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Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Friday, September 2, 2011

Review - Civilize This! by Griddly Games

Civilize This! 

Creator:  Griddly Games

Web Site:  http://www.griddlygames.com/ 

Age:  8+

We really liked this game!  I'm always looking for fun games that we can play as a family.  Having a range in age between my youngest (12) and my oldest (20), sometimes it's hard to find a fun game that we can all enjoy and be competitive at.  Civilize This seemed like a fun choice for us because we all enjoy history. 

The travel game comes with four packs of cards (Ancient History, Medieval History, Modern History, Wise Alec) and a die all in a handy travel case.  There are two questions on each card - one worth three points and one worth seven points.  Obviously, the three point questions are a little easier.   I wondered just how difficult the questions would be and was pleasantly surprised when they were quite challenging.  On several occasions, there were 'ah-ha' moments when the answer was given.  "Oh, Yeah!  I remember that now!"  What a fun way to review history!  The instructions also offer alternative ways to play so that all can get involved and enjoy the game.

The purple or Wise Alec cards are a lot of fun!  Instead of being a question, they have a tongue twister, an action, or some other silly directive that has to be followed.  We found ourselves rain dancing, karate chopping and doing the macarena.  This option adds levity and a way earn a few points the "easy" way.  My youngest kept hoping he would role a purple!

The only issue I have with the game is the die.  It's not well made.  By the end of our first game, the orange and yellow both had a tint of green, all had scrapped off parts of paint, and the red had disappeared all together.  Replacing the die is easy, so I wasn't too disappointed in this.

As you can see - "kids" of all ages had fun playing this game.  There was all sorts of laughing and gentle taunting throughout.  Nobody felt like the game was over their head making it fun for everyone.  In the pic below, we had a middle schooler, two high schoolers, two college students and me playing.  My kind of game!

We have enjoyed playing it and will continue to until the cards are all too familiar.  Because this can also work as an expansion pack for other Griddley Games, I'm going to look into adding to our current collection and enjoying this for a long time. 

My other thought is - this is a great trivia game for history classes both at home or in a co-op setting.  I may offer it to the World History co-op teacher this year to use as a fun in-class game for her students.

To see other review by the TOS Homeschool Crew - Click Here.

*** I was provided this game free of charge as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew in exchange for my honest review.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

A House Full of Family


I am SO excited!

My sister and her entire family are coming to celebrate my oldest son’s graduation starting tomorrow! She, like me, has three boys and a girl. So, all seven are coming, and I couldn’t be happier.

Thirteen people in my house! What a joyous occasion! I know – it’s A LOT of people, but when it’s a houseful of loved ones, there can’t be too many.

This is especially exciting because none of her kids have ever been to my house. We’ve lived here eleven years. When they do come to NC, we like to meet at the beach. Can you blame us? So, getting to host everyone is a real treat.

My only fear – feeding everyone! Since six of the people here will be hungry teenage boys, I may literally be eaten out of house and home. Fortunately, they put in a Mickey D’s about two miles from here a year ago. If worse comes to worse, I can give them each enough cash to raid the dollar menu.

We have three boys to a bedroom, the two littlest kids on a futon in the music room, my sister and hubby are taking my oldest son’s room, we’re staying in our room, and now I just have to figure out where my daughter will go. She can sleep in the room with the two youngest, but she works late and usually comes in around midnight. So, maybe not a good idea? We could put a mattress in our room, but then she’ll wake us up. Hmmm…. Maybe the laundry room? Just kidding! We’ll figure it out…

Are you having family stay with you this summer?