Games

My childhood consisted of playing games mostly at family parties and long weekends at cousin sleepovers. They were usually simple and fun card games, and the feeling of beating all my boy cousins triumphantly is still a vivid memory. But I by nature, am not a game person. Especially if the games are  complicated, strategic or last longer than 30 minutes of playing. I mean, Egyptian Rat Screw is strategic or Five Crowns, and I really like those games. But overall, anything harder than those types I am not a interested it or a fan of. I enjoy simple games that are fun, inclusive and don't risk anyone feeling like an idiot. Erwin on the other hand thrives off of games that require effort and strategy.

With that being said, I love how playing games is a way that brings people together to laugh and spend precious time. Now that my kids are getting older and able to understand games and "rules", I have invested more of our budget into family games. It does get tricky though because there are very few games that Clara can understand and actually play and participate appropriately, and I always want to make sure she can be included. So lately we have been playing Pie Face, Spot it, Matching Dominoes and Go Fish. It's so much fun to take the time to play with my kids and see them enjoy themselves, even with simple games. I can tell they really appreciate the effort and attention from us in this way.

This was the first time we ever played this game together, so our reactions and laughs were so genuine. That is my favorite thing to hear.

Playing Spot It with Wa'a. He either gets really competitive or really supportive of you winning. You never know which until you play. This day he was super supportive. 

He switched up the game and told me he would find the matching pictures first and then describe it to me. "Humans hate it, and Pirates throw it." Answer was clearly a bomb. :)

Clara observed hesitantly for a while, then decided to play. Once she caught on, Wa'a was so happy for her. "Great job, Clara! You did it! Keep going!" Did I mention he is a great older brother?