for all the happiness, self esteem strengthening, brain building memories you provide.
such goodness comes from playing games.
i will admit to being terribly bored while we play…my mind races with things i could be doing.
but you watch them play and SEE them get it.
the counting and remembering.
spinning the spinner and moving the piece.
she got it!
she just learned a new skill…right before my eyes.
she'll never NOT know how to play chutes & ladders again.
how cool is that?!
(* i took all those photos with the camera on the table and clicking.
not looking through the lens…because i was playing the game too.
it's fun to see what you get that way…give it a shot.)
and just for the sake of keepin' it real…..
(click on the picture)
see why my mind had "things to do" racing through it?
50 of those things were right next to me.
but dishes will still be there after the chutes & ladders or memory.
there should always be time for play.
Heather - This post makes me smile! I’m inspired to get Chutes & Ladders down tonight with my kiddos.
yolanda - hi there! i came across your blog through a friend and her suggestion was to grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy your blog. so, that’s what i’ve been doing! i love seeing all the colors your incorporate into your life. anyway, i noticed your cool gumball machine in some of your pictures. my son LOVES gumballs and i wanted to get him a gumball machine for his birthday, so i thought i’d ask you what the make/model of your machine is. it looks old/vintage, so i don’t know if i’d even find one out there but i like a good hunt. thanks for your time!
Kate - i don’t think i’ve ever played chutes and ladders.
i was a clue kid.
which, when i was annie’s age, i’m sure was just be whining until i won somehow.
i was such a brat.
and i love taking photos like that, it’s so much fun to see what different perspectives are.
-kate
Amber - These are such happy pictures. What a sweet little face, bed head and all. Good for you…making time to play games and doing dishes later:)
MGF - Crazy that we both posted things about family games. Our was Zingo. But we also like Apples to Apples.
Casey Starnes - Yay….a new read! Love your blog. Just found it and will be checking back.
-Casey
traci - annie beat you huh? cute little thing. love the way your counter looks – just like mine. that makes me feel so much better!!
Gini - I agree! My favorite part with my three year old is when he raises him arms up in the air and yells “I WIN”! I love that.
Christine - Yes I also say thanks for keeping it real-thats probably why I like your blog so much!!
You have a beautiful house, and a great eye for decorating but what strikes me the most is the love that shines through. NO child grows up healthy in a house thats perfectly, spick and span 24 hours a day!!! Gotta let things go…(at least that’s what I tell myself).
cheers from chilly canada….
carissa - you maka-a-me smile!
xo hugs!
i sure love her bed head!
liz - Hi Meg,
I found you on Ohdeedoh. Can you please tell me the wall color you used in the READ room? I am painting a nursery and that seems just right.
Thanks so much!
adrienneK - oh joy! we spent a few hours the other day playing this very game lol
sarah - I love the cute pictures of her having so much fun playing.
I love games, especially kid games, and look forward to playing them with McKenzie.
But, I’m sure like you, my mind will wander to all the things I need to be doing.
I know I’m going to have to remind myself that all those things can wait while I enjoy watching my daughter learn and play.
I also like the keeping it real photo. 🙂
3 Peas in a Pod - My boys love chutes and ladders too. Next time we play I’ll put the camera on the table and see how the pictures come out. Thanks for the tip. Glad to know I’m not the only one whose mind wanders onto the list of chores I should be doing.
Thanks for sharing.
Amanda - Megan: To me she looks in that third picture like Audrey Tautou in Amelie! She’s grown bunches since I was last at your house for Bible study. Cute cute.
Rachel - She looks so cute playing the game…makes me want to play a game!
Love the angles of the pics too!
CathyC - You are an amazing photographer!!! I love playing board games with my kids, even if sometimes I am bored, too. And since when did Hershey Kisses come in a box?
Trina - Thanks for keeping it real.. I have such a hard time ignoring the mess..but lately I just feel like I need to or I’m losing precious time. I clean and then try to play and by then there is little time and I’m tired and crabby – you know. Ps- thanks for the comment and I love that you came home and got right into bed….good for you!! You deserve to do that….I just might have to give it a try sometime soon!
x Trina
Trina - Thanks for keeping it real.. I have such a hard time ignoring the mess..but lately I just feel like I need to or I’m losing precious time. I clean and then try to play and by then there is little time and I’m tired and crabby – you know. Ps- thanks for the comment and I love that you came home and got right into bed….good for you!! You deserve to do that….I just might have to give it a try sometime soon!
x Trina
Patti - i love it! my daughter anya absolutely loves chutes and ladders. i play out of love because i think it’s quite possibly my least favorite – well, right there next to hungry hungry hipppos – boy that’s a loud game! come to think of it, i still owe those parents a pay back gift for buying such a loud toy for my daughter! 🙂 anyway – i agree – to see their face light up over simple pleasures is priceless. i also love the “shooting from the hip” or table as it were idea. i do that sometimes when i’m walking outside where there are lots of people. you get amazing photos that way. have a great day!
mom - Hey- she was fooling you – because we played Chutes and Ladders many times when she last visited and she beat me everytime!! Cute pics.
Ashley - I love you blog! I’ve been reading it everyday for months now! Thanks for all your thoughts and time you spend sharing them!
Shannan - I agree wholeheartedly with all of these sentiments about games! I loved nothing more than playing board games when I was a kid. Remember how fun it was to load up the Life car with all of those babies??! Calvin and I played Candyland last week and I felt guilty for being secretly glad that he chose the ice cream cone right off the bat. It certainly sped things up!
Amy - A little off topic: but Candy Land is going to be a movie sometime in the near future. Not sure how good it is going to be…should be interesting.
ruth - Love your blog. Game times, what great memories. Thanks for posting the link to MacGruber! Ha.
Staci - I am so sad to say…we don’t even own CHutes and Ladders…I think I’ll get it today though! And this is why you are such a great mom….even though there are a zillion things that you know NEED to done…you can always put things in perspective and realize…it will all still be there…Annie learning AND WANTING YOU TO PLAY WITH HER won’t. I am praying for sweet Cora and her family.
Darby - Ummm… why don’t we have chutes and ladders? Adding it to my Walmart list now. THanks for sharing! Love seeing your messy kitchen… looks a lot like mine! 🙂
Michelle - I’ve been reading your blog for the last week or so and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy it. It is always genuine – from your own days with your kids to your tears for your friends. You seem to stay true to yourself. Kudos.
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/
traci - I agree, a lovely post. I have learned something from you that I am currently working on. Letting them dress themselves no matter HOW CRAZY they look!! By the way, your kids always look cute but they do sometimes/often look crazy..lol BUT I love that you let them and Im not so good at that. THIS week I let my crazy dresser do it all week and said NOTHING but ok, you may. Next week, Im going to say, You may and you look FANTASTIC!! Im trying!!!!!!!!
Gwyn - We are a family of game players too. Sometimes you have to keep the work for later….
Anna - I like the “keepin’ it real” picture. So fun!
I tried to leave a comment yesterday but I don’t think it went through. Anyway, I recently posted a ton of red and white polka dotted items from either Etsy, Ebay or The Feathered Nest. I know you like color so I thought I’d let ya in on that 😉
Here is the link: http://boogersbibsbooksbubbles.blogspot.com/2009/02/yummy-red-and-white-polka-dots.html
erika - Thanks for keeping it real… love the labels on the photo. I should take a picture of my desk and label everything… however it might scare people away.
Alyssa - I am so glad to see that your kitchen doesn’t always look like the “our house” photos! I love your blog & your daughters haircut? By the way, do you work from home?
Leigh Ann - What a lovely post! Good for you, you let the mess go. Annie will remeber you having time for her, not that things were messy! Have a great day!
Lazy Mom Leslie - I want to take a photography class from you! I smile every single time I look at your pictures. Any chance of you coming to TX anytime soon? She’ll never not know how to play Chutes and Ladders again! That brings tears to my eyes, every single day there is something my kids will not know how to do again!
http://www.lazymoms.com
PamperingBeki - Ha! You’re silly.
I think I’m first to comment.