Search This Blog

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

2 Player Strategy Games for Teens & Tweens

 


We are a board game family!  Our closet is full of 3 to 5 player board games that are perfect for family game night, but our teenage children now want some challenging 2 player games they can play against each other outside of family game night, or when they have a friend over. 

Sometimes siblings are busy and your can't get enough people to play the game, 2 player games are the perfect solution!  We have twin teenagers, so 2 player board games are perfect for us!

My teens are growing our of toys and their tastes for electronics is usually out of my price range.  Last year I bought them several 2 person board games for Christmas and for their birthday, all received with much success!  

These are also great solutions for adults without children who want strategy based 2 player games!


7 Wonders Duel Board Game


This is my teen son's new favorite game, 7 Wonders Duel!  It is the two player version of our family favorite, 7 Wonders. Experience an intense two-player struggle for supremacy in the ancient world! Challenge your opponent and bring your civilization to victory with Prestigious Buildings, Military Supremacy or Scientific Supremacy.

 Decide to invest in science, military or prestige. If you fail to build defenses, your capital city may be destroyed, but ignore technology and your people may be left in the dark ages. Will your city achieve greatness, or will your opponent prevent you from completing all your Wonders?

One game of 7 Wonders Duel plays over the course of three rounds, called Ages, during which you will choose cards with increasingly powerful effects. Each card you choose will influence your general strategy.

7 Wonders Duel
Ages 10 and Up
Average Play Time: 30 minutes









Codenames: Duet - 

The Two Player Word Deduction Game


Another 2 player version of a family game night favorite! Codenames Duet game is perfect gift for a teen who wants some quick fun rounds with their friends.  My boys will play 4 to 6 rounds of this in a row! Based-on the original party game hit, Codenames, Codenames Duet is a standalone co-op clue giving adventure that sends you and your partner on a top secret mission to a crowded city. Your objective? Contact 15 agents while avoiding a band of enemy assassins.  

You know the agents that your partner can contact safely; they know the agents you can contact safely. By giving each other one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board, you must try to find all the agents before your turns run out.

400 all new words compatible with original Codenames
New cooperative gameplay
Campaign mode to record your progress
Variable difficulty to challenge even the greatest spies



Imhotep The Duel is the 2-Player Version of  Imhotep, Builder of Egypt Board Game.  

In this two-player version of the award-winning Imhotep board game, players take on the roles of Nefertiti and Akhenaten, one of ancient Egypt's most famous royal couples. Game pieces must be cleverly placed so that players can unload the most valuable tiles from the six boats. While this is happening, each player builds their own four monuments in order to gain as many points as possible.

his tiny worker placement game is HUGE on strategy. It is not merely a rehash of the original. Rather, the creator was able to take a few key elements and develop a brand new game.

Imhotep: The Duel
Ages 10 and up
Average Playing Time: 30 Minutes





Kahuna Board Game: 2 Player Kosmos Game Area Control Strategy 


Kahuna is another great 2 player game by one of our favorite game makers, Kosmos. Who will rule the South Seas? Two Kahuna — ancient sorcerers of the Pacific — compete for dominance on an archipelago consisting of twelve small islands. Using their magic and wisdom, they struggle for control of the islands. They anxiously await the cards handed to them by fate. But when the time is right, they move to capture one, two, or even more islands, trying to gain the upper hand. At the mercy of the magical powers of the South Seas, they quickly realize that even the best magic is no good without strategy.

Kahuna
Ages 10 and up
Average Playing Time: 30 Minutes






The Fox in The Forest Duet is a cooperative 2 player only version of the classic The Fox in the Forest.
It's a trick taking game with a tiny bit of a board game element. Duet is cooperative whereas the original Fox in the Forest is competitive. In Duet you are working together to strategically control who wins the trick in order to move the "Fox" towards whoever won the trick. You're trying to clear all the gem tokens within 3 rounds to win.

Work together to play tricks and move through the forest. Use the special abilities of the characters to exchange cards with each other, then let your teammate follow with any card, and more. Win as a team by collecting all the gems, but be careful to stay on the path and not get lost. Most points at the end wins.


The Fox in the Forest: Duet
Ages 10 and Up.
Average Playing Time: 30 Minutes





Jaipur Board Game (New Edition) 

Strategy Game for Adults and Kids

Two Player Trading Game


In Jaipur, players take on the roles of two of the city’s most powerful traders seeking to become the Maharaja’s personal trader by amassing more riches than their opponent. This new edition features an exclusive metallic collectible coin.

Collect and exchange goods at the market then sell them for rupees. Arrange a larger sale to receive a reward. The camels have no sale value but are very useful for trading, especially when you want a lot of goods from the market. Out-trade your opponent to obtain the Maharajah's favor. At the end of each round, the richest trader receives a Seal of Excellence. The first player to collect 2 Seals of Excellence wins the game.

Blending strategy and luck, Jaipur is a fast-paced game that is simple to learn while offering plenty of depth to dedicated players.

Jaipur
Ages 10 and Up
Average Playing Time: 30 Minutes


Thursday, December 17, 2015

Entertaining, or Hospitality?





I recently watched my 4 episodes different HGTV shoes while folding laundry and was I was struck by the repetition of the same phrase in all four,  "I want to entertain in this house." 

Entertaining friends is great, I am a big fan. There is nothing wrong with the word or action.
 The problem comes when motivation underlying this word is contrasted with the word hospitality.

The focus of entertainment is on the entertainer. 


The focus of hospitality is on the audience. 


Am I turning hospitality into a "Look at me!" situation because in my heart I really want the focus on me? The gifting of  hospitality is a beautiful thing, but we can warp it easily when our pride gets in the way.  Do I want my guests to leave saying  "Robyn has such a great house" or "I feel really cared for by her and her family!"


As I struggle through the the differences between entertaining and hospitality I had to make a list of things hospitality really is, and what is not.

#1 Hospitality is NOT about perfection.
Authentic Hospitality is also not always beautiful, let alone perfect.  Hospitality is not  about having the perfect center piece or perfectly clean house. Can a pinterest-inspired favor or being welcomed into a clean house make some feel cared for, sure it can!  Many people feel cared for when you make aesthetic preparation for them, but  I really have to check my motivation before endeavoring on this path; am I seeking to build my ego or really serve someone else? 

While thoughtful preparations can make someone feel loved, is this avenue to entertaining robbing YOU of joy?   If I am slipping into grumbling and not giving with a cheerful heart, maybe that is a red flag I have lost the point of hospitality.   



#2 Hospitality is NOT about your comfort, but about comfort of others
Meeting the needs of others is the first priority of hospitality , and sometimes that will make me feel uncomfortable. 

I really want to be the person who doesn't pause to invite a lonely friend or a new acquaintance to my house because my house is too small or in it's "natural" state of something on every surface.  Some people feel more comfortable in a house that does not look like it belongs in a magazine. 

On the flip side, my dirty laundry in the living room  WILL make some uncomfortable.  I love creating a calm environment for others, including my husband I, to be able to relax in.  Sometimes that means cleaning and reaping the fruit of that work. 
This is another one of those lines of balance to pray about. 

Pray about how to thoughtfully prepare your house to make others comfortable, without building your ego or wearing out your spirit?  


#3 Hospitality IS NOT about the size of your house
I am guilty as many others when it comes to wanting a bigger house to "entertain".   In my 900 square foot bungalow , I can not 'entertain' dozens of people comfortably (trust me, I have tried).  

A house big enough to have parties is NOT a bad thing, and in many cases it's a huge blessing to friends to have a place to meet. One of my closest friends opens her large home every week to our church small group.  Her kitchen allows us to eat a meal together and studying God's Word comfortable.

But if I am honest, for many years I wanted to be the host. Thankfully God has been working on me, and showing me how much I can show hospitality in this house.  It never looks like HGTV.

We had a season where my hospitality calling wasn't to pretty people sitting at my table,  but to snot covered kids who played on our small 2 swing playground. God put us here for such a time as this to provide a safe space of hospitality, a popsicle ministry.

When my boys were younger our house "hosted" half a dozen neighborhood kids for hours at a time. Most of these kids' parents have no idea where they are, and have never met me.  They come from our street, and sometimes several streets away, mostly because I always had water and popsicles.  I let them plan safely in my tiny backyard for hours because I would rather have them here destroying my hostas than wandering the neighborhood. 

Was it fun that my kids have playmates? Yes. It is comfortable to be the unpaid babysitter to kids who do not have the same boundaries and rules my kids do? No, it is definitely was not.  But that was where we were called.  

#4 Hospitality IS (sometimes) about food
One of my friend says, "Food talks!".  She is very right. Hospitality very often does include food (Thank you Lord for that).  When it does include food, the motivation for a shared meal is so that the person to feels loved and cared for. 

People in need of love/care/kindness will feel cared for when you prepare and share a meal with them, no matter the gourmet level of cooking. A desperate mom does not necessarily care what you make, but she will care you are allowing her to eat a meal that she doesn't have to cook or clean up afterward. The kids who gather at my house don't care that I buy the cheapest Popsicles, but that I share them. 

I love to cook for others, but that isn't true of everyone.  Does insecurity in your cooking abilities  keep you from trying to bless others?  Hosting friends for delivery pizza or Chinese take-out at your house can be just as (if not more) fun for that tired mom who needs a break ,or lonely single who needs a friend.  Again, it is not about you, it is about them.

#5 Hospitality IS about Imperfect People
While hospitality sometimes involves food, it always involves people. Imperfect people who won't always take off their shoes in your home.  People who take too big of a first portion when you haven't' eaten yet.  People who have awkward silences or are too loud.

Sometimes hospitality involves laughter and game night with a another set of friends, but what if it i harder than that?  What if the hospitality your are called to involves the kid who can be too rough with your kids' toys, but needs a caring adult in their life? What is it is the parents with too many kids who desperately need babysitting so they can have a date night? Maybe it is inviting over an older neighbor or family member who desperately lonely, but also very free with their differing political opinions? 

Jesus is our best example of hospitality over and over again. I LOVE that Jesus showed us over and over how much he loved by spending quality time with others.  Jesus liked food and wine, but he loved people.  He loved his devoted disciples, but also single people, married people, broken people, imperfect people.

Where is our focus this holiday season?  Are we focusing on us, the entertainer, and how good of a show we put on for guests?  Or are we focused on the the audience who need us to put aside our own egos and comfort to meet them where they are at? 









Sunday, August 11, 2013

Diapers and Disposables Shower

I was blessed recently  to throw a baby shower for one of my closest friends.  I chose to make the theme Diapers and Disposables because it will be her 5th baby and she had hand me downs from the other kids. Just because it isn't her first baby doesn't' mean she should miss out on her fiends coming together to show her how much we appreciate & support her  With all the work she puts in homeschooling her other four children, I felt like she deserved a baby shower more than anyone I knew! 



Invitation:

While big brothers and sisters will hand down toys and stuff,
Diapers and wipes, they can never have enough!


Please join us for a time of food and fellowship, and an opportunity to stock _____'s Changing Table! Guests are asked to bring packet of diapers, wipes, or any other disposables baby items that will not be handed down from siblings.

Other suggestions for Baby Disposable Items:
Baby Tylenol
Wipes
Gas Drops
Baby Lotion
Tear Free Shampoo
Baby Powder
Diaper Rash Cream

Orajel


Decorations:
  • Diaper Cakes. I watched a tutorial found here.  I made one 2 layer cake (size 2 diapers) and several one layer cakes (size 1 diapers) to put around the room.

  • Diapers and small wooden animals hanging with clothespins on clothesline son mantel and stairs


Games/Activities:
For Kids: Since we are a homeschooling bunch, I knew there would probably several kids at the shower.  I made up blank ABC coloring sheets, and had the kids work together to make the baby's first ABC book.

For Adults:  Decorating Onesies. Since the shower gifts were not going to  include new clothes, it seemed appropriate to plan an activity that would supply some of those basic needs for my friend.   Our hope was to  to create a wardrobe of encouragement for Mommy, as well as some cute things for Baby.  I was so blessed to see many bible verses and sweet notes to Mommy to encourage our friend at a 3 am feeding or an afternoon where everyone is in need of a nap.

Supplies Needed:
  • Fabric Markers
  • Various Stencils
  • Onesies in various size 0 to 8 mths.  
  • Cardstock-Put between fabric so markers do not bleed from front to back
  • Lists of Possible sayings for onesies to get creative juices going









Onsie Decorating Suggestions 
Will Cry for Food

 LMDO J Laugh my diaper off

I’d love to stay and chat but I really (Mustache)

There’s no crying in baseball!

Instructions Not included.

Eat. Sleep. Poop.  Repeat.

If don’t sleep, nobody sleeps.

I love my_____________

Baby Brother

Mommy’s Lil’ Boy

I still live with my parents

Party at my crib. 2am.

Don’t’ look at me, that smell is coming from Daddy

Daddy’s Little Helper

Got Sleep?

BIBLICAL

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made….
Psalm 139:14

Jesus Loves Me

Smile!  Jesus Loves You!

Train Me Up… Prov 22:6

For This Child I Prayed 1 Samuel 1:27

God’s Team ( sport symbol)

 F.R.O.G Fully Rely on God



Friday, April 5, 2013

A Focus on Easter


Parenting "Fail" Lead to Refocus
In 2012,  as we left for early carry-in breakfast at church, I asked the boys what they knew about Easter in the van.  One of my sons replied, "I think it's something with candy and a bunny."

  Even though they were only five, I felt like this was a HUGE  parenting fail for me.  Now of course at their age, they were not ready for the more gruesome details of the passion, but I was shocked how little focus I had put on this most important holiday. I had outsourced all their Easter education to the children's church hour, which was wrong on so many levels.

Reason For The Season- Manger versus Cross
The manger is much less intimidating than the cross.
My son's comment put a spotlight on the fact that that just a few months before I had spent endless hours preparing for Christmas, but not even a full hour preparing them for the reason for Easter, our salvation.

As I stepped back, I was convicted that I had three tubs of Christmas decorations, but not one of Easter decor. In December we remind ourselves to see the true "reason for the season" for Christmas, but somehow I let it get lost in the spring beauty of new flowers, plans for gardens, and candy eggs.  I think this is a very intentional scheme of the enemy because the manger is less intimating that the cross.


HOW TO REFOCUS ON EASTER WITH YOUR KIDS
I tried this week to focus as much, if not more, onto Easter as I did on Christmas. Every night our bedtime bedtime reading is a Bible Reading. Younger children might need to color on one of the Holy Week coloring pages while you read.

 It was rejuvenating for ALL of us as we focused our attention on our Savior. All the other busyness of life faded away as I stared with all intent on the perfection of the Cross and the fulfillment of so many Old Testament prophecies.


Easter Week 
Through Bible Study Fellowship, I was challenged to read straight from Scripture to my kids, instead of all of the kid's books about Easter.  Don't get me wrong, they are all great books, but I do not want to underestimate the Holy Spirit's ability to interpret the Word for my kids.  When our children's only source of the pretty Easter story are picture books, they tend to think of it as a pretend picture story, instead of God's true Word.  Kids can make amazing pictures in their head, READ TO THEM FROM THE WORD. Below are some of the ways we really focused on the beautiful act of love Jesus did for us during this most precious week.

No "Bible Voice"
I was convicted not to use my "Bible/Teacher Voice" when reading the Easter story.  If you don't know what this is, you have not been in a  preschool class recently.  It is a bit higher pitched than my normal voice, and sing-song, and the voice I use when reading pretend stories or picture books.  It just felt wrong and disingenuous, and conveyed the wrong message to my kids.

Easter Week Family Bible Reading 
Free Printable Easter Holy Week Bible Reading Plan and Coloring Pages

    The Week BEFORE Holy Week
     Jesus prediction about his death.    Read Matthew 20:17-19

    Holy Week
    Palm Sunday- Jesus enters Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna.  Hosanna means "Save us!"
    • Read Zechariah 9:9
    • Read Luke 19:28-40
    Holy Monday- Jesus shows his authority by cleansing  the Temple.  The Jewish Leaders were not able about this show of power.
    • Read Isaiah 56:1-8
    • Read Luke 19:41-48
    Holy Tuesday- The Temple leaders challenge Jesus with theological debates. Theology is the study of God and religion.
    • Read Psalm 118:19-27
    • Read Luke 20
    Spy Wednesday- Jesus continues his teaching, which further upsets Jewish Leaders.  Jesus allows a woman to anoint him with really expensive oil, which is the tipping point for Judas, who go to religious authorities and offers to deliver Jesus.
    • Read Luke 21
    • Read Mark 14:1-11
    Maundy Thursday- After celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, where Judas betrayed him. He was arrested and tortured while Peter denied him.
    • Read Isaiah 50:4-10
    • Read Luke 22:1-65
    Good Friday- The Jewish leaders, with the help of Pilate, subjected Jesus to a mock trial that resulted in a death sentence for the one who would be called the King of the Jews. He was hastily crucified and quickly buried before the Sabbath began that evening. Use Homemade Resurrection Eggs to further explain to younger children, but I highly recommend leaving the 12th egg unopened until Sunday (see Saturday for why).
    • Read Psalm 22:1-18
    • Read Luke 22:66-71 and Luke 23:1-56
    Holy Saturday-Traditionally this is the day of mourning after Good Friday. On Saturday evening, before bed, we turn off all the lights for just a few moments and talked about the darkness of the tomb.  When you turn it back on, tell them there is an exciting day coming where it isn’t going to be dark in the tomb anymore.
    • Read Isaiah 52:13-15 and Isaiah 53
    • Read Luke 23:56
    Easter Sunday
    A couple of women went to Jesus' tomb to anoint him for burial, but when they arrived, he wasn't there. The tomb was empty, and an angel greeted them with the news that Jesus was alive. The women hurried back to tell the others, and Jesus surprised his grieving disciples by showing up in their midst.
    • Read Isaiah 52:7-10
    • Read Luke 24 
    1. OPEN LAST EGG  on your Resurrection Eggs!
    2. Decorate! Instead of baskets filled with candy and toys, the boys woke up to balloons and streamers celebrating Jesus's Resurrection.  We decorate our house with a large He is Risen banner. It doesn't come out until Easter morning, and stays up for a few weeks!
    3. Make Resurrection Rolls as you discuss how Jesus's friends laid him the tomb, but he arose 3 days later! You use a white (pure) marshmallow (symbolizes Jesus body).  You roll it in melted butter (oils), cinnamon and sugar (spices), and then put it in crescent rolls (tomb). After baking the marshmallow will "disappear"/melt!



    Other Easter Week Activities
    •  Passover Sedar- A family in our church invited us to a Christian Passover Seder.  What depth this adds to the Holy Week. We eat the same dinner our Jewish Savior Jesus himself ate with his disciples the night he was arrested.  We read the book "Hoppy Passover" before to show the boys what we would be doing. It seemed silly at first, but was extremely helpful in showing what they should expect, and they did very well the whole evening.
    • Resurrection Garden- We did a simple grass Resurrection Garden at the beginning of the week (more instructions coming in later post).  The boys found sticks in the yard for the crosses. It took longer than I had hoped for the grass to grow.  Next year I will buy the quick growing seeds.
    • You can decorate your house with a large He is Risen banner. The beautiful thing was through my kids excitement in the morning was they never once asked for an Easter Basket. I feel like we at least fixed our parenting fail just a bit. Now onto asking the Holy Spirit to help me with fixing  the many other things we have failed at this year....all a work in progress. ;)


    Tuesday, February 19, 2013

    Homemade Resurrection Eggs~EASTER



    Young children are very concrete learner, and usually need something they can see or touch to fully understand a concept. Resurrection eggs are one of the  concrete ways we can share the story of Jesus' death and resurrection with our children.  Resurrection eggs can be purchased, but you can also make your own using items around your home.

    To make your own resurrection eggs, you will need an ordinary egg carton and a dozen plastic eggs, a Bible, and the items listed below. 


    Share about Jesus using one egg at a time. Explain in your own words (and ask your children) what each item symbolizes and read the verses from the Bible. Older children may read the verse.


     Eventually, even young children can tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with the help of the symbols found in the eggs.  You may  print out below scriptures, or cut apart the below  scriptures into small strips and put them inside the egg

    Homemade Resurrection Eggs
    Egg #1 Oyster cracker (or crusty bread) 
    While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26 

    Egg #2 Silver coins
    Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.  Matthew 26:14-16 

    Egg #3 Purple cloth 
    They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
    Matthew 27:28 

    Egg #4 Thorns 
    and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.  Matthew 27:29 

    Egg #5 Rope 
    Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15 

    Egg #6 Cross 
    Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). John 19:16-17 

    Egg #7 Nail 
    There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. John 19:18 

    Egg #8 Sign that says, “This is the king of theJews.” 
    There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. Luke 23:38 

    Egg #9 Sponge (with vinegar) 
    Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. Matthew 27:48 

    Egg #10 Cloves or spices  or cotton ball with essential oil
    Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 23:56 

    Egg #11 Rock 
    Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  Matthew 27:59-60 

    Egg #12 EMPTY
    The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:55-56