Tag Archives: holidays

Travel Buddies – Games That Don’t Need Batteries!

Travel Buddies – Games That Don’t Need Batteries!

It’s about a week until the next term break…at least for those in Victoria and I’m sure there are some who would be going away somewhere. So I thought I’d give you a few suggestions on what type of games that our E-Shop has, which would make great travel buddies. Not only are they educational, fun, but also…wait for this….there’s no need for batteries! Even if you’re not, these would be perfect for all those cold, wet and blustery days.

So here are some great ideas:

Magic Forest Magnetic Puzzler rrp$20.00

Magic Forest Magnetic Puzzler rrp$20.00

I featured this in my puzzle pack giveaway and I still am harping on about it because, it’s one of my kids’ favourites. I mean really, why sell something my kids won’t like right?! They are after all my “testers”. The Magic Forest is great for travelling because it’s magnetic, so won’t fall off the board. An all-in-one game with all the challenges included inside this “booklet” and all the puzzle pieces too. Great for kids aged 5 and even up to adults. Yes, there are some pretty awesome challenges for us too! Besides solving the puzzle, why not create a story afterwards with each challenge. That’s for when say, you’re at a stop to have lunch or even when you’re at your holiday destination while you’re in the room.

9 piece Magnetic Puzzle rrp$30.00

9 piece Magnetic Puzzle rrp$30.00

Another favourite of my kids is this Wooden 9 Piece Magnetic Colour Puzzle. It’s basically about putting the magnetic pieces together. Some pieces might repel, so you never know which combination might work. It can end up with hours of intriguing fun!

 

Wooden Tic Tac Toe - Spaceship

Wooden Tic Tac Toe - Spaceship rrp$15.00

The Wooden Tic Tac Toe might not be one for when you’re in the car. Or maybe it could be if your kids have got something solid like a book underneath the mat. But, it is great for when you’re passing time, waiting for food to arrive or even when you’re lounging around at your holiday home. It comes with a small pouch to store all the bits and bobs!.

 

Chicken Shuffle

Chicken Shuffle rrp$25

This Chicken Shuffle game by Smart Games is making a come-back on this blog because well, it’s a fab game! It’s not just shuffling the pieces to create an image. It’s more than that. Try and shuffle the pieces so that each chicken sits on an egg or change the challenge to a more difficult one and try to shuffle so that the chicken isn’t sitting on any of the other animals! Gah! Not easy I tell you! But again…hours of fun, because that’s what you want when you’re travelling, something to keep them occupied. Again, like all the Smart Games puzzles, it’s all stored in the one box! Great for kids from ages 6 and all the way to adults.

 

IQ Puzzler by Smart Games rrp$18.00

IQ Puzzler by Smart Games rrp$18.00

Finally the game that can not only challenge them (and you) in 2D but also 3D – the IQ Puzzler. Again, all in one – with the beaded puzzle and challenge book in a box. Try to complete the challenges by placing the correct pieces in the right order. Looks easy? Think again!

Those are just a handful of awesome games from our E-Shop, check-out what I can’t include because…well…there’s just too many!

Grateful for….School Holidays & Family Time

Grateful for….School Holidays & Family Time

Grateful For...

Two more days before the new school term starts – why am I counting my days? Well, it means back to rushing around, back to work (although I did miss the money!), back to the kids’ after school activities – again. But, I have to say I have enjoyed this much needed break!

So this week, I’m grateful for the 2 weeks I got to spend with my kids – well most of the time. The kids got to “recuperate” and recharge from their full-on time at school, last term, I got to have my much needed lie-ins, we all had some fun play at the park and because of the holidays, I also managed to finish doing the LAUNDRY! It’s nice to know that the kids will be having some clean school jackets (although they won’t be needing them next term), and more clean uniforms and clothes.

School holidays also mean family time – as in including my husband. He managed to take the day off on Monday for us to head on to the city for lunch and some shopping. And today, we spent the day at home – me, fixing up my other blog – something I did not forsee at all. But the kids had fun playing together, while hubby was busy building their cubby house (hoping this will finish in time for Christmas!). We did manage to go out for a lovely dinner with my in-laws for my father-in-law’s birthday. I guess it was a good ending to a crappy start of the day for me!

What are you grateful for this week? And check out what other bloggers are grateful for too!

 

The Tail-end of the School Holidays

The Tail-end of the School Holidays

It’s Thursday, which means I’ve got about four more days before the final school term starts. While I think the kids have had enough of the break – especially having Master 5 annoy his sisters constantly just so he could get some attention from them – or maybe that’s just him being a boy, I am half-hearted having it all end. The first week went by in a haze, so much so that I couldn’t even remember what it was we did. What I do remember though was living life in “slow motion”, not having to rush or pack lunches and best of all just vegging out while catching up on things I never got to do while the kids were in school and I was out at work.

Dinosaur

I’m going to miss sleeping in, or  rather lounging in my bed and catching up on my morning shows. I’m going to miss eating breakfast and lunch at really odd times – because yes, it is a holiday and it’s ok to not have a routine during these times. I’m going to miss just not being in a hurry all the time. But life has to go on and this is the cycle I guess I have to accept. So during this tail-end of the school holidays, we’ve got a few things planned:

  • Tea Party – just us, so that we can enjoy being in each other’s company.
  • Karaoke – again just us and probably get the kids to dress up (maybe me too?).
  • Going out to the city for a family day – we did this on Monday, when my husband took a day off, but I think it’ll be fun to do it again this weekend.
  • Movie Night with the kids tomorrow so that we can have  a final “veg-out” night.
Can we do it all within these few remaining days? Honestly, it doesn’t matter if we can’t, as long as we have fun doing some of the things we’ve planned, because once the school term starts, that’s when the madness begins.


A great start to the school holidays

A great start to the school holidays

Friday marked the official end to term 2 of school in Victoria, well, state schools at least. I’m thrilled that I get to sleep in come Monday, and yes, catch up on Neighbours at 8:30am in the morning on Channel 11 (yes it’s a repeat I know) and also catch up on all the morning shows that I never get to watch during the school term.

Saturday started off well with us visiting a family friend who is slowly recovering from her brain aneurysm episode a few months back. It was great to see her finally being able to smile, and the facial expressions that came with reacting to whatever it was that we shared with her was just priceless. I know the process is really slow, but I’m just glad she’s slowly getting there. She still has to work on her voice box, so that her voice would be stronger and louder than a whisper, but, I’m not complaining. I’m just glad she’s lived through this ordeal.

Sunday, saw Master 5 and I attending a Disney Junior event, over at the Cullen Hotel in Prahran, thanks to the people at Porter Novelli. The room was yes – COOL! There was a big screen for the screening of the programs, popcorn, chips, pretzels, chocolates, lollies and even fruit for the kids to nibble on whilst watching the shows and to keep them entertained – some “colouring stations” where they can sit and decorate the different Disney Junior print outs. It looked as if it was someone’s birthday party, especially with the decorations and balloons strewn on the floor. Face painting was also part of the itinerary – lucky kids! But, yes, Master 5 is not a huge fan of face painting, so I managed to convince him to get a smallish painting on his hand instead. There was also another room set up – the penthouse, where there were couches, bean bags and yes, the snacks for the kids to nibble on too.

 

The screen showing the programs

The screen showing the programs

 

Master 5 enjoying his popcorn

Master 5 enjoying his popcorn

 

Face painting station

Face painting station

 

Colouring Station

Colouring Station

 

Master 5 getting his hand painted

Master 5 getting his hand painted

 

The mums there didn’t get left out either – a coffee machine for us to enjoy some nice hot beverages, and the bonus – manicures! The manicure station was by Divatan Mobile Beauty Service, who only ever uses OPI products. So, not only did the kids get entertained, the mums got to mingle, chat and catch up too. I also got to meet some of the bloggers I’ve only ever met online.

Kate from Kate Says Stuff & Amanda from Real Mums getting their nails done at the "nail bar"

Kate from Kate Says Stuff & Amanda from Real Mums getting their nails done at the "nail bar"

For those of you wondering what Disney Junior is, well, it’s a revamp of the Playhouse Disney channel on cable tv. So for those of you lucky enough to have cable at home, Disney Junior is where you can find Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, Timmy Time and so much more. The channel is great for kids up to the age of prep, with lots of early learning programs. If you haven’t got cable, well I guess you’d either have to a)get it, or b)wait for the programs to come out on DVD. And if you just cannot wait that long to get in on the fun, they do have their official website with all the cool and fun activities.

So, with the weekend over, we’re now officially ushering in the first week of the holidays. Stay tuned for my next instalment of the Chau family’s school holiday fun.