Monday, November 23, 2009
Haven of Rest Duet
Posted By diamondsintherough
Nov. 23, 2009
We R Fun: Life On The Farm Board Game
My kids love board games! They especially love board games involving money, although they have been known to start making up their own rules after awhile, and playing the game ElCloud style. I enjoy board games, because I know they are engaging my children's minds and teaching them things like strategy and math.
We were very happy to have a chance to review the Life On The Farm board game by We R Fun, Inc. It had been on our children's wish list for several months. This is a high-quality, well-designed board game with a colorful playing board. We received the original version, for players age 8 and up, but there is also a preschool version available which doesn't require any reading.
Life On The Farm was designed by Keith Gohl and his sister Ev Johnson, to help others understand what life on a farm is really like ... from a family business perspective. Each player rolls a dice, moves forward that number of spaces, and then follows the directions on the board. Players draw income cards and expense cards which require them to pay vet bills, taxes, or collect sale income. It's a game of chance, as my 12 year old daughter discovered last night. She was poised to win, until she had to pay taxes four times, when no one else paid taxes at all that game.
The goal of the game is to be the first to retire with 60 cows and the money you began farming with. As We R Fun states on their how to play page: "Life on the Farm is not about running other players out of business - it’s about managing money and making the most out of what happens to you - what life is really about on a family farm! It is a classic board game, fast-moving, easy to understand and fun to play, and it truly appeals to all ages."
While I agree that this game appeals to all ages, and the family can enjoy playing it together ... we didn't find it very fast-moving. Well, I suppose the plays happen quickly, but the process of playing the game itself can be long. The instructions do include a shorter version, and that is the only way we have played it so far. It's just the nature of this type of board game to take awhile.
My kids have enjoyed playing the game twice since we received it. They wanted to play it many more times, but we didn't always have enough time to fit a game in. In our opinion, Life On The Farm is a great board game, with educational entertainment value for the entire family. It's an excellent way to spend quality family time on a winter evening.
The original version of Life On The Farm (ages 8 - 108) retails for $25.00, and the preschool version retails for $20.00. The game can be bought from We R Fun, Inc, The Old Schoolhouse Store, Amazon.com, and also on Kmart.com.
This would make an excellent educational (and FUN!) Christmas gift for any children age 7 and up, or a family gift for those you love!
This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting In Him,
April E. |
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Monday, November 23, 2009
Post Surgery Appt and A New Cast
Posted By Kristy
Mom had her post surgery appt, today. She got a new cast. It is not a weight bearing cast. That will not happen for another 5 weeks!! I am sure she picked out the color just for me  |
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Nov. 23, 2009
Easy Holiday Cran-Apple Fruit Salad
On Saturday we attended a potluck dinner for our 4-H Achievement Banquet . Unfortunately, I was lacking inspiration on what to prepare. Just after lunch, I finally started flipping through cookbooks looking for ideas.
I settled on a cheesy scalloped potato recipe, but had to take shortcuts by microwaving the potatoes for awhile before putting them into the crockpot. (If you're curious it was Potluck Potatoes from the Fix-It And Forget-It Cookbook.)
But, I still needed a second dish. I started flipping through the desserts and salads in the cookbook my church put together. I found a Cranberry Jello salad that sounded good, but I didn't have fresh cranberries to boil into syrup, and didn't have time to mess with letting a jello set-up. BUT I decided to take some of the ingredients and improvise my own fruit salad. It was easy and delicious! (If you like the tartness of cranberries, that is.)
ElCloud's Easy Holiday Cran-Apple Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
2 (16 oz.) cans of whole-berry cranberry sauce
3-4 apples, cored and diced
1 cup mini-marshmallows
Directions:
1. Open both cans of whole-berry cranberry sauce and pour into a 2 qt. bowl
2. Use a spoon to break up the cranberry sauce.
3. Cut apples into wedges, removing the core. Skin can be left on, or peeled off.
4. Cut apple wedges into small pie shaped slivers.
5. Stir apples and mini-marshmallows into the cranberry sauce.
6. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
That's it! It looks beautiful, and it's delicious!!
Enjoy!!
Trusting In Him,
April |
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Nov. 23, 2009
Thanksgiving Week, Here We Come!
Hello Friends,
As many of you, too, are scurrying around to prepare a lovely holiday of thanks on Thursday, I thought I'd take a moment to post some pictures from our weekend and wish you a lovely Thanksgiving. As I do not plan to post again until next week, I'll try to make this one count. *wink*
First up, some pictures, especially for those precious family members who read my blog. (  you)
Here we are, all five of us, in front of a giant fireplace at Bass Pro on Saturday up at Lake Michigan.
Although the kids "know", they did not want to pass up a chance to talk to the big guy.
We had a truly delicious lunch at the restaurant located inside Bass Pro, a big treat.
Next, we attended a lecture on Indiana ship wrecks at Indiana Dunes State Park. You may be surprised to know we even have a ship wreck in our history. I know I was! They pulled this 2 ton propeller up from the wreck.
The weather was unusually perfect for beach combing. We gathered from the many smooth, flat rocks and attempted to skip them, some more successful than others. We wrote messages in the sand with sticks and marveled how a month of non-stop rain changed the beach in the last month since we last visited. Jeff and Grace climbed a huge sand dune. We finished our day with some steamy, dreamy, creamy hot chocolate.
Yesterday after church, we put up the tree as promised.
Grace is sporting her new, ladies size 8 shoes! (She is only 10!  )
I am looking forward to the week ahead. We plan to take Wednesday off to prepare. My goal is to have 2 really packed school days before then.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jenn
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
Seasons
Posted By Kristy
We don't really have changing of the seasons in the desert, at least not where I live. This tree outside my mom's window is so pretty. The picture does not really capture the deep burnt orange color.  My dad came to visit today too.
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Friday, November 20, 2009
OUCH
Posted By Kristy
Brandon and I made it to WA after a 4 hour plane delay. Sigh.. For those who don't know, about a week ago my mom fell and broke her ankle. She had surgery on Monday. They put in some hardware and she is not to put any weight on it at all for many many weeks.She is wheelchair bound for now. Brandon and I came up to help take care of her and the house. She is doing much better than last week.  |
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Nov. 20, 2009
Please Accept My Apologies
I apologize for my previous post. I wrote it half-serious and half tongue-in-cheek. I am over my self-pity party now.
Physically I am feeling a little better, and the sun is out today, so things are looking up. I wonder if I should go get one of those lamps for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder? My attitude really takes a dive when the sun is gone for 5 full days in a row.
Ryan is feeling better as well. No one else is complaining of an ailment at this moment, so perhaps we will be able to have a nice weekend.
We are planning to go up to see Jeff's mom tomorrow. If the weather cooperates, we may get to take a walk along the beach.
Sunday after church we hope to put up our Christmas tree. We've never put it up this early, but I knew it would make my husband really happy if we put it up early this year. He's so into everything about Christmas.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.
Blessings,
Jenn |
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Nov. 19, 2009
Honey Bear's Apron!
Posted By earthenvessel
www.homeschoolblogger.com/earthenvessel/
Mrs. Bee just sent me the cutest pictures of her and Honey Bear wearing their aprons!! I just love them!!
Isn't she a cutie patootie?? Looks just like her mama!! They are standing in the kitchen of the house where Mrs. Bee works. Mrs. Bee had to bake a turkey today for a Boy Scouts Thanksgiving dinner tonight. But she also had to work so, she made the turkey at work. I'm so glad they have their aprons to wear for this!  |
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Nov. 20, 2009
Santa Claus, ElCloud Style
We don't "do" Santa Claus at our house. We hang stockings, and we watch Santa movies ... but we don't tell kids he's real or give gifts from him. All gifts are from Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Aunts, etc.
But despite that, every one of our children at 3 years old has wanted to believe in Santa Claus. We have books that talk about how Christmas is about Jesus, and tell the true story of Saint Nicholas vs. the make-believe Santa ... but they still believe.
The older kids know he is fake, but occasionally present me with "Letters to Santa" anyway. I received four letters yesterday (to be posted later in this article), right before my children tried to convince 3 yo L that Santa wasn't real.
But they didn't stop at saying he was pretend. They tried to convince her he was dead ... complete with photos they found on the internet of the hunter who shot Santa, and Santa's grave. (these photos are not gory or inappropriate in any way)
I then had a distraught 3 yo. She was already upset that we kept saying there isn't a Santa Claus and that Christmas is about Jesus. She would say, "But Santa is in Christmas, too, right?" with a pleading look. But after these photos, she was almost in tears. Leave it to teens to torment a preschooler like that.
I told the children to drop the subject and stop arguing with her. Next year she'll be older and more able to understand the difference between what is pretend, and what is real. For now, it's not worth upsetting her.
And now ... the letters to Santa from my kids who all know Santa isn't real ... well, except for 3 yo L.
Dear Santa C,
For Christmas, I want Barbie clothes, Barbie stuff, Barbies,Kens, Kelly dolls, Girl coloring books, High School Musical. I was very very extremely good this year.
From 10 yo C
(she even included a map to her bedroom and our house from the North Pole)
Dear SC,
I need a Nerf Toy, and I want it to be a Nerf Build Your Own Blaster! Or a The Largest Full Auto Nerf Blaster.
PS I was very good.
Love, 8 yo J
(maybe we need to discuss needs vs. wants again)
Dear Saint Nick,
I was very good this year. For Christmas I want Build Your Own Blaster.
5 yo M
(he drew a picture of a wii, although he didn't list one)
Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a bouncy ball, a doll, a teddy bear, toy dishes, a crown, a coloring book, crayons.
From 3 yo L
(no more crayons, please -- we have too many already)
Now, if you're a family member reading this, and you've already received a Christmas idea list ... just ignore these. These are not necessarily Mom and Dad-sanctioned gift ideas.
Just sharing the Santa-related activities at our house this week, from a family who doesn't even "do" Santa.
Trusting In Him,
April |
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