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The great people over at Mom Central asked if I would review a couple games Cranium released this month, and I jumped at the chance! My boys love the Cranium games we own, and I was interested to see what new twists they had for the preschool market.
I received 2 games -- Let's Play Count & Cook and Let's Go to the Zoo Seek & Find Puzzle. They're both rated for ages 3+, and while I thought they might be a bit simple for my boys (ages 5 & 7), I planned to share them with friends who had preschoolers as well.
Before I go into detail, I want to share that everyone loved the games! I know that I will purchase these in the future to give as gifts to the preschool crowd!
One of my favorite things about the game and puzzle I received is that they encourage cooperative play. Everyone works together towards a common goal, and while it may be exciting to be the first one to finish -- it's not the only point of the game.
Count & Cook has adorable little chefs as playing pieces. The game includes a cookbook, and players move around the board gathering ingredients for different recipes. Everyone is working together to create one recipe and the player who finds the final ingredient can pull a tab and see a "special" window. The game is fast moving, and encourages simple counting around the board. My boys thought it was cute and it tied in well with a recent viewing of Ratatouille.
It was a bit simple for them, but I can see how it would be a great game for a preschooler. I also shared the game with a 4 year old, and she had a great time playing it. Her mom said she went home and talked about it for a couple days! (guess who will get my game the next time we see them?!)
My boys spent much more time with the Seek & Find Zoo puzzle. The puzzle has 24 pieces, which is a nice number for beginning puzzlers. My boys had it together in no time, and then began the real fun. The game comes with 30 cards and has players search for the items on the cards. For example, they might search for items starting with "C", or 3 tigers. When something is found, they use the included pen to circle it on the puzzle. I worried that the pen wouldn't come off easily, but the boys had no trouble using a dry tissue to wipe off their circles.
When a friend with a 2 1/2 year old stopped by recently, we pulled out the puzzle again. My boys had a great time helping him find the different items on the puzzle after they put it together, and did most of the circling. The cooperation in this game allows kids of varying ages to play it together successfully.
I liked that the games were simple, yet fun. I think that kids would learn while playing, but the most important thing would be that they were playing! As a parent, I would be willing to play the games and wouldn't dread being asked to get them out. In both games, pamphlets were included with more ways to play the games and activities to do in conjunction with the games. I think the games are a great addition to the preschool market and look forward to getting more when L is a little older.
Cranium has released their Bloom line exclusively in Target stores.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
walking
I posted a few posts back about starting to walk for exercise, and how I thought it took me 40 minutes to walk a mile. Turns out the path I thought was 1/3 of a mile is actually almost 3/4 of a mile -- so I walked just over 2 miles in 40 minutes. Still not great, but a 20 minute mile is much better than a 50 minute mile!!
My sister stopped by on her way home from work today, so we took the kids and walked the trail at a nearby park. The boys rode their scooters, and began complaining after the first lap - so we only did 2 laps today.
My short term goal is to walk 3 miles in 45 minutes. I'm not sure if I'll meet that goal by April if I try to walk with the boys all the time, but if I am able to get out without them a few times a week, I should be able to get there. I'll walk longer when they're not with me, and keep working on building speed.
My sister stopped by on her way home from work today, so we took the kids and walked the trail at a nearby park. The boys rode their scooters, and began complaining after the first lap - so we only did 2 laps today.
My short term goal is to walk 3 miles in 45 minutes. I'm not sure if I'll meet that goal by April if I try to walk with the boys all the time, but if I am able to get out without them a few times a week, I should be able to get there. I'll walk longer when they're not with me, and keep working on building speed.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
changes
The boys have shared a room for the last 4.5 years. We have been struggling with bedtime for too long, and last week we decided it was time to split them up. We actually put a mat down on the floor in the playroom and moved N into that room last week.
After church yesterday, we stopped at Home Depot and picked up some blue "oops" paint (returned paint that they sell for $5/gallon!) Once home, we emptied the playroom into the garage and cleaned the floor and DH painted it. Today, we moved his bed into his new room and began moving a few toys into the room.
We decided to get rid of both dressers. DH made the dressers (along with the boys' cribs) when they were born and I'm a little sad about getting rid of them. We decided to put shelves in the closets, and bins on the shelves for their clothes. This will help everything fit better - and the dressers are beat up a bit - so I know it's the right thing to do.
We're splitting up the shelves and bins that were all in the playroom into both rooms. I am going to SLOWLY move the toys back into the bedrooms, and hope to cull a good number of them in the process.
N is very excited about having his own room, and I hope this will address some behavior issues and other things we've been dealing with.
Unfortunately, I don't know where L will go yet. I had been thinking that the boys would continue sharing a room, we'd move the toys into their shared bedroom, and we'd move L into what had been the playroom. We have 3 computers in the office, and I don't know where we could put them. I don't like the idea of having a computer in our bedroom, but it feels like we'll have to do that. There is no room in the living room -- and we don't have a dining room.
DH has talked of closing in our back patio to make an office. The patio is off the kitchen, and leads into our backyard. This would be much less expensive than the addition we would like to complete some day; so it is more likely a possibility.
I have more I want to write about this -- but L is fussy and I've been trying to post this for 2 days now. I'll try to get back to it soon.
After church yesterday, we stopped at Home Depot and picked up some blue "oops" paint (returned paint that they sell for $5/gallon!) Once home, we emptied the playroom into the garage and cleaned the floor and DH painted it. Today, we moved his bed into his new room and began moving a few toys into the room.
We decided to get rid of both dressers. DH made the dressers (along with the boys' cribs) when they were born and I'm a little sad about getting rid of them. We decided to put shelves in the closets, and bins on the shelves for their clothes. This will help everything fit better - and the dressers are beat up a bit - so I know it's the right thing to do.
We're splitting up the shelves and bins that were all in the playroom into both rooms. I am going to SLOWLY move the toys back into the bedrooms, and hope to cull a good number of them in the process.
N is very excited about having his own room, and I hope this will address some behavior issues and other things we've been dealing with.
Unfortunately, I don't know where L will go yet. I had been thinking that the boys would continue sharing a room, we'd move the toys into their shared bedroom, and we'd move L into what had been the playroom. We have 3 computers in the office, and I don't know where we could put them. I don't like the idea of having a computer in our bedroom, but it feels like we'll have to do that. There is no room in the living room -- and we don't have a dining room.
DH has talked of closing in our back patio to make an office. The patio is off the kitchen, and leads into our backyard. This would be much less expensive than the addition we would like to complete some day; so it is more likely a possibility.
I have more I want to write about this -- but L is fussy and I've been trying to post this for 2 days now. I'll try to get back to it soon.
Novena to Our Lady of Altagracia
Alice, over at Cottage Blessings, has a wonderful novena prayer for Our Lady of Altagracia. The novena begins today, and finishes on the 21st (her memorial day.)
Friday, January 11, 2008
kid conversations
We're at the library, looking for books. N is looking for the third Hank the Cowdog book.
Me: Hey, look, they have this one on tape!
N: Really?
Me: Yep, do you want to get it? (the boys love to listen to books on tape - they have pretty much memorized the original Pooh, Trumpet of the Swan, and James Herriot's Dog Stories.)
N: Nope. I don't think they could do the voices nearly as good as Dad does them. I like to listen to the voices he makes while reading.
DH does do a great job of doing the voices in this series . . . which is good, because I don't care for the books at all! LOL!
A few nights ago, we're eating dinner.
C: So, of the three E.B. White books, which is your favorite, Mom?
Me: Hmmm, I think I'd choose Trumpet of the Swan.
C: Why is that?
Me: Well, I like Louis' spunk, and I like how he persevered and wouldn't give up.
C: My favorite is Charlotte's Web.
N: That's not MY favorite! I choose Trumpet of the Swan as well. Because there was music and lots of adventures.
Me: C, why do you choose Charlotte's Web?
C: Because it's about friendship.
Me: N, why didn't you choose Charlotte's Web?
N: Because Charlotte dies. And I don't like books where the characters I like have to die.
I find it interesting that none of us liked Stuart Little very much. It was such a bizarre book, but I know that it is considered a classic. I don't know why that book has received so many more accolades than Trumpet of the Swan?
Tonight, N is dawdling about getting ready for bed.
Me: N! You go and get your pajamas on and I'll try to guess which ones you're going to put on!
N: Okay! You guess! If you're right, I'll give you a kiss. If you're wrong, I'll give you a hug!
Me: Okay! Good deal!
(I guessed wrong, so I got a hug. LOL!)
Me: Hey, look, they have this one on tape!
N: Really?
Me: Yep, do you want to get it? (the boys love to listen to books on tape - they have pretty much memorized the original Pooh, Trumpet of the Swan, and James Herriot's Dog Stories.)
N: Nope. I don't think they could do the voices nearly as good as Dad does them. I like to listen to the voices he makes while reading.
DH does do a great job of doing the voices in this series . . . which is good, because I don't care for the books at all! LOL!
A few nights ago, we're eating dinner.
C: So, of the three E.B. White books, which is your favorite, Mom?
Me: Hmmm, I think I'd choose Trumpet of the Swan.
C: Why is that?
Me: Well, I like Louis' spunk, and I like how he persevered and wouldn't give up.
C: My favorite is Charlotte's Web.
N: That's not MY favorite! I choose Trumpet of the Swan as well. Because there was music and lots of adventures.
Me: C, why do you choose Charlotte's Web?
C: Because it's about friendship.
Me: N, why didn't you choose Charlotte's Web?
N: Because Charlotte dies. And I don't like books where the characters I like have to die.
I find it interesting that none of us liked Stuart Little very much. It was such a bizarre book, but I know that it is considered a classic. I don't know why that book has received so many more accolades than Trumpet of the Swan?
Tonight, N is dawdling about getting ready for bed.
Me: N! You go and get your pajamas on and I'll try to guess which ones you're going to put on!
N: Okay! You guess! If you're right, I'll give you a kiss. If you're wrong, I'll give you a hug!
Me: Okay! Good deal!
(I guessed wrong, so I got a hug. LOL!)
C well child visit
Since this has been such a good saving place for milestone information, I'm posting about C's well child visit today.
It's a couple months late (he turned 7 mid-November), but there have been doctor changes, and maternity leaves, and illness in our own house that kept us from earlier appointments.
He is 47 lbs, and 48" tall. That puts him in the 25% for weight, and 50% for height. He has charted like that since birth, although his weight sometimes creeps closer to 50%.
His asthma is well controlled and we made only minor adjustments to his medication schedule.
His hearing is perfect. The enrichment program he attends is part of the public school system, and they recently sent home a letter that he needed further testing for his hearing. I'm guessing they caught him on an off-day, because there was no issue at all with his hearing today.
His eyesight is terrible. They actually did the test 4 different times, because they couldn't believe the results. I felt like a bad mom -- but I have KNOWN that we needed to get his eyes checked, but finances and his lack of complaining allowed me to put it off. I need to call around for the best deal and get it taken care of this week. My eyes have changed since L's birth, but I guess I'll squint for a few more months yet!
While there, I also put L on the scale. She weighed 15 lbs, 15 oz fully dressed - so she's at least over 15 lbs undressed these days!
It's a couple months late (he turned 7 mid-November), but there have been doctor changes, and maternity leaves, and illness in our own house that kept us from earlier appointments.
He is 47 lbs, and 48" tall. That puts him in the 25% for weight, and 50% for height. He has charted like that since birth, although his weight sometimes creeps closer to 50%.
His asthma is well controlled and we made only minor adjustments to his medication schedule.
His hearing is perfect. The enrichment program he attends is part of the public school system, and they recently sent home a letter that he needed further testing for his hearing. I'm guessing they caught him on an off-day, because there was no issue at all with his hearing today.
His eyesight is terrible. They actually did the test 4 different times, because they couldn't believe the results. I felt like a bad mom -- but I have KNOWN that we needed to get his eyes checked, but finances and his lack of complaining allowed me to put it off. I need to call around for the best deal and get it taken care of this week. My eyes have changed since L's birth, but I guess I'll squint for a few more months yet!
While there, I also put L on the scale. She weighed 15 lbs, 15 oz fully dressed - so she's at least over 15 lbs undressed these days!
Monday, January 07, 2008
end of season!
It's officially the end of the Christmas season in our home!
The tree and decorations are taken down and stowed away for next year.
We attended Zoo Lights Saturday night -- which is a tradition we always try to do the weekend after New Year's, since that usually coincides with Epiphany and the end of the season.
The boys and I wrote all our thank you notes and I got them in the mail.
I finally mailed our holiday cards! (one advantage was that I could include our thank you notes with the cards, which had family pictures! It saved a little bit of postage. LOL)
We're ready to start back to schooling after a nice break, and head into a unit about deserts, among other things.
Yesterday we attended a free gem & mineral show at a local college. There were tons of vendors, and many were giving away free rocks to the kids. Each boy took $3 of their own money and came away with quite the haul! They either purchased or were given tons of fossils, pyrite, calcite, quartz, obsidian and more. It was very informative, and I think we'll do a unit on minerals after we finish deserts.
The tree and decorations are taken down and stowed away for next year.
We attended Zoo Lights Saturday night -- which is a tradition we always try to do the weekend after New Year's, since that usually coincides with Epiphany and the end of the season.
The boys and I wrote all our thank you notes and I got them in the mail.
I finally mailed our holiday cards! (one advantage was that I could include our thank you notes with the cards, which had family pictures! It saved a little bit of postage. LOL)
We're ready to start back to schooling after a nice break, and head into a unit about deserts, among other things.
Yesterday we attended a free gem & mineral show at a local college. There were tons of vendors, and many were giving away free rocks to the kids. Each boy took $3 of their own money and came away with quite the haul! They either purchased or were given tons of fossils, pyrite, calcite, quartz, obsidian and more. It was very informative, and I think we'll do a unit on minerals after we finish deserts.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
2007 in Review
January -- my parents came for a visit, as well as my cousin V, my dad's cousin from Vegas, my brother (home on leave from Kuwait) and my SIL. We celebrated my dad's retirement.
February -- DH went on a cruise that he was awarded at work. He went with his best friend since I was too far along in my pregnancy to cruise.
March -- I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I lost weight following the diet, but wasn't able to get the sugars under control without medication. My blood pressure begins to creep up.
April -- My friend, D, threw me an amazing blessing/shower. We attended the annual Easter egg hunt in AJ. We attended the county fair. Our dog died, after a very brief illness. L was born on the 29th, after my blood pressure skyrocketed and I was put on bed rest.
May -- N turned 5. My mom and SIL came to help out. We attended the symphony.
June -- Boys attended summer camps at the Mesa Southwest Museum, the Phoenix Zoo and our parish.
July -- Nothing of particular note happened -- just life :)
August -- We all traveled to WI for my parent's family reunion. We were also able to take a side trip to the Dells, and visit many friends and family we hadn't seen in years. DH & I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We baptized L and friends from Milwaukee came to visit. Fall ball started for the boys.
September -- We started our 2nd year homeschooling.
October -- My friend A came for a visit. We attended the symphony.
November -- C turned 7 and I turned 40! My parents came again for another visit.
December -- We took a drive to Flagstaff so the boys could experience snow for the first time.
February -- DH went on a cruise that he was awarded at work. He went with his best friend since I was too far along in my pregnancy to cruise.
March -- I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I lost weight following the diet, but wasn't able to get the sugars under control without medication. My blood pressure begins to creep up.
April -- My friend, D, threw me an amazing blessing/shower. We attended the annual Easter egg hunt in AJ. We attended the county fair. Our dog died, after a very brief illness. L was born on the 29th, after my blood pressure skyrocketed and I was put on bed rest.
May -- N turned 5. My mom and SIL came to help out. We attended the symphony.
June -- Boys attended summer camps at the Mesa Southwest Museum, the Phoenix Zoo and our parish.
July -- Nothing of particular note happened -- just life :)
August -- We all traveled to WI for my parent's family reunion. We were also able to take a side trip to the Dells, and visit many friends and family we hadn't seen in years. DH & I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We baptized L and friends from Milwaukee came to visit. Fall ball started for the boys.
September -- We started our 2nd year homeschooling.
October -- My friend A came for a visit. We attended the symphony.
November -- C turned 7 and I turned 40! My parents came again for another visit.
December -- We took a drive to Flagstaff so the boys could experience snow for the first time.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Health Intentions
I received a jogging stroller for Christmas, and have started putting it to use. We take a walk around the neighborhood most evenings, but it's not very fast and it's not steady (we stop often to look at things, play at the tot lot, etc.) Yesterday I met my sister at a park and walked where we could with the stroller. The boys brought their scooters, but unfortunately there was more sandy/rocky paths than smooth ones.
Today, we headed to a different park where I knew they had a walking path that was 1/3 of a mile. I thought I'd shoot for 2/3 of a mile, but DH came along as well and encouraged me to complete one full mile. The path is a little hilly (but not much), and smooth. It's in a pretty park and circles around a small man-made lake. The boys had their scooters again and scooted back and forth -- probably riding a mile and half considering how often they looped back and rode on again.
Encouraged by Carmen, my exercise challenge to myself is to walk 4 or more times a week, working up to 3 miles in 45 minutes. (I'm embarrassed to say it took 40 minutes to walk 1 mile yesterday.) My target date is April 1 to complete this goal, and hopefully shed more weight as well. I lost weight while pregnant, and am down quite a bit from pre-pregnancy days -- but I haven't worked at it since L was born. In addition to exercising, I plan to pay attention to what I'm eating and choose the healthiest options. I'm expecting by summer to be down a few more sizes.
Today, we headed to a different park where I knew they had a walking path that was 1/3 of a mile. I thought I'd shoot for 2/3 of a mile, but DH came along as well and encouraged me to complete one full mile. The path is a little hilly (but not much), and smooth. It's in a pretty park and circles around a small man-made lake. The boys had their scooters again and scooted back and forth -- probably riding a mile and half considering how often they looped back and rode on again.
Encouraged by Carmen, my exercise challenge to myself is to walk 4 or more times a week, working up to 3 miles in 45 minutes. (I'm embarrassed to say it took 40 minutes to walk 1 mile yesterday.) My target date is April 1 to complete this goal, and hopefully shed more weight as well. I lost weight while pregnant, and am down quite a bit from pre-pregnancy days -- but I haven't worked at it since L was born. In addition to exercising, I plan to pay attention to what I'm eating and choose the healthiest options. I'm expecting by summer to be down a few more sizes.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Resolution
This year I resolve to act with intention! I am afraid that too many days just slipped by as I was doing the bare minimums to get by, and that things were haphazard.
This year I resolve to meet each day with specific intentions, and try to make many of my actions meaningful. This means shopping with a list and not wandering aimlessly around a store trying to decide what we need (and ending up buying too much!) The last few months I've been forced into this as finances have been very tight. While it's still tight, I can see the advantage of continuing this practice when money loosens up a little in a few months. By spending only with specific intention, we can also save with intention -- and be better stewards of what we've been blessed with.
The things in my home must have an intention -- and if it's just clutter, or something never used, it needs to move on somewhere else.
My day must start with intention! I go through years of carefully making lists and following them, and then periods of letting it all go. I definitely accomplish more when I'm making lists, and I need to get back to it.
And my day must be filled with sharing my intentions with the Lord. With his help, and the Blessed Mother's help, we'll get through these difficult days and rejoice together in the better days.
I realize I'm setting myself up for quite a bit right now - so I think I need to figure out smaller chunks to start with. I'm planning to continue with shopping lists in January, and get even better (I still have gone out without a list a few times) and also compiling daily to-do lists again. In February, I'll add another intention, and so on throughout the year!
This year I resolve to meet each day with specific intentions, and try to make many of my actions meaningful. This means shopping with a list and not wandering aimlessly around a store trying to decide what we need (and ending up buying too much!) The last few months I've been forced into this as finances have been very tight. While it's still tight, I can see the advantage of continuing this practice when money loosens up a little in a few months. By spending only with specific intention, we can also save with intention -- and be better stewards of what we've been blessed with.
The things in my home must have an intention -- and if it's just clutter, or something never used, it needs to move on somewhere else.
My day must start with intention! I go through years of carefully making lists and following them, and then periods of letting it all go. I definitely accomplish more when I'm making lists, and I need to get back to it.
And my day must be filled with sharing my intentions with the Lord. With his help, and the Blessed Mother's help, we'll get through these difficult days and rejoice together in the better days.
I realize I'm setting myself up for quite a bit right now - so I think I need to figure out smaller chunks to start with. I'm planning to continue with shopping lists in January, and get even better (I still have gone out without a list a few times) and also compiling daily to-do lists again. In February, I'll add another intention, and so on throughout the year!
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