Archive for the ‘do it’ Category

Since our kids were little, we’ve bought a game each year for Thanksgiving.  It was a tradition that came from my husband’s family.  His grandparents gave them a new game every year when they came for Thanksgiving dinner.

Since everyone is on a holiday from school and work, a new game is always a hit over the long weekend and perfect cold weather entertainment.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Blokus is pretty much our favorite game.  It appealed to our kids when they were as young as 5, and to my husband and I as well.  There aren’t a lot of games that can span that age gap (believe me!)

Blokus is strategic, competitive, and really fun.  My husband and son play to block their opponents, my girls and I play to keep our options open.  Does this say anything about Mars vs. Venus?

Either way you play, this is an addicting game.   The only drawback is you can only have up to 4 players, so someone always has to sit out…usually a parent.

Sleeping Queens is another family favorite.  Take one look at the box and you might think this game only appeals to the feminine members of my family.  Not so.  My husband and son enjoy it just as much as the girls.  Playing this game, you might be amazed that it was invented by a 6 year old girl!   I am.  It is clever and fun and one of our first choices for many a game night.  It can be played with 2 to 5 players which is perfect for our family.

And last but not least, is Qwirkle.  We got this game last year and loved playing it all through the Holiday season.  Game play is sort of like dominoes… or Scrabble, but Qwirkle can be played and enjoyed by young and old.

I am trying to decide what to get for this year’s Thanksgiving game.  I am thinking an oldie but goodie.   My childhood favorite was Clue.  My family also loved Rummikub and Uno.  My husband is sort of leaning toward Jenga.

I’ve also heard great things about Ticket to Ride and Quiddler.  If you have any games your family loves, let me know.  I’m running out of time to find something!

This past weekend our family visited Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah to the see their annual display of witches.

There’s Emma getting cozy with a witch.  She decided to sit for a spell.  (I know, I know, I couldn’t help myself.)

Even the witches can’t hang up their phones.  At least she wasn’t flying and texting, like this next witch.

She was my son’s favorite this year. You can’t see her eyes from this angle, but they look like cartoon concussion eyes, you know the spiral.

I say his favorite this year, because his annual favorite, “Witchy Poo” was nowhere to be found.  She was a witch sitting in an outhouse reading the newspaper.  Do you see why she appealed to my 3rd grade boy?  She always sent Ben into a fit of laughter. We looked all over for Witchy Poo and concluded she wasn’t around this year.  Maybe she finally discovered a good laxative potion.  But we’lll miss her, especially Ben.

My husband’s favorite was still around.  She is fishing with dynamite.  Something about that really appeals to him.  Is it the fishing?  Or the dynamite?  Or both?

We look forward to seeing the witches every year.   And one of the best parts of visiting the Gardner Village Witches is that it’s free.  It doesn’t get more “Make it Do” than that.

I hope you and your family can find your way to a wonderful free activity this Halloween.