Happy National Ice Cream Day

It's National Ice Cream Day!  One of our family's favorite days.  My kids invited their entire youth group this year, so fun!  Hope you were able to have a cool treat.

The best kind of freezer, we have over 25 flavors of Blue Bell!

The toppings table

And the sauces and extra toppings

Hope you were able to have a cool treat.  If not, there is always next year.

Timberdoodle Romi Rami Review

I want to share with you today a fun game from Timberdoodle, Romi Rami.  Romi Rami is a 2-4 player game similar to classic Rummy but with a twist and is recommended for kids 8 and older or 3rd grade and up.  Games are estimated to last ~ 30 minutes.

What's included in our game?  Our game includes 92 number cards, 36 contract cards, 4 trophy tokens, 4 joker tokens, 1 First Player token and game rules.

How to set up the game?  After shuffling both decks of cards separately, you need to set up the number market with six cards and the contract market with 4 contract cards in the middle of your table or playing area - this is the main market.  You also need to toss up the trophy tokens as they are double sided, whatever side they land on will be the trophies that are up for grabs this game.  Each player is given 3 number cards as well as a joker token.

Playing with A

How do you play?  The youngest player begins by taking the first player token.  A player's turn consists of 3 steps: 

• take up to 3 number cards from the number market with a common characteristic (same number or same suit)
• fill one of more contracts in the contract market (this step is optional) and lastly
• refill the markets and check hand size (mandatory step).  

You must have at least 3 cards and at most 10 cards in your hand at the end of your turn.  If you have less than 3, you will use the number deck to refill your hand to 3 cards and if you have more than 10, you will discard until you have only 10 cards.  Play proceeds in a clockwise order.

The ultimate goal of the game is to score the most points by filling contracts taking into account:

• the number of points on the contracts
• the trophy tokens for the current game and
• the suit bonuses associated with the different contracts.  

The game ends when a player fill their 7th contract (when playing with 2 players), 6th contract (when playing with 3 players) and 5th contract (when playing with 4 players).  When this happens players move on to counting points.  Remember, player with most points wins!

Players count trophy points, contract points, suit bonus cards (1 point per card in your suit bonus pile), and unspent joker token (players score 1 point if they still have their joker token at the end of the game).  In the case of a tie, the player with the most suit bonus cards wins.

Romi Rami is quick and you learn a lot every time you play it!  I think it is fun adapting to the various contracts and suit bonuses.  When possible, I highly recommending using the suit cards as those points really do add up.  I also try to go for the larger point contracts unless I can make a lower point one easily or it's the last one I need.  I have yet to hang on to my joker token as I find using it to fulfill a larger contract has always been worth it for me.  I am currently undefeated so I feel like this is good advice 😉.  If you are looking for a fun card game that's fairly easy, quick to play and lots of fun, we highly recommend Romi Rami!  I love that everyone in my family can play.

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received Romi Rami in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Mand Labs Review

You guys know we love all things Science!  I want to share with you an amazing product from Timberdoodle, Mand Labs.  This premium kit works for complete beginners and has everything your teen needs to go at their own pace.

Our kit uses 165 industrial-grade electronic components and tools, two guidebooks, online videos, and step-by-step instructions for the 57 electronic projects!  The carrying case is unique in that it opens vertically into a workstation.  The various drawers and compartments are great for holding all the components and tools.  Our kit contains switches, circuits, wires, sensors, motors, breadboards, probes, pliers and more!

B and C completed high school Physics this year and our Mand Labs Premium Kit's course topics cover 20% of IGCSE Cambridge Curriculum and 30% of AP Physics C, including electricity and magnetism so it's super fun to have on hand!  I think it was a great pairing to have and it's an awesome blessing to have such a hands-on kit available in our home school.

Mand Labs is a great kit to learn about electronics and help it feel less overwhelming.  Teens can watch videos for concepts, assembly and reference as needed.  Just by assembling projects, so many concepts and electronic principles are solidified and truly understood.  For a more in-depth understanding of electronics, teens can refer to the guidebooks.  I love that this kit is all inclusive.

Do you need a hands-on kit to help your student learn about electricity?  If so, we would highly recommend Mand Labs!

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received Mand Labs in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

B's Senior Pics

B is graduating!  Our Homeschool CoOp has ended.  She has a few more last minute details to finish up in a few classes but the time is very near and just like A, it seems to have truly flown by.  I'm so proud of this girl and how hard she has worked this year to finish strong, despite a difficult and heartbreaking injury.  She will be attending college in Iowa and she is super excited to continue playing volleyball, Go Eagles!  A friend of ours took B's senior pictures ~ a month ago and they are fantastic.  We will have her official graduation party in June 🎓.

Total Solar Eclipse Fun

The sun before the eclipse.

The kids watching the eclipse!

At totality!

David's work gave out "Space Junk" snacks, so fun!

I hope you were able to see the eclipse today.  It was such a unique experience!

Happy Easter 2024

The Action Bible: Faith In Action Bible Review

I have a fun Bible to share with you today, The Action Bible: Faith In Action Edition, which is an enhanced version of the bestselling Expanded Edition.  The Action Bible has helped millions of kids engage in God's Word through short, impactful stories and amazing, vivid illustrations.  The Faith In Action Edition is probably the most complete interactive Bible for both kids and teens.

Courage, Faith, Hope, Love, Service, Trust and Wisdom are major themes highlighted throughout this Bible with icons.  They are easy to spot.

A peek inside

The stories are in chronological order to help kids understand God's redemptive story.  I really appreciate that this Bible encourages kids to engage, grow and live in God's word.  There are spiritual growth resources that include over 200 devotionals, prayers, character stories, teaching videos, timelines, maps, and more!  Parents and kids can access these digital resources by scanning the QR codes found throughout this Bible.  If you are looking for a fun, engaging Bible for your kids we recommend The Action Bible: Faith In Action.

This is quickly becoming a favorite for my boys!

Order your own copy of the Faith In Action Edition of The Action Bible today on Amazon or from The Action Bible! 

Disclosure:  Many thanks to David C Cook for providing a sample of this Bible for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.