After Christms Catch-Up . . .

I'm so glad it snowed last week.  A Christmas break is extra special when it snows.  It's like the kids can check that off their winter "to do" list. 

 "Play in the snow."  Check!

We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Patty's and the boys opened up fun p.j.'s from Auntie Jodie.

We got home in time to quickly make cookies for Santa.

 

Then the boys headed off to go to sleep, which was difficult and there was even a bit of crying because someone just couldn't get to sleep. 

Then the stockings were hung by the banister with care.

And thankfully all my UPS shipped gifts arrived in time.  Some as late as the 24th.  Whew!

We had our family over on Christmas day and enjoyed a fun new game.  Kilter!

Today, I cooked a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and monkey bread.   I spent 7 hours in the kitchen from start to finish. 

This coming week is MY week of Christmas vacation and I'm going to savor every minute!  There are two new restaurants in Lynden and I'm ready to try them out.

Chess Tournament #2 . . .

It took me a while to get this post together.  I had iPhone pics, iPad pics and Cannon camera pics to download.  The quality will vary greatly.
Ever since our first chess tournament last month the Scientist has been looking forward to his second.  Last Saturday we spent 7 hours at Wade King Elementary for another day of nail biting chess play.  The parents do the nail biting the kids do the playing.

I convinced the Architect to join the tournament because the only other option was to spend the day doing Christmas Tree pick up with his older brother, Papa and the local boy scout troop.

He didn't know what to expect but started off with a win after a 25 minute game.  He went in un-ranked and 33 on the list out of 34.  He played a boy ranked 10th for his first win.  This moved him up to 14 on the list.   It was exciting but set a false tone for what can actually happen at your first tournament.  The next 3 games were losses and he was feeling crushed, mad that I "made" him sign up and come to this tournament.  After an unwanted pep talk I left him alone for a good 30 minutes.  He played some app games and went into his last game calm but ready for a battle.  I watched from afar, upstairs looking down through Plexiglas.  I could tell he was playing tough and had the other guy's King on the run and in the corner.  At last, it was over.  The judged was called over and the Architect gave a thumbs up to his little brother.  He completed his first tournament with 2 wins and 3 learning experiences.  An excellent first time out.

I had 2 of these t-shirts made so my boys would "blend" in. 

The Scientist had a slow start.  He began the day playing the champion Kindergartner from the last tournament.  The game lasted about 5 minutes and we chalked that one up as another learning experience.  A few more of those came during the day.  Then the 4th game pairs went up and I told him he would be playing the little girl from the last tournament.  This little girl beat him and he remembers it well and has talked about it for a month because she did it by keeping her knights out and together to dominate the board.  

When she sat down to the board the Scientist smiled, drummed his fingers together and said "aaahhh, we meet again."  He had been hoping for this rematch all month.  

You can just barely see the board but he is rocking it.  Pawns out and Bishops out too.

As I watched the game I mentioned to the girl's mom who was watching beside me that my son had learned so much from the match that her daughter won against him.  She smiled and was happy to hear that.  That last tournament was also her daughter's first and the game with my son was her first and only win.  She hadn't had a win since.  In the end the Scientist beat her.  His first win and it was sweet.   Each having participated in the same two tournaments and each having only one win on their record - against the other.

His first medal.

At 3:30 the awards started and my little guy received his first medal.  He came in 9th out of 11 this time. All the K-1st grade kids who placed 9th-11th received a medal and the others received a trophy.  The Architect had such a huge amount of kids in his age group of 4th-5th graders.  He placed somewhere in the top 20's.  I was extremely impressed and proud for him but he was bummed and exhausted.  I'm not sure I'll be able to convince him to sign up for another tournament.  He's currently hooked on playing a chess app.
The Scientist is already wanting to sign up for the next tournament which is only 2 weeks away.
I'm not sure if I'm ready.

The Chess Tournament . . .

A week ago I mentioned to the Scientist that a chess tournament would be held in Lynden and I asked him if he would like to sign up.  With a big smile and loud "YES!" followed by "thank you, thank you, thank you," I wondered why I had waited so long to ask him.

The K-8 Chess Tournament was held at the Lynden Christian Middle School.   There were 11 kids signed up in the K-2 group and the kids were scheduled to play 4-5 games.  

My guy didn't win a single game.  We really weren't prepared like the other kids.  He had only played recreational chess at home with family and we aren't experts.  But even though he didn't win and even though he placed last out of the 11 kids in his age group, he still had a great time and wants to sign up for another one.  He showed amazing sportsmanship.  It brought tears to my eyes when he said he learned three new moves from the kids he played.  It's that what we want for our kids?  That they can learn from failure and keep moving forward.  This Mama is proud but to God be the glory.

Slip 'N Slide...

In 1961 Wham-O introduced the original Slip 'N Slide.  It wasn't until the early '80s, I was 10 or so, living in Alaska, when I first heard about this fun toy from TV commercials.  I remember trying to find one all summer.  I never did.  I never got to play on a Slip 'N Slide.  I think I tried to make one but without much success.  

 Now I can buy some type of the toy in any store I walk into.  Ever since the boys have been little we have had some type of summer water fun for the front yard.  It has certainly been a few years though and I was happy to grant a birthday wish for a Slip 'N Slide for our summer fun this year.

 With the temperatures barely reaching 68 degrees the boys braved the chilly water and broke in the slide.  Brrrrr!

Nintendo DS and Spelling . . .

I'm still really pleased about our purchase of a DS this last Christmas even though we only bought one and we have three kids.  Super Scribblenauts continues to be the game getting the most play.  Now, our 6 year old, with the help of the picture dictionary can spell and create his own Scribblenaut world.

Life . . . During the Rain

Oh, what to do?  It's raining and dreary outside.  Mom is working on the computer, getting things ready for a Cub Scout Parent Meeting tomorrow.  What shall we do?

Let's play life!

 

Old School Toys...

 Out of many,  few are chosen.

Armed and ready for battle.

Strategy meeting.

 The last stand.

The battle was fierce.  They never had a chance.

Super Scribblenauts...

We bought a DSi for the boys this Christmas.  One of the games they play on it is called Super Scribblenauts.

This game was intended for the Professor being that he is 11 and really good at spelling.  But this is a super fun game and not at all mindless.  I've spent a few hours playing the challenges and the other day I notice the Architect (age 8) working on it.

He likes the free mode of play where he can pick his own background and make his own characters.  In order to do this though you must SPELL everything.

I finally got him a dictionary to look at because it does get a bit old verbally spelling out every word for him.  During this session he was busy trying to create a knight and some armor for him.  Another time he created a couple football players and gave them separate colors to wear.  Then he made one the "receiver" and they played catch.  Today, he was busy making an old west town and needed help spelling "Sheriff, assistant, diner, big hungry buzzard and outlaw."  From what I gather the buzzard was suppose to eat the outlaw but it didn't work so he had a big shoot out instead.  Think I can count this as language arts learning time?

Playtime at Lake Padden...

Papa's company picnic was a great day of fun.  In years past it has been at Hovander Park but this year it was at Lake Padden.  

The Jumpy place...

Playing ball with Papa...

 

Stomp rockets...

Bubbles...

Pure Joy...

Tug-o-war...

A Hula-Hoop competition...

Good Times!

Time with Papa

I picked up this Lego Creator game at a home school swap meet last year. I figured the boys would enjoy it because they like to build with legos.  It ended up being a little too simple for the older boys but our 5 year old sure loves it.  He's always asking us and the grandparents to play it with him.  Thankfully it's not as dull or mind numbing as Candy Land.  That game makes me want to bang my head on the wall over and over until its over.     

Card Games

I'm passionate about these cards but not in a good way.  I find piles of them all over the house and they drive me a bit nuts.  I let the boys take them on our sailing trip because I thought it would be a nice way to keep them occupied while we were on the boat in the mornings, evenings or while motoring from bay to bay.  Well instead of a nice game it turned into battles and someone always cries in a battle.  The 9 year old finally started saying "no" to the requests to battle and the rest of us started getting sick of hearing the 7 year old ask to battle.  Threats were made to put the cards away for the rest of the trip.  We never carried that out but used it often.  I'm not sure if I'll let Pokemon travel with us again.  On a side note, when we got home I found a lone pokemon card on my counter.  I told the kids that if "Machomp" wasn't claimed he was going in the trash.  The boys all laughed and the oldest says "Machomp! What does he do - CHOMP you!?  It's not Machomp, it's Machamp - he WHAMS you with a fist!"  Then I said "what are the other ones?" And he rattles off "Machoke and Machop."  Oh, well, I see.  I'm feeling soooo silly.  NOT!!!  I think the Pokemon makers need to make a new guy and call him Machomp.  And his power will be eating and burping.