Trambahn Card Game
Fun 2 person game!
On a recent trip Jake picked up the game called Trambahn from Mayfair Games! It was a fun 2 person game to play. I didn’t win, but had a blast playing it. It comes in a small hard box even though it is technically a card game. It is a game that you will most likely want to play on a table because the cards will be spread out throughout the game.
The game is built to reflect Munich around the end of the 19th century. Each player tries to build and expand their own tramways while new routes are being created, stations are built, and existing routes gain additional trains. The game take about 30 minutes. The rules are easy to understand and it is fun to play.
Thankful for a husband who enjoys playing board and card games as much as I do. Also, grateful for the opportunity to stop and play a game together every once in awhile. It is a fun and relaxing time together.
If you are looking for a fun, easy, two player and card game you should check this one out!
Travel & Vacation: State License Plate Game
2 State License Plate Game Boards
Our family enjoys going on road trips. We’ve had 40 plus hour road trips before so we are always looking for fun ways to stay busy while in the car. We play games, listen to audio books, read, watch a movie, rest, and more. One of our road trip rules is the only time the kids are allowed to watch a movie is if the trip is over 5 hours long. We found these printable State License Plate Game templates on The Dating Divas website just in time for our last road trip (which was only 19 hours long). The kids have always traveled well and actually look forward to our road trip adventures.
We printed out two of The Dating Divas State License Plate Game sheets, one for each kid. After printing out the sheets we laminated them so we can re-use them for all our road trips. Once they are laminated you can use dry erase markers OR crayons to mark off each license plate as you see it. The only one we have never seen (so far) has been Hawaii. We’ve seen Alaska a few times, but Hawaii is a hard one to locate. On one trip we got 40 plus of the license plates.
You can do variations of this game as well. If you want try to play bingo, see what different shapes you create, four corners, and more. You only get to mark them off if you actually see them and one other person must see them as well to confirm it. So if you spot a few while your sibling is resting or playing a different game you may have an advantage. This is just one of the many fun games we play on our road trips. The kids enjoy it and it keeps them looking out the window and paying attention to the many sights we are passing along the way. Thank you The Dating Divas for this awesome template! We love it!
License plates for all 50 states
Whose ready for a road trip!?
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable. 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!
Greenville Drive Baseball Game & Fireworks
Greenville Drive Game
Jake’s company hosted an event at the Greenville Drive. We ate delicious BBQ and enjoyed one of the best Greenville Drive Games we have been to in our area. The girls had a blast watching the game! Since it was a Friday night they had fireworks after the game as well which are always a big hit with everyone! Greenville won with a 13 point spread.
Daddy and Brina watching the baseball game!
Karlie is very excited!
Awesome fireworks!
Great way to end the night at the baseball field
A few fireworks even hit the stadium lights!
Beauitful!
Thankful for our fun evening together!
Family Game Night: U-Build Monopoly
Family Game Night
Our family loves playing games. We try to play a game together on a regular basis. Recently for family game night we played a new game we received, U-Build Monopoly! The game is played with hexagonal property spaces that snap together. The length of the game track will determine how short or long the game will be. This game follows similar Monopoly guidelines with some fun twists. It is easy enough for kids to play, but still fun for the adults.
U-Build Monopoly with some houses going up!
Our family really enjoyed playing this game!
Family Game – Ticket to Ride
We got a game from my parents this Christmas called Ticket to Ride. We’ve already played the game a couple of times and the kids love it! It is a great game plus it is educational. The girls have had fun learning the names of different cities across the map. We even went through the map and pointed out all the places listed that we have been too together. So cool looking at the map of the United States and laughing at all the great memories.
The board full of a rainbow of trains. Karlie got the longest train and Brina was able to block her parents yet Jake still managed to pull off a win this round. Although Brina was the champion our first round. I had a lot of fun, but unfortunately I am not an expert at strategies with this game yet. Love playing games and spending time with my family.
This is a great family game. If you are looking for a wonderful and educational family game I would recommend it. Our girls are 8 and they can play the game on their own yet it is enjoyable for us as parents too.
Stop ‘N Tow Game by MJ Moran
Stop ‘N Tow by MJ Moran is an interesting game that we have played several times. It requires more attention to detail and memorization but it is a lot of fun. I am cannot remember exactly where we picked up this game; it was while we were traveling several years ago. When we first got the game the girls were still too young to play well but since then they have learned how to play it and of course they always enjoy blowing the whistles! One thing I do want to mention with this game is…don’t play if you have a headache (the whistle blowing will probably be too much)! 🙂
- Colorful vehicles and road signs
- Includes 55 cards and 6 whistles
- 3 to 6 players
- Recommended for ages 8 and up
- Object of the game – to collect the most cards by memorizing the order of vehicles and being the first one to blow the whistle when certain road signs pop up
- Learning Benefits – memorization, attention to details, vehicles, signs, reading, and more!
- Whistles are dishwasher safe
This game is for a little older kids because they have to remember what each card means and recall from memory the stack of cards played before their card. After a few times of playing it the girls started really picking up on it. Since the players have their particular whistle in their mouths it is best to wash the whistles at the end of the game. Typically I wash the whistles with soap after the game and let them air dry before putting the game away. It is a super fun game, entertaining, and small (so you can take it with you on vacation).
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro
The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now. They love it! It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too. Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.
- Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
- Book to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
- Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
- Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
- 2 to 4 Players
- Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
- Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
The Ladybug Game by Zobmondo
Our family has been trying to play at least a couple games together every week. Sometimes we do it on a week day and other times we play over the weekend. The Ladybug Game by Zobmondo is one that the girls have had for a long time. We have played this game many times over the past few years. It is a cute, colorful, and fun game that we have enjoyed. The best part is you can play it with young children.
- Colorful graphics
- Easy to play (recommended for ages 3 to 8)
- Simple directions (reading is not required to play)
- For 2 to 4 players
- Object of the game – the first ladybug to reach home wins!
- Learning Benefits – math, colors, information about Ladybugs, Praying Mantis, Aphids, and more
I thought it was really neat that this game was actually invented by a kid! Each player gets a ladybug “Ella Yellow, Rickie Red, Tommy Teal, or Olivia Orange” and moves his / her piece based on the card that is drawn. You may go forward or backward or skip ahead. You may have to get a Praying Mantis pass to go on and you want to make sure your collecting some Aphids along the way so you can get past the ants. The game is pretty short (approximately 20 minutes) so there is no need to block off a large part of your day to play.
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Go Ape by Patch
I picked up the Go Ape game by Patch at the grocery store on clearance for the girls for Christmas. It was a huge hit! Our family has already played this game several times since Christmas.
The Go Ape game adds a fun twist to the traditional game of Go Fish! Instead of asking another player for a card you act out the funny monkey picture on the card! The person who collects the most monkey matches wins the game.
It is hilarious watching the girls act out the various monkey faces! The girls is for 2 to 6 players and for ages 4 and up.
Celebrating Another Year!
When I came home one day this tower of goodies from Harry & David was sitting on my front porch from my Mother-in-Law! The girls were thrilled to help eat the goodies with me! 🙂
I recently celebrated my birthday (on Thanksgiving Day). The year flew by so quickly it was hard to believe I was yet again celebrating another birthday. I have so much to be thankful for in my life. What a wonderful day to celebrate and reflect on the many blessings over the past year.
Cute candle from Karlie
The night before Thanksgiving we had a Game Night with some family and friends. That night my sweet husband brought out an ice cream cake to share. I am not one that thrives on big celebrations and being put in the center of the spotlight so this was the perfect way for me to celebrate with close family and friends.
Brina ready to play the new game (In A Pickle) her and Karlie got me for my birthday.
On Thanksgiving day we had an amazing dinner and relaxed playing games (even a new game the girls picked out for me), reading books, and having fun together. It was so sweet getting the phone calls, texts, birthday cards, and other goodies to remind me of yet another great year.
My Handsome Man reading the directions so we can play the new game!
Then this week once life had calm down (a little bit, maybe) a great of girlfriends got together for a Girls Night Out to celebrate my birthday. It was nice to get out for a little bit and hang out with friends. Thankful for the neat people in my life.
Thanksgiving morning opening my gifts from the girls.
They had a blast picking out their gifts and wrapping them all by themselves!
It is my hope and prayer that this next year will be another year packed full of great memories. May God use me to make a difference in the hearts and lives of my husband, kids, family, friends and people I encounter from day to day. Even though I am another year older I feel like I still have so much to learn. May it be a year of learning, growth, and wonderful experiences!
