One more game - and some other things.

We've managed to meet up with a couple of families before they start back at school tomorrow, which has been lovely, as it's always much more satisfying both for the children, to be able to have games that they don't have to be cut short because of time constraints, and for the mums to have a really good chat.

On Friday, Ka, Ma & Am came over for the afternoon and after a good catch-up natter, Ka & I talked about new games we'd had for Christmas.  In the past we've lent them Carcassonne, and this time they brought a game that had come recommended as good to try if you like Carcassonne.  First though, while the children we playing elsewhere (I'm not entirely sure what they were doing, but K & M had decided that they needed to be dressed as Tudors shortly before our friends were due to arrive!), Ka & I had a round of Rummikub.  Then K, Ka, Ma & I played the Big Fat Tomato game (see previous blogpost for info on these games), before M and Am came and joined in for another go, this time in teams of two.  They agreed that it's bonkers, but really good fun.

We didn't get round to playing the game they'd brought, so they left it with us to have a go over the weekend, which we did today, twice!  It's called The Settlers of Catan and is aimed at 10+, which is probably about right, depending on the child, obviously.  As a family who like games like this, it wasn't too tricky for 8 year old M.  The first time round it took a long time to set up and get going, but once we did we all really enjoyed it, although both K & M are very reluctant to be 'nasty' and their bartering skills left a little to be desired, it must be said.  It has a pretty good balance of skill and chance though and even though they didn't want to be nasty, K & M each won a game (although we realised on the second time round that we hadn't understood all of the rules properly the first time).

In other news, K & M have been doing really well with their Christmas thank you cards.  A few things that I've noticed in particular, M's handwriting has suddenly improved a lot and has become much small and neater and she's seems to be growing out of using a random mixture of lower case and capital letters, and K has started voluntarily writing more than just 'To X,  Thank you for the Y.  Love from K'.  It's always very reassuring for me when the girls make these sorts of progress, because sometimes the doubts do creep in that I should be pushing them in order for them to happen, although from experience with my girls at least, pushing or strong encouragement usually meets with resistance and ends up being counter-productive!

Finally, M was very upset this afternoon, as she and K have been trying to get together with their friend I, who lives just a few doors away, but it just hasn't happened and this afternoon I was busy again.  After some big hugs, I suggested that doing something might help M distract herself from the upset, which she agreed with, however none of my suggestions, reading, playing the piano, watching some telly, writing more thank you cards, going on the computer etc. etc. went down very well, until I suggest she could do some more coding.  That cheered her up immediately and she spent a considerable amount of time trying to recreate a particular code, which she found very tricky, but eventually succeeded and was then very pleased with herself.