Hula Hop Game

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY

Having game night with the family is always fun, but having a family game night that will help tire the kids out before they go to bed.... priceless!!!

To have your family play Hula Hop all you will need is a hula hoop or something to make a circle. Get two players into the circle and standing on one leg. Players will then grab hands and start to hop. The goal is to get one player off balance or out of the circle by bumping with shoulders and such.

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Carcassonne

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY
Us Rappleyes are board game people... we love em! Curtis and I spent many of our nights, while dating, playing card games and Life (we were so cool :) ). Once we got married we started throwing in Sorry, Monopoly, and Scene It. And now... well... we are game snobs that party with the elite like Settlers of Catan, Bohnanza, and Spy Alley. We love finding games people haven't heard of, learning new ones, and introducing them to people.

Our latest fetish right now is Carcassonne and don't let it fool you that it is made by the Germans... cause I don't know about you, but when I think of Germans I don't usually think of a fun jovial bunch.... but apparently they sure do know their way around board games.

Carcassonne is a fairly simple game about farmers, monks, knights, and robbers. Players will take turns grabbing tiles of land and laying them down to build a valley. As you lay your tile down you also place people to do actions. There are farmers who feed the cities you build, monks that watch over the monasteries, knights that guard a city, and thieves that plunder the roads. Players will try to give their lands as many tiles and points as they can while also trying to block off and upset the other players fields as much as possible. This game definitely keeps you on your toes cause the board and situations change with ever turn.

This game is truly addictive and fun to play. We especially like it because it is just as fun two player as it is with a whole group. The game says it is best for children 7 and up and can be played two to five players. You can find Carcassone on Amazon.com for about $22 right now and it seems to usually go for about $30 most places.

What are some favorite family games that you play?

Ring Hunt Game

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY

I always love family games, especially those silly little fun ones. A nice sweet game that is age appropriate for most is Ring Hunt.

Someone is picked to be "it" and that person will stand in the middle of a circle of people. You will also need a long piece of string or yarn. Cut a piece long enough to make a large enough circle that the "it" person can stand in, before you tie it slide a ring onto the string, now tie. Lay the string circle on the ground and have the "it" be in the middle. Now with the other people in a circle around the "it" person, have "it" close their eyes and count to 10, all while having the other people passing the ring around and hiding it in your hands. Now the "it" person needs to find the ring, the player has three chances to find the ring. If the "it" person finds the ring, players switch places, but if they loose they have to keep going till they find it.

This game is fun especially with the little ones, plus it gives you a valid excuse as to why you need to buy more jewelry... right?!

Blind Bell

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY
It's always fun to play games; board games, physical games.... mind... games? Well, maybe not so much mind games, but I did grow up loving kick-the-can, hide-n-go seek, capture the flag... and so much more.

One game that is a fun little one to play is Blind Bell. In Blind Bell all players, but one, are blindfolded and told to scatter. The one player who isn't blindfolded is given a bell to wear around their neck, with having this bell around the neck it is bound to make noise with most steps that player takes. The blindfolded players goal is to try and catch the bell wearing player, all while the bell wearer is constantly trying to stay out of their way and free. The player who catches the bell wearer wins.

This game is great for indoor and outdoors, which makes it fun all seasons round.

Please remember to add your link only if you are participating in Family Moment Monday. Family Moment Monday consists of people who are sharing crafts, activities, lessons, ideas, service projects or anything else that you can learn/do/enjoy as a family in your post. Please remember to link back to Motherhood For Dummies, so others can learn about F.M.M. and participate too.

Scene It DVD game

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY

Finding a game that is great for all ages can be hard to do. With kids varying in ages and interests, it is tough to get them to agree on a game to even play sometimes. So, instead of fighting over whether the family is going to play Polly Princess Dress Up or fight for global domination in Risk, have your family try one of the "Scene It" games.

In "Scene It" players answer trivia questions about films or pop culture. The game comes with a DVD that shows clips, puzzles, word scrambles, and pictures that have to do with movies. Players must answer and move their pieces around the board to win. It is a simple enough game, but truly one that Curtis and I have enjoyed.

The original "Scene It" isn't really appropriate for younger children, because they probably won't know the movies, but the company has other "Scene It" editions that are appropriate for all ages. These ones include fun family themes of, Harry Potter - edition 1 & 2, Disney editions 1 & 2, Nickelodeon, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Disney Channel.

They are really as much fun, or even more, than the original "Scene It". Curtis and I have played the Harry Potter one many times with friends and with our nieces and nephews. It's fun to see how they have made each edition themed with the game. For example, in the Harry Potter one, you can play as Hedwig, the Sorting Hat, Hogwarts Express, or the Snitch. You can win House Points for your team and answer muggle facts. It is really fun to see the creativity that is put into each game.

You can find the games at most places like Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, or anywhere on-line and they cost anywhere from $14.00 to $34.00. That can depend on what edition you get to where you buy it from. Amazon.com is a great place to purchase them for a good price normally. I would suggests the Harry Potter, Disney , or Scene It Jr. edition if there are children playing. To check out a list of all their editions, check here, they have them listed for their age suggestions.

Ticket To Ride

FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY

Need to teach your child how to build a railroad stretching from California to New York? WAIT... no, you don't? Well, then.... you need to to play the game Ticket To Ride and then you'll think other wise.

Ticket To Ride is a wonderfully fun and easy game where players are trying to travel to as many cities as possible, all along trying to complete destination goals where players connect/build a railroad between two cities.

The game can be played by 2 - 5 players and recommended for ages 8 and up, but I think that some younger children could play it. Besides being playing Ticket To Ride for just the pure pleasure of it, it is a nice way to have the children learn cities, color and strategy.

It has won the Orgins Award for Best Board Game of 2004, Diane Jones Award in 2005, the International Gamers Award in 2005, and several others. I definitely cho cho choooose this game (insert chorny laugh here). You can get in online anywhere from $25.00 to $39.00

Please remember to add your link only if you are participating in Family Moment Monday. Family Moment Monday consists of people who are sharing crafts, activities, lessons, ideas, service projects or anything else that you can learn/do/enjoy as a family in your post. Please remember to link back to Motherhood For Dummies, so others can learn about F.M.M. and participate too.

Fun Cheap Toys For Children

Finding toys for children can be tough. For me, I have a hard time because Curtis and I decided that we weren't going to give Lucy a lot of toys, that we wanted to let her learn to be productive with what she has and not be over stimulated... pluuuus.. we are kind of cheap and can't justify droppin' a $124 on a Leap Pad Frog baby Blackberry-laptop-iPhone. So, I am pretty picky with what toys I get for Lucy because, hey, if the poor girl isn't going to get showered in toys, then the ones she gets are going to rock. So here are a couple really fun cheap toys that I have found for several ages.
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Cranium's Bloom Shop & Match
Bloom Shop & Match (which has one Parents' Choice Award) is a sorting and matching game that takes place at a grocery store. The game has a basket, food, reusable grocery lists, dry-erase marker, spinner, and game board. This game is great because it encourages color recognition, sorting and classifying, object identification, pretend play, teamwork, and turn taking. What is also really nice, is that the pieces are well designed and sturdy, so you know the pieces can handle your toddler throwing/shoving/biting/burying/and toilet flushing. The game has activities in the four categories of discover, perform, create, and connect involving counting, categorization, and color hunting. And wait... here is the best part... it even comes with a little working scanner that you use to purchase and scan your items... how cute is THAT!? This is just a great game to help get your little ones thinking, organizing, color recognition, taking turns, and object identifying. It is great for kids 3 and up and suggested retail is $19.99
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Laugh & Learn-My Learning Tools
My Learning Tools puts Bob The Builder to shaaaame. This cute talking tool bag is filled with songs, tools, and instructions to help teach your child how to open/close, use all the tools, sing a long, numbers, and even about opposites. This Fisher Price toy has three different play modes that aims for encourage, imagination, and musical fun. Great for letting your child learn with the toys or simple play by enjoying the music. And hey, if you have a little girl that wont like playing with a toll bags, then don't worry, because they even have a My Learning Purse it is practically the same thing, just a purse with keys, wallet, lipstick, and a zipper instead of a ruler to figure out. This is good for as young at 6 months to 36 months and the suggested retail is $17.00
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Wok' n Roll
This is just a cute game that helps your kids hand-eye coordination, also while helping to teach them colors and organizing. In Wok'n Roll players use plastic chop sticks to grab their colored food and simply place it into the matching bowls. When you child has master that, players can they kick it up a notch and turn the wok on, which then allows it to spin and turn as players try to grab their matching colors. This game has been suggested for 3 and up, 4 and up, or even 5 and up, so you can use your judgment if your child should play with it or not. I don't think it is because of the skills so much, but more if the child will be tempted to swallow the colored pieces. It's suggested retail is $19.99.
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eeBoo's - What Time Is It?
These little tickers are here to help your angles how to tell time. With smiling clock, different levels of difficulty, and moveable hands your children can easily learn how to read a clock and tell time; both digitally and the good ol' fashion way. You can be assured that your child will learn because eeBoo is one of the most respected names in children's educational products. There are so several levels of difficulty; so beginners won’t get frustrated and players with more advanced skills will still be able to feel challenged. Suggested for ages 4 and up and retailed at just $16.00.
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Are there any toys/games out there that you have just loved as a parent or even a certain company that you like?

Settlers of Catan

Thanks for all the kinds words about our computer.... and YES, we are still having problems. I can get on the internet faster now, but still having difficulties surfing and posting. So unfortunately my first official Family Moment Monday isn't going to be the big shin-dig that I was hoping for. Which is also fine, but it will help all you people out there get ready for next Monday's posts and you all can contribute your wonderful ideas and things you do to have fun with your families. So get thinking of ideas and activities to share.

This Family Moment Monday is going to be all about..... CATAN! Have you heard of it? Nooo? Well, then let me shed some light. "Settlers of Catan" is an intriguing game that takes place on an island that you assemble. Players spend the game building cities, settlements and such to gain points. Your resources you receive through out the game are determined by where players have placed their settlements and cities. Those resources help you build and gain the points the players are needing to win.

Over 11 million games of Catan have been sold throughout the world and the game has been translated into twenty-five different languages, the original being German. I love this game because it is well suited for family play, since no one gets eliminated, and players who are behind can strive towards goals that are within their reach. There is also a lot of interacting, trading, and bargaining that helps keeps the family talking laughing.

The game, once played, it actually a fairly simple, but you can also make it have more depth with strategy and even game expansions. They sell other additions/add-ons that you can work in with Catan. So basically, once you have master the game and become Lord of Catan, you can buy the expansion packs and make it have new twist. These expansions are called "Cities and Knights" and "Seafarers"

But be ye warned.... this game is highly addictive. We have introduced it into our family and it has spread fast than Mono on prom night!

Family Time Ideas

I have been wanting to host a weekly blog post for a while now and have been trying to decide what I could try and spread some knowledge about. Well, I finally came up with it. After spending a nice night over at my sister's house I realized what I can post about; I wanted to write about something I love and do a lot of. So I came up with...
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FAMILY MOMENT MONDAY

I am going to dedicate every Monday's post to something fun you can do as a family. It will be anything from a good movie, to fun games, to creative activities, even ways to include your children in chores and errands. They can be for all ages or even for certain age groups. Things for a whole family or maybe even activities that the children can do as siblings.

I am still working out everything; AKA: Cute banner, figure out Mr. Linky, how people can participate and so on and so forth. But, until then (hopefully next Monday) here is my first Family Moment Monday.

Curtis and I love games, we don't play them as much as Curtis would like, meaning ALL THE TIME, but we still play them a fair amount. One of our favorite games is Bohnanza, where the theme is "To bean or not to bean!". Players jobs are to collect and plant beans in their "fields". The more of the same beans you collect the more money you earn. Everyone is continually trying to trade beans, explain why they need their certain bean, and trying to hand off other beans. It is a fun interacting game that can include a lot of people. You can have anywhere from 2 to 7 players. And the GREATEST part of all..... it is fairly inexpensive too, costing about $12 at some stores, but then $19.99 at others. So make sure you shop around.

It can be a little complex at first, but once you start playing you get the hang of it. I would suggest if you want to play it as a family that you sit down and read through it first and get your self understanding the rules; then try and teach it to children.

Curtis and I love this game because we love how we can play it just us two or take it over to a friend's house and play as a large group. We also just love the cute beans on the cards, they have the over excited coffee bean, a sick to its stomach green bean, a filthy gross stink bean, a hippie hemp wearing soy bean and many more. I think the cute cartoons are made more for the kiddies, but what can I say.... they crack me up too.