Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Games We Like to Play

August 23, 2012

And I do mean that literally – board games, card games, video games. We are on a real game kick these days and I’m really enjoying the time spent with my kids. I thought I’d share with you favorite games of our family.

Board Games

Yahtzee – Okay you might not think it’s a board game, but it is more in that category than any other. We have recently started playing this one again and I am all to happy to comply when asked. It was a favorite of mine growing up and it remains a favorite to this day.

Othello – Another favorite of mine from when I was a teen. My brother Dan and I played it while talking and listening to the radio – ah the memories. It’s been a standard in our home for awhile now.

Scrabble – Yep, this old classic is a cherished favorite in our home. I have played many a good game with my older boys over the years.

Card Games

Racko – My husband actually introduced me to this one years ago and I loved it right away. Recently I taught Becky and Katie how to play and while Becky still needs help, Katie often gives me a good run for my money.

Mhing – You can only find this one used these days, but Mike and I first bought it when it came out in the mid-80’s. We played a lot of it back then! Last year I found a set for only $10 plus shipping so I bought it. I taught the older boys how to play and they were as hooked as I had been! We would often play a round of games on the weekend when all the boys were home and not working. Now playing together when they come home to visit is a treasured tradition for us all.

War – Another classic I loved as a kid and it’s also good for tired mommies because it doesn’t require too much thinking :-).

Crazy 8’s – I think this one is my favorite card game of all. When we lived in England we used to play this often during the blackouts of the early 70’s. It was fun for the family and a great way to pass the time. What I like is that these games can sometimes get really long and the win at the end is then really sweet.

Go Fish – A favorite of all my kids when they were younger. Becky and Katie still often pick it over other card games. We usually play with pairs instead of books (a little easier for little hands) and the girls will often beat me in a game.

Video Games

Animal Crossing – The first Animal Crossing game I bought was for our Game Cube back in January of 2004 (I think). I was wanting to buy a game that the whole family could play and ran across it at Amazon. The description sounded good so I ordered it and what a great find it turned out to be! We played that game a lot and when Wild World came out for the DS, Jeff and Chris got those for Christmas. We were gifted with City Folk in 2008 and have enjoyed playing that one too. In fact, I don’t think there has been a time when anyone was NOT playing Animal Crossing! I recently found Wild World again for the DS for the kids and myself and, again, the enjoyment factor is off the charts. It is just a great game and you even learn about bugs, fish, fossils as you collect them. Gotta love that :-).

Wii Sports Resort – There are so many fun games here that anyone from 4 and up could play. We often play together in friendly competition at archery, bowling, and cycling. So again, another great choice for the whole family.

So, those are just a few of the games we like to play in our home. If you haven’t played a game with your kids in awhile, why not dust one off tonight and gather the family. You won’t regret the time spent!

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Long Time No See

August 21, 2012

Yes it’s been a while hasn’t it? Life just got busy and I also have been kind of recuperating from all of last month’s doctor visits and health issues. I’m doing better these days and feeling more normal than I was so it’s time to jump in again and get back in the groove.

What have we been doing since I last checked in? After Chris left I finished cleaning the big boys’ room and we moved the girls into it. Then, we cleaned their old room and moved Steve and Joe into it. So, all the kids have new rooms with a little more room for them and they are very happy about the changes. What are we doing with Steve and Joe’s old room? Right now it’s going to be a “junk room” of sorts for a few odds and ends I want out of the master bedroom. Some of those odds and ends are things that the big boys left behind and others are things that need to go to Goodwill. Eventually, that room will be our new office with a much smaller desk and a futon for visiting kids. That’s probably a few months off though.

I started school with Steve last week and I’m ready to start school with the other kiddos but will probably let them have one last week of vacation. Although yesterday I brought home school supplies, and Maggie and Katie said they were ready to start their new math books. Hmmm. :-)

I have been playing a lot of cards and games with the younger kids and this last Saturday we also baked some oatmeal raisin cookies – haven’t done that in awhile. The weather cooled off considerably from what it had been so we’ve been spending more time outside as well. I’ve been walking around the backyard in the mornings for exercise and get a good 10 minutes in. The kids are playing outside more and yesterday we even went to the park – we haven’t done that in awhile either. I also got together with Matt and Jeff on a whim yesterday in a neighboring town and did some shopping and talked and had fun. Hopefully those three big boys will make it home for Labor Day, but we’ll see.

So, that’s what I’ve been doing for the last couple of weeks and here’s a few pictures of some of the fun we’ve had. Happy Monday everyone!

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Library Day

August 5, 2012

I thought it might be fun for awhile to document what books we’ve (girls and I) take out of the library. I’ve kind of been wanting to make a list for awhile because there are some really great books out there and I want to remember them so we can take them our favorites out more than once. For a while now the favorite books in this house are the Gerald and Piggie books by Mo Willems. They are great for a parent and child to read together using a myriad of different voices (you be Piggie, Mom, and I’ll be Gerald).

Maggie took out these:

1. Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator by Mo Willems – A new Mo Willems book! Looks like a fun read – as always.

2. Walt Disney’s Cinderella by Cynthia Rylant – This is a beautiful retelling of the Disney movie and the pictures are drawn as if they were in the book that opens the movie. I think I like it better than the movie. Cynthia Rylant is also author of the very popular Henry and Mudge series which we had a lot of when the big boys were small.

3. You’re Finally Here by Melanie Watt – Melanie Watt is another favorite author in our house – the Scaredy Squirrel books are just hilarious. So, you know we had to have her latest book.

4. Mary Queen of Scots – Queen Without A Country by Kathryn Lasley – This is part of the Royal Diaries series which tells about different monarchs lives during their teen years. Maggie took out Elizabeth I last time and I enjoyed that one. Of course I love historical novels anyway.

5. Barbie in The Nutcracker – Not a book but a video and so what if it’s not Christmas? It was 111 here yesterday, we can dream about Christmas and colder weather.

Now let’s see what Katie borrowed:

1. Jewelry Making by Jo Moody – Katie is all about fashion and fashion design so this was a fun find.

2. Bedhead by Margie Palatini – A picture book about having a bad hair day on what turns out to be school picture day. I’m not so much on this one – the pictures and prose are just a little weird for me.

3. House of Dolls by Francesca Lia Block – I found this and Katie thought it might be interesting. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

4. The History of Medicine by Lisa Yount – Historical non-fiction here. Katie wanted to take a book out about the human body so she found this one.

5. Ancient Egypt Revealed – A DK book with some clear cutaway pages – DK books are always visually inviting.

6. Sing Along With Barbie – A dvd and not sure what this one is going to be like as I think it went in a set with a microphone. We’ll see.

And Becky wanted..

1. I Am Invited To A Party by Mo Willems – What a surprise :-). She takes one out every time we visit the library.

2. Socks by Beverly Cleary – A really cute book about a young family and how Socks the cat fits in when the new baby comes home. You can never go wrong with Beverly Cleary.

3. Leonardo Da Vinci by Mary Pope Osborne – This is part of The Magic Treehouse series and is a Research Guide that goes with Monday With A Mad Genius which is probably about Leonardo DaVinci.

4. The Sister Switch by Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens – This is one of the Candy Apple series of books for pre-teens and teens. Not sure how much Becky actually reads, but she seems to enjoy them.

5. The Sight by Erin Hunter – Part of the very popular Warriors series of books about clans of cats. Now I know Becky isn’t reading much of this, but even if she reads just a few sentences I’m okay with that. She’s probably gaining reading skill and that’s a good thing.

And these are the books I took out:

1. The Annotated Mona Lisa: a crash court in art history from pre-historic to post-modern – This looks like a fun and interesting read. I perused it and stopped to read about a favorite artist or two. I’ll also be leaving it around for others to find and enjoy.

2. The Big Book For Peace – A book of short stories about peaceful living and helping each other. It’s for kids, but I did read one of the stories because it was just so inviting.

3. Crow Call by Lois Lowry– A beautiful picture book that caught my eye (I often pick up books I think the kids may enjoy) and I did read this one already too. It’s a mostly true story about an event in the life of the author after her father comes home from WWII.

4. Dinner, A Love Story – It All Begins at the Family Table by Jenny Rosenstrach – I’d seen this one at Amazon and was thrilled to find my library had just got it in so I could see what it was about. And, know what? I think I may just buy it. I’ve already read 50 pages and these recipes are all ones I would make! It’s not often you can say that about a cookbook. This book is like a novel and cookbook in one so it’s an easy and fun read too.

5. Stars Beneath Your Bed – The Surprising Story of Dust by April Pulley Sayre – A picture book on dust and where it comes from written in prose and poetry.

6. Eloise 50th Anniversary Edition – This is the original Eloise story but with some interesting facts about the author, Kay Thompson, and also the illustrator at the end of the book. I watched Funny Face several months ago and Kay Thompson was in it as a fashion designer, so when I found out she wrote the Eloise books, I was very intrigued.

7. The Teenagers Guide to School Outside The Box by Rebecca Greene – I think this will be an interesting read about ways to get teens involved outside of of home and school, but in ways that will further their interests in college and career. Things like internships, mentoring, volunteering, apprenticeships (does anyone still do that?), etc. Can’t wait to dive in.

And that’s some of what we’ll be reading over the next two weeks.

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July Progress Report

August 1, 2012

I don’t know if you could call anything that happened progress, but it might be considered that. I found out that I have health issues galore and at this writing, I await another doctor appointment today to get some things straightened out.

Last month started with high blood pressure, then my ob/gyn told me I had thyroid issues. We followed that up with an ultrasound and discovering I have fibroid issues which may require surgery. First I get to have a biopsy to rule anything worse out. So, I’ve been taking two meds – thyroid and blood pressure – and they aren’t working together. In fact, my bp is right back where it started even though I’m on medication. So today I get to go to the doctor to figure all that out. Hopefully I’ll survive it all.

We finished up dental appointments and orthodontist appointments will start at the end of this month for Steve and I also need to get Maggie in to see about her problems too.

Chris spent most of July packing, winding down work, and going on a trip to an anime convention followed closely by a trip to Six Flags that included my husband as well. As you all know, he is now in a new city and working. Classes will start later in August.

One bright spot is my weight – I’ve lost 8 pounds in the last month! I’d like to see that trend continue, but in a healthy way. I gave up coffee and chocolate because of my health issues but let me say I miss them terribly. They were how I got through my stressful stuff and now I need to find a different way. I’m trying to excercise at least every other day and that does make me feel better. I’ll be glad when the heat stops and it cools down again so I can walk outside – I think that would be a great way to reduce my stress.

So, that’s July in a nutshell. Not great, but I guess it’s progress to find out that all those years of not taking care of yourself better has taken a toll and now you have to change all that and get healthy. It just may take awhile before I finally do feel better. It’s like being in debt – it doesn’t take long to get in, but it takes awhile to dig out. Same thing with health issues, you can run your body into the ground in a short period of time, but it takes a lot of hard work to get back on track.

Hopefully in 30 days I’ll have better news to report.

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» 2012 » August » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Games We Like to Play

August 23, 2012

Long Time No See

August 21, 2012

Library Day

August 5, 2012

July Progress Report

August 1, 2012

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