Video Games to Stay in Touch?

Do you miss family who lives out of town? Mario Kart for the Wii might just be the thing to keep your family close. I am absolutely horrible at it. Seriously, I fall off the track, slip on dropped banana peels, use my power boosts at all of the wrong times and come in dead last. So when we were invited to play Mario Kart by family hundreds of miles away on the East Coast I didn't exactly jump at the chance to lose some more. However, the rest of the family wanted to play. They were on the speaker phone and when I joined the game it was a blast! We all just laughed when goofy things happened and it didn't matter how awful I was. The game made the nations capital seem right next door. Who's getting the pizza? My daughter told me it's just about participating. She's right! :)

If you have ideas on other ways games can bring families close, please comment. There's got to be something to video chat (like iChat on the Mac), I mean you could at least play Battleship right?

Take care and stay warm,

Suz

Image source: www.mywii.com.au

Cake in a mug?

Eric found a recipe to Make a Cake in a Mug and Emily baked one the other day for a snack. She said it was really good. Comment if you try it and share what you think. She thought you could try flavored cocoas. The cocoa she used had marshmallows. Get the recipe

Suz

Gobble, Gobble...

With Thanksgiving just around the corner get in the spirit by sending a thank you note to someone who deserves it!

1. Think of 1-2 people who have really helped you out over the last year. It could be a teacher at school, a family member, brainstorm on this a little and decide who you want to send the note to.
   
2. Write down the top 2-3 things that express your gratitude to this person. For example: they made sure you got to soccer practice, they came to your games, they made sure you had something to drink.
3. Get a piece of scratch paper (or open notepad or Word) and write your note. Remember your note doesn't have to very long - it's the thought that counts.
4. Create a thank you card. Bend a 8 1/2 x 11 (regular paper size in the US) into thirds then open it up - this will make sure it'll fit into an envelope when you're done. Write your message on the page (Creative Tip: write your message in pencil first then write in pen over the top and erase the pencil when you're done - felt tip works best for this as it soaks into the paper and doesn't smear usually) There's no reason this has to be boring, try drawing a large spiral on the page and write your message on that line - the more creative (as long as it's readable) I think the more fun it will be for both you and the person you're sending it to.
5. Use stamps, stickers, your stapler and colored pencils to deorate, then fold it up, put it in a standard size envelope and send it "snail mail".

Please comment on how this goes, share links back to your blogs if you post your letters. If you just have something you're thankful for that you want to share that would be really great too!

Suz

PS - And yes, that's a turkey in the pic. We make it out of butter mixed with honey. A little goofy... just sharing a little holiday spirit. :)