TableTop Fun: Splendor

Simple. Easy to learn. Not easy to win.

From BoardGameGeek:

Splendor is a fast-paced and addictive game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines, means of transportation, shops—all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If you're wealthy enough, you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point, which of course will further increase your prestige.

The theme in this one is pretty light... but the components are AMAZING. The chips are nice and heavy. It doesn't feel like you're holding a gem of course... but, for whatever reason, the weight of them feel so nice. Pretty simple game in that it's a race to get 15 Prestige points. Ian almost always wins... /eyeroll

*We played this back in October... so yes, Emma is super young in these pictures. :)

Dressing For Winter

I'm still working on this whole.. "need to dress a baby for winter thing". There's a lot of cute stuff for Fall. The winter stuff just isn't as cute. It's all bulky and Emma hates it. Here is one of her hipster Fall outfits. She just needs some black rimmed glasses and she's good to go. :)

Happy Belated New Year!

I've decided that when you have kids... time starts to fly. Here's a quick rundown of our 2014. 

• Celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary
• In preparing the nursery, we also painted the hallways, mud room and powder room.
• I got really spoiled leading up to my life turning upside down the arrival of Emma. 
• We prepared. Lots of preparing.
• The winter was crazy. TONS of snow.
• We were introduced to the wonder that is Emma Bailey Matheson.
• We had to bathe her.. 
• And feed her.. 
• And love the heck out of her...
• Ian liked to be silly with her...
• I liked to capture all of her milestones and little changes...
• And dress her in cute outfits... {each word is a link because I couldn't just pick one...} 
• And making funny little videos of her...
• Ian and I discovered we REALLY love board games. A lot.
• I adjusted to being a mom and all that it entails. I will say that after 6 months... it gets a hell of a lot easier. 
• I had my First Mother's Day.
• Ian turned 28.
• We had an awesome visit from G-Ma and The Petty Crew this summer. 
• In August, we got out to see some adult softball games and visit with Ian's parents when they went camping at Inverhuron. 
• Kitchen Adventures continued a little... 
• We had an even awesomer October visit when we went down to Virginia to see my family. Yes, awesomer is a word.
• I turned 32. Yuck. 
• Halloween was fun.. Emma "liked" dressing up as a strawberry. 
• Christmas was wonderful. Trying to capture a picture for a Christmas Card was not. No link to my family's Christmas visit or actual Christmas because I'm behind on pictures. :P 

All in all it was a crazy. I've told a few people this.. but I've had a major life event every year since about 2006. I'm hoping that 2015 is a year that we just enjoy all that we have right now. We've made plans for the future.. as we are very much planner people.. but now is a time to enjoy our new normal. :) 

Here's a blurry picture of our crazy family. :P 

TableTop Fun: Blueprints

Creating a little building made of dice? Count me in. 

We had watched the Rahdo Runs Through video for this before playing it at Games On Tap. Ian seemed on the fence following the video but fell in love with it like me after playing it. The Emma picture below will help with describing the game... You select dice from 4 different colors that represent wood, stone, recycled material and glass. You stack the on your mini blueprint and score points according to a number of factors. It's light, simple and WONDERFUL. I got this game for my birthday and it's a really great filler. Highly recommended. 

 

Emma - 9 Months Old

Crawlstandsitchewcrawlsitstandchewchewchewmovegrabupdowncrawlsitstand. <--- Emma in a nutshell.

From my sleepy haze I can tell you that Emma is growing and changing so fast. She's stopped teething at the moment and is happier for it. She's quick to laugh but also to get into trouble. :) After my family's visit, she has started to make different sounds... yelling sounds... but I'll take that over screaming any day! She'll give you a high five if you ask and uses a sippy cup with a straw. She is still, as my mom would say, a booger butt. :)

Here she is looking up at G-Ma with some puppy dog eyes.... 

SEE ALL OF MY TEETH?!?! 

October Virginia Trip

THIS POST ISN'T LATE AT ALL. :P I just was busy. Yeah, that's it. Busy. You know.. baby and all. Alright, let's get to it. Click on Read More to see a very picture heavy post. :P

TableTop Fun: Among the Stars

Alhambra meets 7 Wonders. YES PLEASE!

From BoardGameGeek:

Among the Stars takes place in a war-ravaged galaxy where the warring alien races have declared peace in the wake of a threat with the potential to destroy them all. An Alliance is established to build space stations throughout the galaxy in order to promote trade among the races, strengthen diplomatic relations, and defend against this impending threat.

This was one of our first Kickstarter backed games. It's a loose term to say "backed". I really viewed it as shopping because 1) It was 2nd Edition of Among the Stars on Kickstarter and the game was already well known and 2) It was well above their funding limit. The bummer was that the game appeared in our Friendly Local Game Store WAY before we ever got our copy. Yes yes... you can make the argument about different publishers... and we got some extras for backing... blah blah blah. I was bitter. 

ANYWAY, it's a really great game... it pulls the card drafting from 7 Wonders and tile/card placement from Alhambra to build a space station. I wish it had just a little more meat to it... but maybe if we add the Ambassadors Expansion it will fill out. Good game overall though. 

Sad Face: End of Swimming

This is the first Monday in a long time that we don't have a swim class to go to. It was a Parent and Baby Fit Swim. Emma would float in a boat next to me while I tried not to drown... and work out at the same time. :) We start Adult and Tot swim class in January. It will be a step up from the Waterbabies class and get her used to being in the water some more. Can't wait!! 

Until then, I have these awesome photos of Emma in her off the shoulder-ish swimsuit to make me smile. :D

TableTop Fun: Snowdonia

I wasn't sure about buying this game... SO HAPPY Ian talked me into it!!

From BoardGameGeek:

In Snowdonia players represent work gangs providing labour for the construction of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Unlike other train games you will have to excavate your way up a mountain side, as well as make and lay the track, construct viaducts and stations. All this in competition with the weather of the Welsh mountains (and the game itself)!

Ian kept bringing up this game... mainly because it had a Mount Washington Expansion which holds a special place in our heart. It went on sale and Ian pushed to buy it even though I was going to give it to him for Christmas. The art is different... almost washed out... but I fell in love with the game play! You're a part of a crew working to excavate your way up the mountain. I have yet to win but I've loved almost every attempt - something I can't say for any other game.

Kitchen Adventures: Sticky Pan-Fried Scallops

Full Title: Sticky Pan-Fried Scallops with Sweet Chili Rice and Greens

Ingredients: Basmati Rice, Green Onions, Eggs, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Lemon, Cilantro, Sweet Chili Sauce, Baby Bok Choy, Broccolini, Asparagus, Lime, Scallops, Chinese Five Spice, Garlic, Honey

This was a Jamie Oliver 30-Minute Meal. Delicious! The fried rice was really easy to do. Actually the whole meal was easy... aside from the scallops. It's not hard to cook them but every time I do, I picture Gordon Ramsey throwing the plate on the ground screaming "IT'S STILL RAW!!!!". [Hell's Kitchen Reference] Highly recommend the recipe. It's not going to be in regular rotation but like the Crispy Beef Lettuce Wraps, I'll look forward to when it comes around. :)