follow these rules… waay too complicated instead we made up some simple house rules.  Big circle, 10 marbles, take turns trying to knock them out.  Around here a bag of marbles with a “Tolley” (or Shooter) is about $2.50.  I’ll bet they’re at least that cheap in your area.  Why don’t you go find out and reclaim some childhood.

Anne Kroeker’s has started hosting Monday Funday recently.  I mention it because there are some good ideas floating about over there and because I thought of her carnival this weekend during Brother’s Un-Birthday Party.  Sometime early in the day Brother declared he wanted a party.  Always accomodating (HA!), Sister began making preparations.  With very little adult supervision help she decorated the bedroom with balloons, made paper party hats, pulled out games to play and turned on some groovy music. (Because “No party is complete without music, Mom.”)

Sister found out I was making muffins for breakfast the next day and as soon as they appeared from the oven she stabbed one in the center with a candle claiming them as party food.

Once the party began there were puzzle races and a hilarious game of Party Line.  You remember that one don’t you?  The first person whispers a phrase to the second person who whispers it to the third person and so on.  The last person says the unusually altered and often humorous phrase aloud.  This was especially fun with a three year old in the mix.  Next, our hostess brought out the snacks and we sang “Very Merry Un-birthday” while Brother blew out the candle.  A little dancing and a game of Guess Who? rounded out the hour.

Is today your Un-birthday?  It is!?  Well, then this is for you!