Sunshine and Games

Yesterday, the sun was shining and it filled our eyes and our souls with light!  It was awesome! We opened all the windows and basked in the warmth of the sunlight.  This year we haven't had the traditional winter, with snow and ice and mittens (or muffins, as Forrest once said :) but we've had our fair share of blue, stormy days.  Aw, it was a welcome change...even if it ends up being short lived :P 

With the Olympics in full swing, I thought it would be a great time to share a few of the games the kids and I play together.  :)

*For Bill Watterson fans, think Calvin Ball here.  Most of these games were created on the fly by yours truly and appropriately named by Andrew (who also loves to change the rules and add penalties...ha ha!)

Dance Machine:  I call out a shape form (high, low, big, little, curvy, straight, tricky) and make up some music, when I say "freeze" they have to stop and make their own shape form.  Andrew added, if you move after freeze you get -10.  Better watch out! :)

Russian-ilious (this game was entirely crafted by Drew): One person becomes the goalie.  They have to guard the area below the Ikea bench, "the goal."  We set the timer for one minute.  The players have to pass the ball three times before they can shoot for a goal.  If they make it, they get a point, if the goalie blocks it, the goalie gets a point.  When the timer beeps, whoever has the most points wins.

Pattern game (Forrest's favorite): We start on level one which is a with a 2 x 2 pattern (ex: clap, clap, slap, slap), when the boys complete that we move to level two usually a 1 x 2 x 1 pattern (ex: clap, slap, slap, clap), then level three I usually introduce a new action, etc.  We continue to move up in levels until it gets too tricky.  Then we start taking turns leading it.

Forrest is so cute when he plays this game.  He gets so excited when its his turn to make up the pattern.  His eyes get wide and you can almost see the wheels turning in his little brain.  He'll go along doing the same type of pattern we've been doing, then he'll stop, think for a second and add an awesome new move.  My favorite was when he made one that looked like his hands were a picture frame around his face. 

Robots and Aliens:  Andrew makes a giant set up with trains, playmobil people and blocks as a little Robot city.  Then he pretends his people are getting destroyed by the giant alien (Adelaide) who comes thrashing into the city, leaving utter destruction in her path.  But not before she picks up and tosses a few characters on the way.  Yesterday during this game, Andrew grabbed the Wall-e computer and instead of Wall-e being the sweet little clean-up robot, Wall-e joined forces with Alien Addi to take over Robot City.  My little character didn't stand a chance!  First she was swooped up in the clutches of the giant baby, slobbered on and thrown down, only to be sucked up by the evil Wall-e computer.  The boys like my commentary along the way.

Dreamland: (Mommy's favorite:-) we set out all the toy bins (one for each category of toys).  We say go and rush to clean up the toys as fast as we can.  One point per toy.  Andrew added a catch though...if you put a toy in the wrong bin, you get -5 points and have to start over.  The boys love counting out loud and announcing who's winning.  There may be a few times I "accidently" put a toy in the wrong bin so the boys can relish my defeat :)

Listening Game:  A few weeks ago at the end of a long day, I was exhausted and getting frusterated.  I had asked Forrest more than a few times to please stop pulling on the curtains.  As I was about to send him to a time out, there was a brief flash of inspiration in the form of a question, "Have I really listened to him today?" I asked him to come over to me and simply asked, "How are you?"  He smiled and came in closer.  Just then, I made up another game.  It was a two step listening game.  I started, "Forrest, can you please bring me the ball?"  He looked confused so I asked again.  He brought it to me and I was SO happy! I started cheering, clapping and giving him high five!  What an awesome listener!  THEN the most important part!!! It was HIS turn.  He got to direct me!!!  "Mom, will you please...."  This game went on for a half an hour.  Andrew heard us playing and came in to join us.  The boys had a lot of fun asking ME to do things and then cheering for me when I did them right.  It was a nice change for me to make a big deal about what a great listener Forrest was instead of getting stressed that he wasn't listening.  It made it a much happier way to end the day :)

And lastly, the mirror game:  I simply put a mirror on the floor and giggle with delight as I watch Adelaide play with her reflection.  You'll notice from the picture, she gives her mirror-baby kisses.  I started this a few months ago and its been fun to see her become more and more aware of her little mirror-baby. 

 And to even things out so you don't think its all fun and games here, Lil Forrest spilled water on the Netbook I got for Christmas.  Despite my acting quickly, the screen went blank and it appears the mini computer is well, toast. There's an ongoing investigation as to whether or not it was an accident ;)  Either way, I kid that I'm taking it out of Forrest's college fund.  What is that, like 20 more yards he'll have to mow to work off the debt? :)

The end.