What to Plant, What to Plant...?

You might remember that last year my brother planted a 40 x 70 foot plot of sunflowers in our yard (with our permission).

Then my brother moved away (with our blessing).

The white building was an old brooding house (now Jamey's workshop) and the non-painted building behind it is the chicken house.

So this year, we're left with a big planting bed of sorts (that's beginning to show signs of weed infestation).  We're excited about the idea of continuing to grow something here so we won't have to mow this large portion of yard but have yet to settle on what that something will be.

If you had a large plot of yard that needed planting, what would you plant?  Not that we need ideas or anything.  Oh, no.  We're doing just fine trying to figure this out on our own.  We wouldn't want anyone to think we don't have our act together.  (You're buying this, right?) Pin It

Allowance

This is really one of those things I'd like to get straightened out, but instead we've been all hurky-jerky about it.  We like the idea of giving our kids money so that they can learn how to manage it.  You know, so they long for that special something but experience the heartache of realizing they shouldn't have bought those crap-toys in the dollar section at Target because if they hadn't, maybe they would have enough.  Yep.  We want them to feel that heartache goooood.

It's been our (inconsistent) practice to give Sam $2 a week.  One dollar is his to spend and the other dollar gets divided in two, fifty cents going to church and fifty cents going to savings.  Birthdays and Christmas give his earnings a boost and happen to fall close together. 

Here are our dilemmas...

1) We routinely forget to give the allowance because a) we're forgetful and b) we don't always have cash on hand (unless we've just sold some eggs).

2) We like the idea of letting him/them (we need to start including Sadie in this) learn to manage their money, but it is oh, so stinkin' hard to watch.

I can't tell you how much I struggle when he's finally saved up a few dollars (or has gifted money) and he buys something just for the sake of buying it when we know he's just buying it for the sake of buying it!  Does this drive anyone else crazy?!

I mean, sure, he'll learn a lesson...maybe.  Sure, he'll remember how it fell apart two days later and make a smarter choice next time...NOT.  So, what do you do?  Seriously.  I want to know what you all do.  Do you face the other direction and let them spend willy-nilly?  Do you have some sort of allowance mechanism that gives you some control and more of an ability to guide their spending?  How much do you pay for what ages?  Is the allowance tied to chores or independent of them?

Please.  We could really use some ideas here.  Part II may come along after we've mulled things over and decided on a plan of action.  I'm thinking you all are going to play a major role in this.  Don't tell Sam. Pin It

A Little Over Two Months Left

If we keep on schedule, we'll finish up school at the end of May.  We've been plowing through teacher work days and snow days so we can finish up on the early side.  Sam has been plugging away and has been generally interested and cooperative .  All homeschoolers have their bad days and we are no exception.

Our biggest problem of late has been me- although I don't let on.  I'm the one who has been having trouble getting motivated to do school.  Oh, I do it.  But, oh my word.  As much as I love the curriculum (we use Sonlight) and learning along side Sam, I'm ready for my summer break. 

Thankfully, Jamey is around some these next few weeks and he has been teaching Sam two days a week.  It's been one of the huge benefits of him going back to school- having these 4 and 5 week breaks here and there.  They're too short to find a job and work, so he hangs out with us knowing that before long, he'll be back in the world of work.  Then we might not think student loans were so bad.  I take that back.  It will be good to get out from under so much debt.

What was I trying to talk about?  Oh, yes.  School.

Sam and Sadie have been making ocean boxes for science.  We're studying Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day and they are adding creatures to their boxes as we study them.

 

Most recently, we've been studying mollusks which include snails and the shells they create.  This has been so much fun since we're planning a trip to the beach this spring to visit family.  We found some shells and the kids glued them in their boxes.  This book is coming with us to the beach.

We loved reading White Stallion of Lipizzaner about the horses of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.  This book has amazing pictures throughout (which helped keep Sadie interested) and the story is one of determination and hard work.  Sam was fascinated by this book and we were SO psyched to be able to watch some youtube videos of these amazing horses when we had finished the book.  It really made the story come to life for us. 

A friend lent us Treasures of the Snow.  Talk about a treasure of a book.  I highly recommend it and really don't want to tell you much about it because you just need to read it yourself.  Trust me.  There's nothing questionable and it has a wonderful Christian message.

Two others we've loved have fallen right along with what we've been studying in history.  The Door in the Wall takes place in the Middle Ages and The Apprentice takes place in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance.  Both are wonderful stories of boys set in their time periods in a way in which you forget you're reading a book in order to learn about a time period- the story line just carries you away.

What has your family been reading that you love? Pin It

Right There in the Flower Bed

This past week, I've been reminded in several ways to listen and I'm about to share with you my very favoritest make-my-eyes-mist-and-my-heart-swell reminder.

I listen to my kids.  I listen to their countless questions, requests, demands, arguing and whines.  I also listen to their giggles, their humor, their stories, their countless noises and their creative play.  What I don't do as often as I should is sit and listen to them for an extended period of time.  There always seems to be so much to do and in a family of three children, often all vying for my attention, the spans of attention I can give are generally pretty brief.

Well, the other day I had a chance to spend some one-on-one time with Sadie who turned five a couple months ago.  It was after lunch.  Miriam was napping and Jamey (who is on a partial break for the next few weeks) was doing school with Sam.  I asked Sadie if she would like to help me clean up the flower beds outside.  She has been in such a helpful mood these last couple months. I knew she'd say yes and she did.

I thought this would be a good chance for her and I to spend a few hours together and it was.  We talked, but mostly worked.  She has such a sweet spirit and did everything I asked of her, only pausing for short periods of time when she came across a worm and would hold it lovingly and talk to it for awhile before returning it to the dirt.

At one point, with our knees and hands down in the soil, Sadie told me that she wants to help an old lady whose arm bumps a door and who drops her bags of groceries like Solomon did.  It took me a second to realize that she was talking about the little Amish boy in her and Sam's devotional book (The Wisdom of Solomon).  He had helped an old woman pick up her dropped things and knew it pleased God.  Sadie went on to ask if it makes God happy when she's a good helper and I told her that of course it does.

She then caught me by surprise.

She asked, "Why am I not a Christian?"

I paused, being taken off guard, and then asked, "Would you like to be a Christian?"  She said yes.  I went on to explain (in the simplest terms I could muster) the things a person needs to believe in order to become one.  I asked her if she believed these things. "Yes," she said, looking up at me.  I told her that we could say a prayer telling God and she and I prayed right there in the dirt with the birds singing and the breezes blowing.  She beamed, especially when I told her that there were angels in heaven rejoicing because of her prayer.  We hugged and I kissed her in that flower bed and we both couldn't stop smiling.

I'm sharing this because had I not thought to spend time with her in this way, I would've missed this conversation and this special, special time in her little life.  Was it my idea to take her outside with me that afternoon?  Initially I thought it was my own good idea. (Can you hear me pat, pat, patting myself on the back?).  Or was it God prompting me?  Had He wanted my little girl to give her sweet life to Him on that glorious spring day and just used me to help make it happen?

I've heard several stories over the last few days of people being prompted by God.  Sometimes they didn't know it was God doing the prompting until later.  If we knew the words we were hearing were of God, wouldn't we leap to obey?  Sometimes His thoughts may be hard to discern because they could be passed off as one of our thoughts or ideas.  But, how often do we miss His nudges because they seem like odd ideas we have, things that would either make us uncomfortable or take us outside of our comfort zone? What if they're not our weird ideas but His all-knowing, perfect and potentially powerful ones?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  

Isaiah 55:8

I suggest we listen more and pray for discernment.  I don't want to miss a single prompt.

I love you sweet people.  And I'd love to hear about a time when you experienced God's nudging.  Did you recognize it was Him at the time?  What happened? Pin It

Spring Has Sprung

Yesterday was my first real day outside in a long time.  It sounds pitiful and it is.  There is so much to do indoors that it takes a really beautiful day (and the fact I had an afternoon relatively free) to get me outside that first spring day.  Once I have a taste, there's no turning back and for the rest of the spring (while we'll still finishing school), I'll struggle with staying indoors.

Here's a peek at what's going on outside around here.

 These little blue flowers are all over our lawn this time of year.  Does anyone know what they are?  Are they a weed?  I don't care if they're a weed.  I love them.

 Day lilies

 A couple years ago, a friend gave us a bunch of huge Plexiglas glass sheets that were going to be thrown away at a renovation site (they were used to weatherize old windows).  Initially we thought we'd use them to build a green house, but that never happened, so instead Jamey is building cold frames.  We'll use them to transition our seedlings to the outside.

 We pruned our sour cherry and pear tree.

 Our feathered friends are enjoying the weather as well. 

 Here's a mini cold frame holding the lettuce and spinach we planted a month or so ago because we couldn't stand not having anything green.  They're getting used to the outdoors and growing, albeit rather slowly.

 I'm sure you recognize this as a pussy willow...

 But, did you know it comes from this pussy willow TREE?  I probably show you this every year- I just can't get over it.  I never knew pussy willows to grow into huge trees.  Below the tree is an old hog pen/shed that the kids use as a playhouse and a their tree fort. Don't worry, the ladder is affixed tightly to the tree.

Last, but not least, always the first flowers up around here, my beloved daffodils right by the back door.

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Planning Ahead

Before I start in on "Planning Ahead", if any of you are struggling a bit with staying focused on the true meaning of Lent (other than trying to maintain self-control if you've given something up), please visit, Kim's blog.  She is posting concise and challenging Lenten devotions each day and I highly recommended them.

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I am the Queen of the Plan.  I love knowing what to expect in the days ahead so I can prepare for whatever is coming.  Nothing stresses me out more when something comes up unexpectedly and I'm not prepared for it in the way that I could have been.  Yes, I know life is unpredictable, but I am wired to anticipate what's coming and respond.  It's just who I am.

Because of my Queen-of-the-Plan tendencies, I find it interesting that while we plan our garden and plan how much food we want to put up, very little of our motivation to preserve stems from a desire to "be prepared" in case of a food shortage of some kind or an event that makes it difficult to obtain food from the store.  In reality, none of what we do stems from this motive.

We grow and preserve our own food because we think it's better for us and more economical so it frees up funds to share with others and is better for the earth (local food).

That said, in light of all the talk of rising gas and food prices AND the tragedy in Japan, it does make one think (yet again) about the issue of preparedness and planning ahead.  And, honestly, I struggle with this issue some.  On one hand, I want to trust God completely to provide.  On the other hand, He gave us brains to plan and think ahead.  On one hand, I don't want to live with a bomb-shelter mentality/paranoia.  On the other hand, of course I'd love to help provide for my family and neighbors if such a need arose.

So where does this leave me?  Well, Jamey and I have been talking more about this lately (in a very informal/casual way) and I've decided to start doing a couple things that will help better prepare us.  My friend, Amy, over at Homestead Revival recently challenged her readers to be deliberate about this and I'm taking her up on her challenge and will begin calling out what I'm doing each week (Saturdays, on her blog) to get ready for whatever may come our way.

Some ideas of simple things I will be doing are...

Storing water in used gallon milk containers.
Buy an extra bag of rice or beans each week and stash it away.
Think more about canning versus freezing (in case of loss of electricity).
Make sure we have clean water storage containers available outside to catch rainwater.
Identify a family meeting place in case of an emergency.
Stash matches and candles.
Create or buy a first aid kit with a battery operated radio.

I read what I'm writing and while it sounds just like me to plan, it's not like me to turn paranoid- and that is NOT what I'm doing and NOT want I want you to do.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:25-27 New International Version

So, just to be clear, we are NOT worrying here, okay? We are planning ahead in a reasonable manner.  We are not building a bomb shelter or adopting some ancient alien theory.  We are just planning ahead :-).

Capiche? Pin It

Crafty Sisters: Darling Diaper Cakes

It was a year ago that I started this series.  Do you remember the others?  The first one was about my (currently pregnant with twins) sister's knotted blankets.  The second was about Jamey's sister's wooden name signs and the third was my older-of-the-two-yet-still-younger-than-me sister's sweet bulletin boards.  See?  I have crafty sisters.

At my sister's shower this past weekend, my sister-in-law proved (above and beyond) that she should be counted among these crafty sisters.  She's the one who made the two fabulous diaper cakes.  Remember these?

Well, she agreed to share her secrets and below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to assemble one (or two) for your loved one who may be expecting.  Not only are they wonderful gifts, but they help decorate the room at a baby shower.

How to Make a Diaper Cake

Ingredients:

• 100-125 diapers - size of your choice
• rubber bands in assorted sizes
• empty paper towel holder OR large baby wash or lotion, large baby bottles
• circular cake base OR piece of cardboard
• ribbon
• baby items to go with theme of your choice
• extra large cellophane bag for wrapping

1. Pick your diaper size.

I like to use size 1 diapers so the cake can be used as a decoration for a little while before the diapers are needed. One three tiered diaper cake will use about 100-125 diapers. (Two cakes for TWINS will use 250
diapers!)

2. Gather materials for the structure of the cake.

3. Bottom tier

Keep diaper folded the way it comes in the package. If one end has a decoration or design, begin with that end and roll diaper so that design is hidden in the center. Secure roll with a rubber band. Repeat until you have about 6-8 diapers rolled. Then, using your empty paper towel holder, baby wash, lotion or baby bottle, place diapers in ring around the object and secure with a rubber band. Usually this takes 6-8 diapers. Form a
second ring of rolled diapers (about 12 diapers) around the first ring, secure with another rubber band. Form a third ring around the second ring, using about 18-20 diapers, and secure with another large rubber band. This is your bottom tier that you can place on cake round. If you do not have large enough rubber bands to secure the rings, use a ribbon. Numbers of diapers are estimated, you can use more or less to make your ring the size that you want. If you are looking for a four tiered cake, make and extra ring at this step, and each step below.

4. Middle tier

The bottom ring will have a portion of your center object sticking out. Use that object as the center of your middle tier and form two rings around it as described above.

5. Top tier

For the top tier, you can use either a small baby bottle or other object for the center, or just use more diapers. Form a tier as described above, with only one ring.

6. Decorations

Now the fun begins! Use a thick ribbon around each tier of the cake to hide the rubber bands. Find something fun to use as a cake topper - a stuffed animal or piggy bank will work nicely. Tie small items around each
tier for decoration. I like to purchase small items from the registry, such as teethers, pacifiers, rattles, car seat toys, etc. You can use onesies or bibs and wrap them around the diapers like you would with fondant or you can roll them up and replace a few diapers with them.

7. Wrapping

I find an extra large clear cellophane bag is a good way to wrap the cake to keep it clean while still letting people admire the finished product.

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It's Not About Them

You know how you know something but sometimes you don't live as if you know it?  If someone would ask you, you would say, "Of course I know that, " but you forget to live that way.  I'm not even talking about being intentionally hypocritical.  It's just something you forget or rather it's a concept or fact that you may believe in but fail to actually incorporate into your life.

Please say you kind of get what I'm saying.

Anyone?

Well, I think I can say that overall, I do a pretty good job living out my beliefs.  But, every once in awhile, something or someone comes along and knocks me up side the head (metaphorically) and I realize how my beliefs and actions are going in opposite directions instead of aligning they way they ought.

This time, it was Angela Thomas who pointed out this obvious dis-align I have going on.  Our Women's Bible Study Group is working through her DVD series/workbook called "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?"  And, while I wasn't sure I'd have too much to relate to at first (outward beauty is only a minimal distraction of mine- particularly, it's my squishy parts that distract me), Angela started pointing her sweet little Southern finger at my insides the other night.

We all have heard about how there is this special spot or void in each of us that can only be filled by God.  Only He can love us in such a way that fills this void.  Only He has the capacity to keep pouring out enough love into us to keep this void filled.  Maybe you've heard some people say that there is a "God-shaped hole" in each of us.  However you look at it, I think we can all relate.  There is just a certain peace and wholeness that comes from drawing close to God and allowing Him to love us.

This is what I know.  In my head and even in my heart.  Here comes my disconnect.

There have been times over the years when I've felt empty.  I may not have been able to put it into those words, but I felt empty.  It was of my own doing.  I wasn't spending time with God, wasn't drawing from His love, forgiveness and encouragement.    But, who did I blame?  Not myself.  Not God.  Instead I blamed my husband, the one person who does the best job of loving and caring for me.

I would think along these lines..."I don't feel special...I wish someone would tell me I'm special...If only he'd tell me what a good job I do around the house and with the kids more often, then I'd feel appreciated...If only he'd anticipate my needs before I put them into words (a.k.a. read my mind)...but who wants to have someone do something special for them because they've been told to do so?...If only he'd this...If only he wouldn't that..."  These thoughts led to words that lead to tears and then even to frustration at times...all directed at someone who didn't deserve my rant in the first place.

As Angela so aptly put it, our husbands are mortal men.  They are not equipped to fill us in every way.  They have their own voids to fill and they are here to "give us a sweet taste of God's love" and live this life with us, but we cannot hold them responsible for what only God can do.

It's NOT their job.  It is our husband's jobs to care for us and love us well on the human level and I am blessed because mine does just that (and more), but I cannot expect him to fill a void that God specifically created in me to be filled by Him.  Even if our husbands, our kids, our jobs, our lives were all picture perfect, we would still experience this emptiness.  It's not about them.  It's about us and our relationship with God.

Some of us may expect others to fill our void- maybe a close girlfriend, our family, or even our children.  It's not their job either.  Food won't do it.  TV won't.  The internet and blogs won't do it. Neither will Facebook.

When I got home from Bible study that night, I did what Angela suggested.  I let my spouse off the hook.  I apologized and he graciously forgave me.  He was a bit surprised...in a good way.  I think he now particularly likes this Bible study:-).  It was the right thing to do, because even my heart knew on some level that I was not only asking the wrong person, but I was potentially wounding our relationship and I never ever want to do that.  It's been a relief and new found freedom for me.  I know now (on every level) that I need God and it's my job to go to Him to be filled.

Please seek God first.  Take the time out of your busy day to be filled by Him.  Stop looking to people and kids and stuff and distractions to fill you up.  It's a waste of time because it won't work.  And we know it.

"Long before he laid down the earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love...(What pleasure he took in planning this!)"

Ephesians 1:4-5, The Message (italics mine)

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We're Having Twins!

Well, okay.  My sister and her husband are having twins.  Twin boys, to be exact.  If you have sisters, you know that when they are having a baby (or two), you're almost as excited as when you're having a baby.  You can see how I would get confused, right?

So.  Have I told you about this yet?   I must have.  The evening of her first ultrasound, she told me over the phone.  All I could say was, "Get out!"  I must have said it ten times.  Then, I started to cry because...well, that's what I do when I'm really happy.  Everyone was (and still is) over-the-top thrilled about this.  She's due in May and this past weekend, we gave her and her boys a baby shower.  I thought I'd share a few photos with you.

My other sister compiled some great twin trivia for us all.  In case you want to check your twin knowledge, the answers are...

1) a, 2) c, 3) a, 4) a, 5) b, 6) b, 7) c, 8) c, 9) b, 10) c, 11) a, 12) b, 13) a, b and c, 14) a, 15) a.

The cakes read, "It's a Boy!" and "It's Another Boy!"  They were made by a friend of a friend of my other sister (her website).

My sister-in-law made two of these incredible diaper cakes to help decorate.  Guests signed the soft balls- one for each boy (my other sister's great idea)!

This is my gorgeously pregnant-with-twins sister.  She's measuring full term for a singleton and just right for having a couple months to go for twins.

We even borrowed a popcorn machine.

This last picture just makes me want to cry (more happy tears!).  These are my mom's, my other sister's and my hands feeling these boys move after the shower.  I think they were trying to tell us that they had a nice time at the party.

Either that or they just wanted us to start crying again:-). Pin It

Saving Money on Groceries

Coupons are all the rage right now.  And, rightfully so!  It's amazing how much free and very cheap items there are out there that you can score with coupons.  I'm having a blast using coupons to stock up on toiletries our family uses (toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, floss, dish soap, etc.) AND toiletries I can give away.  I don't have enough storage space to accumulate a huge amount of surplus.  If you live in a very old house, too, you know why.  We have limited storage for even the important things like clothes!  This prompts me to put a bag together for a friend or to donate when my shelf gets too full- and what a good thing to be prompted to do!

Many people take their coupons to the grocery store and get great deals and freebies there, too.  But, I'd like to caution folks to stop and think about this.  What kinds of food is it that you can buy with coupons?  95% of the food coupons *I* see (and I actually look at coupons a lot) are for processed food.  Remember, it's better for your family's health if you can limit the amount of processed foods they eat so sometimes, you need to resist clipping that coupon because, as many of you know, once you have a coupon in hand, that coupon wants to be used!

Here's our solution to a high grocery bill- we grow our own groceries!  Now, if you're visiting my blog today, there's a good chance you already garden.  But, for those of you who don't, please understand, I am not suggesting you try to grow all your food this year. 

What I would like to challenge you to do is, if you have space (and space includes flower beds in full sun!) choose a vegetable your family eats a lot of and try to grow a lot of it this year to freeze.  If you're feeling brave, grow two or three vegetables!  Lettuces, swiss chard, tomato plants, snow peas, and others all look lovely in flower beds!  Remember to plant a lot, so you'll have a surplus to freeze and store.  Imagine not having to buy as much produce next winter- wouldn't that save you some money?!  Even if you don't preserve any of it and just eat it, you've saved money!!

 Spinach

We all know that the food at the grocery store that's good for us- lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grain products- are usually the most expensive.  So, that's why we need to work on accessing them more cheaply.  If you don't have garden space yourself and have friends and neighbors who do, ask if you could use part of their garden space in exchange for helping to weed or water this summer.  Pick your own at local farms and preserve extras.  You'll avoid those nasty pesticides and everything will taste so much better.

If you can't grow some of your food, use coupons to get most (if not all) your toiletries and household items super cheap or free and then transfer those savings to your grocery budget so you can buy local and/or organic produce at a farm stand or at your grocery store.  Coupons can be an excellent round-a-bout means to buying healthy food!

Be creative and remember that just because it's cheap or free doesn't mean you should bring it into your house.  That's what the manufacturers want to have happen.  They want to get you hooked or their imitation food.  Instead, get hooked on real food that will build your health instead of tear it down.

So, if you can, go on and get planting!

Thank you for listening to today's public service announcement. Pin It

The Games We Play

I realize that spring is approaching fast and maybe I should have thought to post this at the beginning of winter.  But, I didn't.

Maybe where you live there are still a few weeks of cold (or rainy) weather left.  And, maybe the people who live in your house are just starting to...maybe...just a little bit...kind-of... get on each other's nerves?  Maybe you need something to occupy your time and are sick of watching loved ones veg out in front of all manner of screens.

If this is the case, maybe this post will inspire you to get out and dust off some of your own games or try a new one.  Here are some of our favorites...

First off, is a classic card game.  If you haven't played Dutch Blitz, you're in for a fun time.  Kids can join in because all you need to know is how to count to 12, how to match colors and how to move fast!

I got this game for Christmas this past year.  Buzz Word is another one of these clue-guessing-words-or-phrases games and it's fun as well.  Older kids who can read and think fast can join in, too.  See how much fun those people are having?

One of our all time favorites is The Settlers of Catan (not pictured here).  Carcassonne is a similar kind of game in that you're building a community-of-sorts by constructing cities, roads and even cloisters, racking up points along the way.  A perfect game if you're studying the Middle Ages (which we are).  Sam enjoys playing both of these games with us (he's 8). 

 





This next game is a bit different.  I really don't know how to describe it- you just have to play it.  And, yes, RA, is the sun god.  It was an opportunity to teach Sam a little Egyptian history and to talk about the importance of worshiping the Creator versus the created.  He plays this one with us, too.

 

Along with Dutch Blitz, Rook is a classic Mennonite card game (although I'm sure many non-Mennonites play it as well).  I remember my dad teaching us this game when we were kids.  It's a game of bidding and taking hands and can be played with teams or each player scoring on their own.  Another really fun game.

Now we'll move on to some kid's games.  As you can tell from the picture, Miriam saw me take out I Never Forget a Face and was in the process of grabbing it away from me as I quickly snapped a (lousy) picture.  Miriam can't play this matching game, but she loves the children's faces and talks to them.  It's really cute and I love it that my kids are getting familiar with the appearances of children from other countries.  On the back of the box, it shows each face labeled with that child's country.

This was a lucky find at a discount bookstore.  Repeat or You're Obsolete is a memory game where you're asked a question or told to make a sound and each person has to follow suit remembering the answer of all those before them before adding their own. It's humbling, really, but an excellent brain exercise and the kids think it's hilarious.

Sam was given Creationary for Christmas.  Imagine Pictionary colliding with Legos.  That's what it is.  Instead of drawing what you want your team to guess, you build it with the legos that are included.  Little boys love it.

And, finally, being a homeschooling mom, I had to throw in an obviously educational game.  Cooking Up Sentences helps you to learn your parts of speech as you follow a "recipe".  Let's just say it's a great way for adults to learn their parts of speech as well.

So, there you have it.  What are some of your family's favorite games?

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