It's Fall

Whether people like it or not.. it is fall. Yeah yeah yeah... so the weather is going to be really hot this week... still. It was freezing this last weekend and football has started. IT'S FALL! 

Ian and Em on our Sunday walk. It was low 60s with a cold wind that made us realize that Em needs new gloves!

Cooper Turned 7!

As usual, our trip to Virginia was wonderful. I can't wait until we go back for Christmas! Here are a few of my favorite pictures and a link to the Google Story. 

I'm Ready, Are You?

....FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!

Thanks Aunt Kam! Ian's having a lot of fun with it.. and Emma too!

TableTop Fun: The Front Nine

Designer: Nick Case
Publisher: Self-Published

From BoardGameGeek:

The Royal Golf Association are running their annual competition to judge the best new nine hole course of the year. Will you finish all nine holes before the judges carry out their inspection? If not will stunning scenery and design excellence be enough to beat off the opposition?

We first saw this game on Rahdo Runs Through and loved the idea of it. Right before I got pregnant with Emma, Ian and I got a little into golf. The golf course construction concept was interesting. I was lucky enough to catch a 2nd print run of the game. You are able to build your different par holes through the buying and selling of resources. The object is to build a 36 par course and make sure it loops back to your clubhouse. I'm a big of tile placement games and this hits the spot for its spatial aspect. After we got the rules down, games last about an hour. Since it is a self-published game, it is a little "rough" - pun intended. The rulebook needs a complete overhaul. It's very hard to learn the game correctly with its current state. While on maternity leave, I had some extra time and was able to trick out the game a little bit. I created a resource tracker card and mini golf ball markers. Cute! 

Emma was surprisingly calm for this photo shoot back in January. 

Spaghetti Petty Family Style

I was going through some pictures from January and found Emma's first time eating spaghetti. It was done Petty Family Style - shirts off. :) Look at those chubs! 

The Swing Incident

Last Saturday, we stopped at the park outside the pool since we were a little early. Emma pointed to the swings so Ian put her in one and started pushing her. It's hard to describe the look on her face... sheer terror? I've never seen her look that way and I never want to again! She turned bright red as Drew and I told Ian to stop. Emma then let out a very slow long breath. So sad! She's been on swings before. I'm not sure what the issue was - maybe it was just too fast? Ian slowly pushed her after that and she was fine. So strange! Here's Em after we told Ian to stop.

She relaxed though and was smiling at the end.

Point Farms Trip

It's been 2 years in a row that we've been disappointed in our beach trip. Last year it was too early in the summer and the water was cold... this year it might have been too late. It was overcast and the water was chilly once again. Booooo. It's hard to convince Emma to stay in the water and have fun when we are freezing our buns off! Maybe we will time it right next year... :|

Clock Is Ticking

44 days and counting! Whose ready for some football???

...even if the Seahawks stunk it up in the Super Bowl...... [I'm never going to live that one down...]

TableTop Fun: Last Will

Designer: Vladimír Suchý
Publisher: Czech Games Edition

From BoardGameGeek:

In his last will, your rich uncle stated that all of his millions will go to the nephew who can enjoy money the most. How to find out which nephew should be rich? You will each be given a large amount of money and whoever can spend it first will be the rightful heir. Visit the most exclusive theatres or eat in the most expensive restaurants. Buy old properties for the price of new ones and sell them as ruins. Host a huge party in your mansion or on your private boat. Spend like your life would depend on it. Spend to become rich! If you're the first to run through the money on hand, you'll receive the rest of his inheritance – oh, and win the game.

To sum up the description... life is short, have fun now! :) In most games, you're trying to gain the most money in order to win. Last Will flips that around and you need to be shoveling money out the door as fast as possible if you want any shot at winning. I found that the most challenging aspect of the game was trying to really get your engine going... I know engine building is not an officially recognized mechanic but it is such a big part of this game. You need to get some properties and friends on your tableau as soon as possible. That way every turn you're spending as much as you possibly can on maintaining those properties and relationships - a.k.a. shoveling money out the door! It is so much fun. A pretty quick play too - about an hour for 3 players. 

We first played this about 6 months ago. It was tough getting Em to smile.

There's a smile... or a slight nose crinkle. :)

Emma Likes Shoes

I would say that Emma is obsessed with shoes.. but maybe she's just obsessed with going outside. Any time she thinks there is a chance she MIGHT get to go outside, she is grabbing her shoes and our shoes. She will also grunt/cry/scream if you have your shoes on in the house and we are not immediately going outside. Here she took a joyride with my wedge sandals. :)