Weekend Recap {9.18.17}

Here we are at Monday again! I actually welcomed today because it meant that yesterday was over with - phew what a day it was. The kids acted like monsters pretty much all day (sorry kids, still love you) and it was extremely emotionally draining. I yelled more than I care to admit and I am just glad to start fresh today.


Our weekend was a good one though (despite yesterdays antics)

Friday night we went to our towns Family Fun night and we met our friends there - the kids had a lot of fun running around!  Afterwards we came to our house to hang out for a little while the kids played.

 

Saturday morning was baseball & dance then we headed apple picking! I love this little tradition and the kids seem to too which is always good! Usually the temps are pretty good when we go but this year it was HOT! We still managed to have fun and came home with LOTS of yummy apples

 

 

 

 They had a wagon laying around and Brayden was being a super nice big brother pulling his sisters around - they were loving it!

Saturday night Brayden went by my Moms to hang out and the rest of us went out to eat. Later at night the hubs headed out to watch the fight with his friends. I stayed up crafting Ella's costume for the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party we're going to while in Disney and watching Dateline (big mistake because then I freaked myself out to fall asleep without the hubby being home, you think I would learn by now!)

Sunday we had a lazy morning then had to get ready for family pics - this is where the day just went to sh*t. Brayden was complaining about his outfit and throwing major fits, when we got to the place to take the pics, Ella started crying because I took this giant piece of paper she was holding away and Avery was being, well, Avery.  You guys I could have used about 5 drinks during these pics haha!

After the pics the day just continued on like that with the kids and they wore us thin. We tried to get the bigs to play alone for a while and they would, then they would fight, this was all.damn.day. Bedtime couldn't come fast enough! Once they were asleep I finally just kicked back and relaxed with a glass of wine and watched some more Dateline #obsessed #itsaproblem


So yeah, there you have it, our mostly good fun filled weekend! How was yours?

*linking up with B Loved Boston & The Sirois Family

Our Favorite Games

We play ALOT of games around here. It's a great way to keep the kids off their tablets, especially in the winter when going outside isn't as much of an option. It's also a great way to spend family time together.

Today I'm sharing our favorite games. We own all of these and they are all huge hits. I'm also sharing my personal age recommendation for each game since there are usually well below the age the box says. Of course at a young age, our kids might not totally get it, but they can still play which is fun (or not sometimes LOL)

{ONE} - Lucky Ducks Game

We got this game for Avery for Christmas and I can't even begin to explain what a hit it has been! There are 4 shapes and each person picks one. You put all the ducks on the "pond" and turn it on. Each player picks one up and looks underneath at the shape, if it's yours, you keep if not you put it back. First one to get all 3 of their shape wins! (Avery is ALWAYS blue star and when she gets one while playing she holds it up while screaming "BLUE STAR!!" It.is.hilarious.

My age recommendation: 1 1/2 +



{TWO} - Pop up Pirate Game

 Brayden got this for his 5th birthday and we have played it soooo many times. It's for 2-4 players and each player picks a color sword (there are 6 of each) then takes turns placing them inside the barrel while the pirate waits inside ready to pop at any moment.


My age recommendation: 18m+


{THREE} - Zingo

I cannot say enough good things about this game! We originally played this game at my sister in law's house and the kids loved it so I immediately bought it. Ella was playing this with us when she was 3 and really getting it. Avery plays with us now but she pretty much just throws the pieces everywhere :)

My age recommendation: 3+




{FOUR} - Race to the Treasure

This was another Christmas present we got Brayden. We have played it a couple of times and it's really fun. All the players actually work together to make a path to the finish line before the ogre gets there first. We played with Avery once and she is still too small to understand but we just tell her where to put the cards and it works.

My age recommendation: 3+



{FIVE} - The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game

I think we got this game as a birthday present as well, I can't remember exactly, but it is so fun!! There is a spinner which tells you if you can either grab an acorn to add to your tree trunk, lose your turn, steal a color acorn you need from another player or lose all your acorns to a wind storm.

My age recommendation: 3+


{SIX} - Pie Face

Oh my gosh do we have fun with this game!! It's clearly not a board game but it's so fun that it's worth mentioning. Even Avery has a blast playing this game!

Other games not pictured that we love are Connect 4, Chutes & Ladders, Hedbanz & Candy Land

I also have my eye on this game to give Avery for Easter, it looks super cute!


Do you have any of these games?  Or any other recommendations for my aged kids? I'd love to hear!


*linking up with Our Pretty Little Girls

Thanksgiving 2016 + My Favorite Weekend

Thanksgiving was a great one this year. We started our day off with going to see Moana as a family. Let me tell you, that movie is so so good!!

Later in the day we headed over to my Aunt & Uncles. They always have the best food! The apps and wine were flowing and the kids were having fun running a muck around the house. Thanksgiving dinner was so yummy and I was so happy not to be sick this year and actually be able to taste the food!

Friday morning we headed out to chop down our Christmas tree! This was the first year the weather was actually decent and the kids weren't crying saying they couldn't feel their hands and legs LOL

Typical Brayden face!

Usually someone is crying for whatever reason and this year was no different. Avery was crying because Rick walked towards another spot with Brayden to search for a tree, Ella was crying because she couldn't keep up with Brayden and then repeat.

on the hunt!

 It took us a while this year to find "the" tree - the lot seemed to not have very many good trees. We may be going somewhere different next year.

Ella and Brayden helped saw the tree and when it was ready to be pushed over, Brayden caught it.

 Avery was hilarious, she HAD to help carry the tree which meant we had to walk really slow and if she let go of it she would cry until we let her grab back on.

See, she's crying here because she didn't want to take a pic, she wanted to help carry the tree

Inside we had donuts and hot chocolate and saw Santa! (and overpaid for an ok picture)

Avery is not a fan again this year :)

Friday night we went to our towns tree lighting. It was our first time going and it was just OK. Not sure if we'll keep this up but it was fun to just be out and seeing some lights.

Saturday, Rick and I spent alot of time going through bins and organizing everything that's going back down to the basement (which is almost done!) Then later in the day we headed to my in laws to celebrate Thanksgiving.

 Sunday morning our elf, Twinkles showed up! He brought the kids an ornament and chocolate sticks. They were so excited!!

I spent the morning decorating the house and once Avery woke up from her nap we decorated our tree and the playroom tree

 

 

 Avery's favorite thing to do was put the hooks on the ornaments instead of actually hanging them. Of course she was supervised while using the hooks :)

     

Once we were done with the tree, we settled in to watch Home Alone and eat some yummy reindeer chow we made earlier in the day

We were all so exhausted by the end of the night and Monday morning came so quick, not to mention we didn't sleep well because it was raining and our dog was freaking out half the night. To top that off Brayden woke up with pink eye in both eyes so he had to stay home. Thankfully we already had drops so he only had to miss school yesterday and is back today.

I hope you all had the best holiday and weekend!


*linking up with Our Pretty Little Girls for Tuesday Talk

Piles and Piles of Fun!

I've been snapping some pics of the kids every time we rake leaves since they are obsessed with jumping in them. I just love their innonence!!

These next pic kills me, they were all getting ready to run and Avery got left behind and fell down, she was so upset. Such a drama queen that child is :)

Brayden was loving throwing the leaves all over Avery - such a stinker!

Avery looks like an angel in this picture! I just love her!

Another pic that kills me.  I ask everyone to look and smile and of course Miss Ella has her arms crossed and will not look, so typical from our other drama queen :)

I love how something so simple makes them so happy! And we've been so blessed with nice weather that they have been able to do this multiple times, usually it's a one and done thing!


*linking up with Our Pretty Little Girls