Family Activities
Game: “Carcassonne” by Rio Grande Games
Our family loves playing games! Whether it is a card, board or video game we always look forward to having a chance to sit down with family and friends. Carcassonne by Rio Grande Games is a fun board game that we enjoy playing. We found this board game after spending a lot of time playing Settlers of Catan, it looked similar so we decided to try it out.
Carcassonne is based on the famous French city of Carcassonne that is well known for its roman and medieval fortifications. The game is for between 2 to 5 players ages 8 and up. Each player gets a tile on his turn and can lay it down to build roads, cities, and more. The tiles are chosen at random, however, the player can choose where to place the tile and what to play on it. The game is fascinating for younger kids to watch too because it starts with 1 piece and grows bigger as people build the cities and surrounding areas until everything is linked together like one big interactive puzzle.
If you are a fan of Settlers of Catan or another similar game I highly recommend that you check out Carcassonne for your next game night or get it as a gift for the game lover on your list.
Exploring Roper Mountain Science Center
Getting ready to watch the show at the Roper Mountain Science Center
The first time I took a tour of Roper Mountain Science Center was with the girls class earlier this year. It was a blast watching a space presentation, going on a nature trail, seeing the wildlife, having a picnic and more. The girls had so much fun. I always knew that Roper Mountain Science Center had some activities for the kids but until I went with the girls I had no idea how much!
Karlie entertained by the show, anything to do with space is always a hit with her!
Brina having a fun time! I got to sit next to Brina for the show.
What are they looking at? Don’t fall in the water!
Red Eared Slider Turtles (of course)! The girls were super excited to see the turtles, these are the same kind as Shipwreck and Overboard!
Beautiful flower garden and butterflies near the butterfly crossing.
The girls had a lot of fun exploring Roper Mountain Science Center and learning a lot of great stuff. Roper Mountain has since become one of the girls favorite places to visit. We try to go every month or two. It is a great learning environment if you have kids.
Travel & Vacation: Jeep Safari – Orange County Kabini, India
Wild boar by the Kabini River as we watch the sunrise
We got up before dawn the second day at Kabini to go on a Jeep Safari. Everyone was excited but moving a little slower. We took a boat over to an island on the other side of the Kabini River. On the other side we got our jeep and set out on our adventure. It was a lot of fun exploring the jungle and seeing the wildlife with Matt, Jen, and the kids.
Our tour guide standing up and alert as he looks for some animals. He was great about spotting animals, stopping so we could take pictures, and giving us descriptions on the animals, plants, trees, and other facts about the area. He went to Kabini as a kid on a family trip. In school he studied to be a software developer but after a few years he decided to come back to Kabini and work outside giving tours. He led both our boat and jeep safaris.
Oh look….a monkey in the tree right beside the jeep! He was just casually looking at us.
Elephant walking casually through the jungle next to our jeep. It was neat watching him walk, stop for a few seconds munch on a stalk or grass then continue on his merry way. This guy must have gotten into a fight at some point because his one tusk has been broken off. He turned to face us but continued eating his breakfast while watching us in the jeep.
Momma and her baby were grazing on grass before we drove up. As soon as they saw us they were alert and it wasn’t long before they went deeper into the tall grass away from us. I think Momma didn’t want us getting too close to her baby.
Monkey see….monkey do….. A group of monkeys hanging out together. It looked like they were digging for grubs or some type of bug.
Beautiful peacock strutting his stuff right next to the jeep
Two male peacocks were down in a ditch fighting with their tails fluffed up and in the air. We could hear them but this is the only picture we could get of the tails because the ditch was so deep. Their feathers look pretty amazing when they are all spread out.
Guess if an elephant is crossing it wouldn’t be a good idea to run into it….at least not for your vehicle anyway!
Matt in the back seat protecting the kids from the tigers and leopards. Rachel was a little concerned!
Beautiful tree, you see many of these yellow flowers hanging from vehicles everywhere. I cannot remember the name of the flower but I believe it is a symbol of good luck. Our driver stopped to hang one up in our jeep.
Leopard paw print, we were literally following the leopard through the jungle…..soooo neat! 🙂
I didn’t realize this before, but do you know why tigers and leopards will often be seen walking on the roads instead of in the woods? The pads on their paws are tender and they like to walk on the softer dirt road (it’s more comfortable for them).
Monkey hanging out in the tree next to us.
Fresh TIGER tracks on the road right next to our jeep!!! These are a little harder to see with this camera angle, but now we know one is in the area. We never did catch up with the tiger but it was pretty cool to be driving down the same path only moments behind one.
Red squirrel flying from tree limb to tree limb. They are fast and pretty!
Bison leaving after getting a drink from the small pond.
Deer eating peacefully.
Did you know that deer make a distinct noise when they sense danger (like a tiger or leopard)? It was really interesting hearing their danger call and watch them bolt as we sat there in the jeep looking around to see if we could spot a tiger or leopard near us. Not sure who was smarter in that decision, ha!
Large nets hanging from the trees for the kids (and our guide) to climb and play on.
The boats that took us on the boat safari and across the river for the jeep safari
Going on the jeep safari was truly awesome. We got to see so many animals in the jungle as we were driving through. The guide was really good about stopping to let people take pictures and point out different plants, trees, animals along with tidbits of information. I loved seeing the animals up close…..just wish we could have seen the leopard or tiger that we were following as well. Although I am not sure what we would do if we caught up with an hungry and aggressive tiger or leopard since we were in an open jeep.
Thankfully the animals seemed to be pretty well fed and use to traffic. It was a blast going on the jeep Safari. I am grateful for the time with spent with Jake’s cousin Matt, Jen and their family. It was really neat hearing the kids dialogue as we would spot different animals. If you are ever in Orange County Kabini, India I highly recommend this going on this adventure!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Charleston Food, Lodging, & Fun (Part 2)
Jake, Karlie, and Brina shivering in front of the pineapple fountain downtown Charleston.
The girls REALLY wanted to see the fountain that we had been reading about in our book Very Charleston, however, the day we choose to check it out it was freezing. This was by far our coldest day in Charleston, earlier in the week it was in the 90’s and now it is 40 degrees outside. The kids were freezing because I didn’t bring jackets but thankfully it was our last day in town.
Brina snacking on Green Apple Rock Candy as we head to our next stop
Karlie munching on her Root Beer Rock candy
Next to the Chic-Fil-A in Mt Pleasant is a little pond with a fountain and……..
TURTLES!!!! The girls love watching turtles!
The girls were so excited when we parked next to the Charleston Creamery “Herby” that they insisted I take a picture! Oh how they love their ice cream and this store!
Charleston Creamery – a place the girls always request to visit when we are in the area!
Ice cream made by a robot is always more fun to eat!
Are you getting full yet Brina?!
The girls had their own bedroom and TV. It was pouring outside so we gave the kids a bath and let them watch TV for 30 minutes before going to bed.
Another great trip to Charleston with the family! The girls had a blast. It was very warm the first half of the week but by the time we left it was in the 40s. Thankfully we did a bunch of our outdoor activities and swimming the first part of the week so when it got cold we found other things to occupy our time. Jake got a lot of work done while we were in Charleston as well as created more great memories with the family.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Charleston Food, Lodging, & Fun
Spending some time in the hotel room. Karlie is lounging as she listens to me read.
The girls are always excited when we go to Charleston! They have a blast spending time relaxing and exploring. We typically go to many of the same places but always try to squeeze in a few new adventures as well. The kids make the trips more fun. These pictures are from a trip earlier this year. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Mount Pleasant. It was a little further from Jake’s work so we had to drop him off in the mornings but it was located near a lot of fun activities. We tried out some new restaurants this time too.
Brina’s turn to read a book to us
We ate downtown Charleston so we would have plenty of time to walk through the market and go to Battery Park. Brina and Karlie enjoying their BBQ wings
Messy….messy…..messy….BB (I think she’ll need a bath tonight)
Karlie licking her lips after finishing my homemade & delicious she crap soup
Karlie and Brina sitting next to the moon in the “Moon Pie” store in downtown Charleston.
Jake & I had our own bedroom in the hotel room. It was the last available room in the hotel and it was a huge 2 bedroom suite (with a doorbell). This was our first time staying at the Marriott in Mount Pleasant and it was awesome!
Our kitchen in the hotel room, loved having all the counter top space.
Goofy Karlie…..she must be the “cream” in the chair!
Wonder where Brina could be? Oh yes, in between the cushions!
Dress Code sign outside a store in downtown Charleston. Made me laugh! 🙂 Some are listed twice. My three favorite ones are:
“Bottom of Shirt Can’t Be Past Wrist”
“No Gold Teeth”
“Doorman has final say”
Jake picked up ice cream sandwiches for the girls. We had a fridge but no freezer so they were a little softer than normal. Karlie eating the one of the last melting ice cream sandwiches
Brina getting the last little bit from her wrapper
I am thankful for the many opportunities to create special memories with my family. The girls are wonderful travelers and love to explore new areas so it is always fun having a few days to relax and check out an area. When we go to Charleston we typically stay either on Daniel’s Island or in Mount Pleasant so we have found a few fun things to do.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Orange County Kabini, India
We made it to Orange County Kabini, India!
While we were in India we had the opportunity to spend some time with Jake’s cousin and his family who are currently living in Bangalore, India. The week we came to visit them was during an Indian Holiday so Matt had a few days off work and the kids didn’t have to go to school the last half of the week so we decided to make a last minute “road trip”. One of our FAVORITE adventures while in India was when we went to Orange County Kabini. Thanks Matt & Jen for showing us around India!
We took a road trip through the countryside of India you can see pictures of that adventure in my posts Traveling through MySore, India (and a Couple Small Villages) and Traveling to Orange County Kabini, India. It was an awesome place to visit, such great memories. I can see why Trip Advisor has Orange County Kabini listed as Travelers’ Choice® 2012 Winner with a 5 star rating.
As we tumbled out of our Scooby Doo van and went to check into the resort we were serenaded with music. These two musicians were at the front door playing music we each received our bindi blessing. The bindi blessing consisted of a dot placed on our foreheads made out of a red paste (wikipedia definition). What a great welcome for visitors!
Fresh flower design on the floor in the entry way. Every day they had a different floral design. It was always bright, colorful and beautiful.
Michael checking out the map of resort…….what should we do first Mikey?!
The plaque hanging next to the check-in desk. “WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE WHICH MONEY CANNOT BUY” It was an amazing experience. If you are ever in India and have a chance to visit this place it is beautiful, the staff is awesome, the “huts” are wonderful and the food is delicious. It is a great place to relax or go on various adventures (stay tuned for a glimpse at some of the adventures in upcoming posts).
The fun crew we went to Orange County Kabini with Jen, Matt, Rachel, Michael, David, and Erica! This is right after we had our refreshing sugar cane drink brought to us by the staff. Now its time to plan our activities while at the resort.
Jake & I at Kabini!
Our hut for the next few days, it was AMAZING!
The kitchen & eating area in our hut. The ceiling was handmade out of a neat weave material.
A cute porch complete with cushy chairs to relax in after a busy day of sightseeing!
Very comfy bed…..we slept so well at Kabini!
Even our own private jacuzzi for our hut! This view is from our bedroom. The kids loved the private “pool” and were able to squeeze in a few more minutes of swim time each day! Rachel and Erica stayed in our cabin, it was fun spending some extra time hanging out with girls swapping stories and giggles.
Fresh tray of fruit on the table everyday. They also restocked our cookie bowl, drinks, chocolates and other snacks every day!
Aw……what a life it was for those days. We had a blast staying at the Orange County Kabini resort! THANKS Matt & Jen for showing us another awesome part of India. We were super excited to spend the extra time with family and create a lot of great memories along the way. Next time maybe I will remember my passport before making a 7 hour road trip! If you want to check out some more amazing adventures and get a glimpse into the culture in India check out Jen’s blog at Jenny from the Bangalore Block.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Last week we packed in a lot of regular as well as fun activities. As I look over my goals for last week there were a lot of items that didn’t get done or weren’t done on time. We had a family member get sick the first half of last week and that set me back a couple of days on top of all the other little things that pop up from day to day. Hopefully next week I will be able to tackle more items on my list!
Last week’s goals:
Family Goals
- Read to the girls and have them read to me daily – the girls read to me every day last week but after school, activities, homework, dinner, baths, etc…..there wasn’t enough time left for me to read to them every night last week.
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the Family– we did a bonfire at the house and went to the fairGo on a Date Night with my Handsome Man –YAY! We were able to go out and celebrate our 12th anniversary together (a little delayed since it was in July, ha). We had a blast together and the girls had fun too! 🙂
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – had a few extra items put on my plate so didn’t get it done this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – almost did it
- Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over. It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center) – only a couple chapters remaining
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – I washed & folded in one day but put it away the following day
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week- Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule – getting closer
Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Get caught up on blog items – not sure if I will ever get completely caught up
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – went over this week
- Payoff the Van – working on it, sold our 200 bushels of wheat so that will help pay down the van
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.) – working on it
My goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Attend Back to School Night Event
- Schedule a Meet & Greet with 1 of the girls teachers
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over. It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Get caught up on 5 blog items
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Work out the details of our Community Group Camping Adventure
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.)
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Left Center Right Dice Game
Our family loves to play games! The problem now that school, homework, and all the extra activities have started we do not have a lot of free time to squeeze in long games. One great game that doesn’t take a lot of time but is still fun for the whole family to play is Left Center Right Dice Game by Koplow Games. Left Center Right is fast-paced dice game with 3 cubes, the player rolls the dice and distributes their chips based on what the dice are showing (left, right, center, or keep). The last player with chips is the winner. The game is designed for 3 or more players.
Another positive is it helps teach younger kids the difference between right and left. It is easy to play even for younger kids and is a relatively short so we can play it after dinner. Since the game is small we have taken it with us to road trips to play as well. Sometimes just taking a few minutes to play together helps everyone relax after a busy day. What quick and easy games does your family like to play?
Travel & Vacation: Traveling through MySore, India (and a Couple Small Villages)
Sometimes the only home and shelter people had was under a tarp with several other family members.
Earlier this year Jake was in India working for a few weeks and I had the opportunity of traveling over there to meet him. After his final week of work we went to spend some time with his cousin and took a road trip with them. Over the next few weeks I will sharing more snapshots of our time in India. India left a special mark on my heart. It was an amazing experience!
Sign in MySore, India showing the way to the local places – MySore Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills, Airport, and MySore City Corporation
Houses in a small village that we passed through, even those these are a step up from a tent shelter it still breaks my heart seeing these homes. Our driver stopped briefly to ask for directions. It was during this brief stop I realized that India has many different dialects even from town to town and even though we were only a short distance from where we were going it took awhile to find someone who knew which direction to point us.
I was really surprised at the amount of trash that littered the sides of the roads in India. Some times you would see piles of trash that with people and animals digging through it to find food, supplies, or items they could use or sell.
Fresh Pineapple anyone….only 5 rupees (approximately 9 cents in US currency). Some of the pineapples I saw were a little smaller then the ones we see in our grocery store but for 9 cents you could get quite a few for the price of one pineapple in the United States.
Can you see the bicycle underneath all the fresh coconuts?! Pretty sure he is going to push that bike because it would be impossible to ride with all the coconuts. Behind the bike you can see coconuts that he has cracked open and the shells laying on the ground. It is very fascinating to watch them break open a coconut, they basically take a huge mashedy knife and chop open the coconut. It’s hard to see with the window glare but the ground all around that area is covered with dry coconut pieces…wonder how expensive it would be to buy “coconut mulch” in the United States?
Guy carrying a mattress on his head. It amazes me the amount of stuff they carry on their heads. You would think their necks would be so stiff.
Cows walking along the side of the road. These are not your typical Kansas grass and corn fed beef cattle. In India there are not always large grassy areas for the cows to graze so it is common to see their ribs. You will often find cattle looking for small patches of grass and occasionally you will see them rummaging through the trash on the side of the road looking for food.
Families from the local village washing their laundry in the river.
After washing all the clothes in the river they lay them out to dry on the rocks.
It was fascinating to see a lot of the countryside of India. We passed through towns and small villages. There was always something interesting to see as we drove through the area. Their fresh fruit looked delicious but I am not sure how much I would like washing my clothes in the river and drying them on the rocks, the wash machine is more efficient. These pictures bring back a lot of memories. I am thankful for the opportunity to see India and already looking forward to the next visit.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Our family is getting into the school routine schedule. Jake had a little bit of traveling last week so I had to manage the house, kids, and animals on my own but everyone did great. Thankfully he is back home for quite awhile now. I had half a day last week when my phone, internet, and email decided it wasn’t going to work (which was a mixed blessing) because I was able to get some cleaning and other items tackled around the house. I did well in some areas this week but not so hot in others. Hopefully this week will be a little better because I am falling behind with some of my goals.
Last week’s goals:
Family Goals
Read to the girls and have them read to me dailyLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesGo to the Upper South Carolina State FairWork on items around the house & yard together on Labor Day– got the yard mowed thanks to the help of my sweet brother and some of the garage cleaned outSpend quality time together on Labor Day since everyone is off work and school
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t happen this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – one day I had back to back appointments and forgot to bring a water bottle with me
- Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over. It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center) – working on it
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – had to split it up into 2 days with the Holiday weekend and spending extra time with my family
Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPrep for my Fall Organizational SchedulePay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionGet caught up on blog items
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Payoff the Van – working on it
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.) – working on it
My goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Go on a Date Night with my Handsome Man
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Finish reading Our Boys by Joe Drape – I started this one a couple years ago and never finished so starting over. It’s about the Smith Center, Kansas football team (it has been interesting reading the book so far because I know some of the people in it since my parents live near Smith Center)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Get caught up on blog items
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.)
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
