Animal Mastermind Towers continues with the codebreaker concept of  MasterMind, but is for ages six and up.  I was watching my children play it tonight and noticed how playing the game really helped my five year old with directional words like above and below.  My ten-year-olds also enjoyed playing the game as they like using strategy and beating one another! Animal MasterMind Towers helps your kids learn logical thinking skills while having fun. Here is  a simple run down of the rules:

“ Both players secretly stack their animal tiles in their towers. Now the challenge and fun begins. Who can guess the order of their opponent’s tiles first. On your turn you ask a yes/no question like “Is the lion below the giraffe?” Be the first player to guess the order correctly and you win!”

The animals are cute and my favorite version.  They also have a SpongeBob SquarePants MasterMind Towers game for the SpongeBob fans out there!    Disney Fairies, Disney and Looney Tunes versions are also in the works.

You can find Animal MasterMind Towers on Amazon, in  Walmart or on the Pressman site.

Fours:

*The game is inexpensive at around $12.

*Smaller box and the few pieces make this a great travel game.

*Easy to learn for young ones, but still fun to play for the older kids.

*Games are better than TV any day!

Against:

*I honestly cannot think of any cons with this product and encourage all families to play!

Would you like to win a MasterMind Tower game?  Of course you would!

You have three chances to win. To enter simply leave a comment telling me if you have a family game night and what games you play. For two more changces simply Like Pressman Toys on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter and leave a comment below saying you did!  Easy-Peasey!  So do it now and maybe you will win!

The contest will run from September 3rd through September 17th at midnight.  Winner will be chosen via Random.org.  Winner will be contacted by me via email and mailing address will be given to the company for direct shipping.

My  reviews are listed as Four (or pros) and Against (as in cons).

Four Against Two…Get it?!

Mita and Elle enjoying themselves.

(Disclosure:  I received an Animal MasterMind Tower game for an honest review on my blog and no other compensation was given. Links are not affiliate links. Your email will not be sold, traded or given to any company!)

The coffee is good. Actually I drink the Chai or a latte of some flavor (hubby calls this dessert in a cup).  I sometimes purchase a scone with my drink as well and nibble for hours while talking away.  Actually I inhale my scone, but nibble sounds dainty and cute!

The friends are the best.  We talk about everything and we talk about nothing.  We share our struggles, triumphs, sell AVON and buy Girl Scout cookies.

We always try to get together will all the kids during the summer.  Ten kids mind you and an eleventh is on  the way (NOT MINE!). It doesn’t happen as often as we would like though. I think our weekly coffees during the school year are here to stay though and it has made my life so much better and fuller and fun!

Thank you my coffee friends @FireMom @OutnumberedMom and Nicole and a shout out to our new coffee friend @3princessmama.  Here is to the 2010-2011 school year. May there be less snow days and more coffee!

Art Credit

My Favorites!

There is a new commodity in our house.  As of June the Silly Bandz phenomenon has hit our house big time.  From the get go I have liked Silly Bandz or Silly Bracelets or Googly Bands…any brand will do, as they are inexpensive and easy to get (now, they are) and just plain fun.

I cannot tell you how many times a check out person has looked at my Silly Bandz purchase and said something negative about them!  Number one, why are you giving me your opinion on my purchases? Why do they do this with me?  Number two…what is wrong with fun?  Good cheap fun, that does not need to be plugged in the wall or cost $59.99.

In our house if I have an undesirable extra chore I need done, I offer a Silly Bandz.  If the girls have friends over and they need something to do, Silly Bandz trading time!  In the car on the way to Lake Erie, Silly Bandz trading time!  I have a bag I have with many different types of Bandz and I just reach in and grab them or trade with them.

Enu is my one child who can take Silly Bandz or leave them.  She does take them though and use them to bribe give to others when she is not wanting to do something.

Mita loves the rings and has conned her sisters out of most of their rings.

Meg broke down and spent her own money to buy Harry Potter Bandz.  This is a big deal for her as she does not spend her money on anything…she is saving for college.

Elle has piles of bandz all over the place.  She cannot find them usually, but when she does she is so happy it is as if I had just bought them for her!

Me?  I have a few Bandz in my permanent collection that are not up for trade.  The pirate theme, Toy Story and Harry Potter ones are my faves.  I do not wear them out and about or stare at them daily, but  I got them and I like them!

Meg's hand turning blue... I made her take them off!My favorite!

What is your favorite Silly Bandz design or do  you hate them so much you want to scream?

Photo Credit:  Mandy W. 2010

I Am Nujood Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui, is a book that enlightens the reader to injustices to girls that are going on right now in the world. Not 100 years ago, but now.

Nujood lives in Yemen.  This middle-east country still practices arranged marriages with young girls.  They do this for many reasons. It is a cultural practice, to enhance a families standing, and of course for money.   Nujood was given to a man who beat her and raped her.  Unfortunately, this is common.  What makes this story so remarkable is that Nujood would not stand for being treated this way and sought out a divorce.  From the title of the book you know that it was granted.

Even with her divorce granted Nujood does not have an easy life now in Yemen.  She has big dreams though and people who believe in her.  I will be watching out for more news from her as she reaches adulthood and continues to fight for human rights.

While this subject is heavy stuff, the read was not difficult. I do understand that many would not read about this subject as it is not a pleasant one. I do encourage you to read it though.  Read it to educate yourself, your family and your community.

Have you read I Am Nujood?  What did you think?

Check out this recent story… www.CNN.com

(Disclosure:  I was not asked to write this review or compensated.  The links are not affiliate.)

Yes, she is wearing tights in August!

Here it is. Elle’s first day of school. The day she has been waiting for, the day I’m not sure how to feel.  Of course I’m a bit sad and melancholy, what mom isn’t at this time.

Being an experienced mom I have dealt with this first day of school thing before.  I know I will survive it. I know that watching your child grow, learn and experience the world is very satisfying. I also know that once you let your kiddo out of your home base bubble there is a large pool of influence that your child has to wade through and  you can only hope you are parenting well enough for your child to see you and your values through all the waves.

With baby number four out of the nest I must say I am less anxious than I was with number one, two and three. Elle is a smart cookie. She is fun, friendly and compassionate. She will do well.

Now what will I do?

For the past year I have looked to this moment as the moment I can go back to work. Not full time, not even part time, just some time in the workforce working with moms and babies with breastfeeding.

With the test results of my Lactation certification still pending I am looking forward completing a few projects at home.  I have not worked on my 2010 photo book at all. Now that I think about it I never made one for 2009 or our trip to Disney we took last New Years.  Maybe I will work on those a bit over the next few weeks.  I am also behind on dental appointments and other check up things as well (it is amazing how I strive to keep the kids up to date, yet fall behind myself ).

Of course the house needs a deep cleaning and  I won’t have Elle to come behind me helping me with baby wipes as she normally does.  The baby wipes that put streaks all over my clean surfaces.  That memory gives me a happy-sad feeling.

Maybe happy-sad is a good word for how I am feeling today. Happy for Elle, happy that I may have more time.  Sad that Elle has begun her school career and sad that I don’t have her around as much.

Meg wrote out a schedule of who will stay on the bus longer to help Elle get home. She then made the other two write the schedule down in their agendas.  Very sweet and big sistery.

Tell me how you felt the day your youngest started school or how you think you may feel on the day that happens. Sarcasm is welcome as well as tearjerker stories!

(Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!)

(For more Wordless Wednesday check out Five Minutes For Moms.  Don’t forget to visit my giveaway post to tell me your favorite back to school moment and possible win a free membership to ThredUP!)

In the past few weeks I have started eating more regular meals, breakfast especially, eating quality food with my Healthy Choice daily lunches  (the Spinach Mushroom is my new fav..sorry Whiskey Steak!), drinking more water and more importantly I have been thinking about my health. I am still a long way from my ideal weight, but I have a feeling of possibility that I have been missing for some time.

I am also eating my meals slowly and trying to enjoy the tastes and flavors of my food.   I am notorious for scarfing down and not tasting anything! It is the nurse in me…eat and run.

I have even been stretching more and getting revved up to start some exercising once the kids are back in school.  I have a few DVDs to exercise to and a stationary bike in the house and neither one excite me much.  With Elle starting school and my days open there is room for a lot of new possibilities for me getting active.

What I want to hear from all of you is:

What is your favorite way to exercise and why?

Any words of encouragement about getting started with exercising?

Remember to check out Healthy Choice on the web and get a coupon as well as some nutrition information.  Also check out the Diet Diva for more nutrition tips.  You can also find them on Titter @Healthy_Choice and @DietDiva

(Disclosure:  I have been compensated for my time participating in Better for BlogHer as well as given coupons for Healthy Choice Meals.)

As I mentioned last week, we have been doing a lot of shuffling around of clothing at my house, in preparation of the beginning of the new school year.  The clothing shuffle is never easy with four growing girls who all have different likes and body types. I am  a firm believer in hand-me-downs though so I make it work the best I can.

This year I have a new way of clothes sharing that I am really excited about:

ThredUP!

I first heard of ThredUP a few weeks ago at BlogHer10. They had a booth on the Expo floor asking parents to be more environmentally friendly this school year and trading clothing was one of their suggestions.

I soon plugged into the ThredUP site and was happy with how easy it was to manage my account. The first box I chose arrived in two days with clothing items my kids liked and could wear.

I quickly listed five boxes of our clothes that where in nice condition, but we didn’t need anymore and four boxes were picked the very next day giving me credits in my account since they were sizes the site needed at that time.

The basic membership is FREE and the pro membership is $29.99 a year/or $19.99 for six months. With the pro service, meaning you get all the bells and whistles that the site offers.  With my link you can have pro service free for one month!  This way you can feel out the site, list some boxes, maybe earn some credits and soon be a trading maven yourself.

Remember the site does not offer pictures of the clothes, just brief descriptions. I think it is important to remember that you are not shopping for Homecoming dresses and suits here. You are trading hand-me-downs to help out the budget!

Also, until August 30th, ThredUP will donate $1 to Cradles to Crayons for each transaction on the site.  Good deeds, good clothes equals good for everyone! The site is easy to understand and I encourage you all to go there and see for yourself.

One lucky reader will receive a years pro membership for free! This is a $29.99 service for twelve months to use and keep your kids in jeans for a while.  This contest runs from August 23 through August 31st  at midnight. (2010!)  The winner will be drawn via Random.org.

There are several ways to win:

1)  Leave a comment below about your favorite back to school moment. It can be about your children or from your own childhood.

2) Leave a comment below describing your child’s favorite outfit this year that you hate!

3)  Follow me on Twitter @FourAgainstTwo and leave me a comment that you are now following me.

4) Follow ThredUP on Twitter @ThredUP and leave a comment here that you did so.

5) Tweet the following tweet (once a day only) and leave a link to your tweet:

Win a membership to ThredUp with @FourAgainstTwo http://fouragainsttwo.com/index.php/2010/08/23/thredup-is-my-new-place-to-trade-give-away/

Good luck!

(Disclosure: I have not received any compensation for this post. I just thought a giveaway would be fun! I do get a month of Pro status when you sign up through me with ThredUP .)

We were fine. A few extra sticks to pick up in the yard was all we had to do post storm.  A few hours later though, I learned that a tornado had touched down at my in-laws and the damage to their property was terrible.  The entire hillside behind the house that was filled with trees is now gone. It covered their porch and a few trees went through their roof.  Trees were in the pond.  The pond that my kids had had such a great time in a few weeks ago is black and lifeless, the fish aren’t coming up to be fed.  The place where Hubby proposed to me is now dirt as the trees are being dragged out to be burned or cut into firewood.

I saw it a week after it happened and cried. I saw it after a lot of the clean up had been done, but it was still so different that I immediately felt empty.  Their  home was so much more than a house. The place had a magical ambiance to it that made you feel warm and fuzzy just being there.

We are thankful my in-laws were not hurt.  That the house is still standing and the roof can be replaced.  The downed trees will be taken care of and new trees will be planted.  Nature moves on and it will once again be beautiful to us.

My mother-in-law was  worried that the kids would be upset and not like coming out to her house anymore. When we brought the kids out they rushed to her and I think made her realize that they come to her house for her and Grampy, the trees and pond are just bonus.  Enu even told her she liked it better this way (!)  In truth there is more sunlight in the house now.  The changes are not  bad, just different.

I guess the moral of my meandering story is that things change.  Love adjusts. 

Here are some pictures of the kids helping clean up last weekend. They worked hard to picked up three wagon-loads of sticks and limbs.  Thank you babies.

Photo Credits PSM 2010 and Mandy W. 2010

Elle is ready for school!

Thinking about sending the kids back to school while watching them swim at the local pool just isn’t right.  Shouldn’t there be leaves turning orange or something? I sound my age I guess.  Here we are mid-August and my living room is currently filled with four bags of school supplies that still need labeling! Elle’s Kindergarten night is on Wednesday and I have to have her things ready to go. The other three don’t drop off their supplies (or should I say household goods? Anyone else have to by a ton of cleaning and paper products?) on Monday.

We are going camping this weekend and I really don’t want to be labeling the day after I get back from the lake. After all we  know that the day after camping is laundry day! I would hate to double book myself and my two hands.  That is right. I only have two hands believe it or not (my kids don’t believe it, they think I have extra arms as well as the extra eyes behind my back.)

On top of the school supplies, cleaning supplies, water bottles, sandwhich bags (reusable of course), lunch boxes and book bags  we have clothes. School clothes as some call it. I call it the changing of the seasons clothes switcharoo and guess what? The seasons have not changed yet. Why then,  have I bought long sleeves, pants and sweaters now? The kids want to wear them now.  So I have bags of clothing hidden in an undisclosed place until the weather actually  turns fall-like.  I am such a mean, mean mom. 

The hand-me-down routine with four kids is a full time job. The Good-Will lady sees me at least twice a week as I go through all of our clothes to decide what gets passed down, traded, given away, ripped into rags or tossed.  I went through ten tubs of clothes last Saturday.  TEN!  I whittled it down to 4 and am very proud of myself!

Enu is happy to be going into the big-kid-school!

Of course the kids are already asking about the allowance that I stop in the summer (the summer activities are very costly, if you haven’t noticed), our fall schedule, when the first slumber party will be and of course HALLOWEEN costumes.

Am I ready for back to school. Partly yes and partly no.  What is my biggest school wish right now?  UNIFORMS.  I’ve talked about that before and it is secretly my biggest school wish. My number two school wish is for healthy lunches, but I know that is asking for the moon!

What is your favorite school wish?  Go ahead and tell me. I promise not to tattle on you are tell your kid!

Here are a couple links you may enjoy for your own back to school rush!

ThredUp.com A kids clothing trade site (I’ve just started using it)

Fillthebackpack.com A current contest going on right now.

Etsy.com Where I got my re-usable bags and labeling stickers

(Disclosure:  I have not recieved any compensation for the links above. They are places I use and have found to be fun with good customer service!)

Photo Credit Mandy W. 2010