Games {for} Shay

My best friend. My best friends wedding. Wait. What ? Who's this best friend ? Oh ... sorry everybody ... I got lost in an inside joke ! Shay ... that was just for you !! I hope you are laughing !

And this is for you too ... our favorite games at the moment ...

Phase 10 - I'm linking to some description of each of these games and I only took photos of the few that we played today ...

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm remembering (correctly ??) that you and Shawn taught us how to play this game. Is that right ??

The kids love it.



And Alia can play it on her own.



We just read and explain what the phase is and she's good to go !

Monopoly Deal - this is one that we just discovered not too long ago and it might be my favorite one - of the card games we play with the kids ! I am not a huge fan of regular Monopoly ... mainly because it takes too long and one person is often able to Monopolize the game ! Not so in Monopoly Deal. The game changes from turn to turn and is really fun. I think you and your kids would enjoy playing this game together ... Alia is usually on Rory's team but I think that is because she has decided she can't play by herself. Who knows why ? Not me !

Mexican Train Dominoes - Surely you guys have Mexican Train ! We learned to play it at my parents place and really liked it. We bought it at Super Target and carried the heavy thing home ! It's a fun one and easy for kids our girls' ages ! But enjoyable enough for the rest of us too ...

Hand and Foot - (no link ...) Have you ever played this at my parents house ? This is what Rory and I play when we play cards together. We should try to teach the kids but it might be a bit too much to remember for Alia just yet. If you haven't played this, you should invite my parents over and get them to teach you !! You guys could for sure play this with Justin ... and probably Ethan. Livi could be on a team !

The Dice Game (aka Farkle) - I did a post on this in 2008. The link will take you there. Both kids can play this. Alia just needs help with the addition but it's a fun, little thinking, explosive at times (!) game.

Uno - pretty standard ... but the kids still love it.

Jenga - we have lots of fun playing this together.

Mah-Jongg - again ... have my parents over. You totally should ... do a games night with them ! You'd like Mah-Jongg, I think. It's fun !! And totally a game you guys should know ... being part of the family and all !!

Yahtzee Free For All - This is similar to Yahtzee but different enough that it's not the same old thing ! The kids love it because you get to steal other people's points ... It's a fun one too.

Ok ... I think that's it ! Anyone else out there have good game recommendations ? Shay's family is one wife, one husband, one teen boy, one 8 year old boy and one 6 year old girl ... unless they've aged again !!! I have so much trouble keeping track !!! All these kids that just keep growing. Sheesh ! Give a girl a break ! I can barely remember my own age ! Anyway ... I'm sure she'd love to know your favorite games to play with your families so she has lots of options !! So ... comment comment comment !!

Mah-Jongg

My family has a long history with Mah-Jongg ... my Dad wrote a post about it back in October.

I learned to play as a kid and I remember loving when the Mah-Jongg set
(or sometimes sets, if there were enough people)
came out at my Grandma's house !

We'd set up at card tables and play all afternoon.
I loved it. I still do.



My two have 'played' a couple of times when we've been at my parents house.
Usually on teams, although, I think Jono was able to hold his own last time we were there.



But yesterday, the four of us were able to play together.
Alia is finally old enough that she 'gets' it !
In fact, she mah-jongged TWICE !



I love coming from a family of game players !
And I love that our children love playing games as well !!

***

PS ... I've forgotten a few of the details. I'm hoping someone in the family will help me out ...

1. Is it Right In Left Out or the other way around when building the wall ?
2. Do you count clockwise or counter clockwise on the first roll ? (counting the walls)
3. Which way do you count the tiles on the second roll ?
4. Do you go backwards for the flower pile ?
5. If you already have punged, and someone puts down the 4th tile, can you pick it up or does it have to be the person beside you who lays it down ?

Ok ... that's it !
We were able to play ok without knowing the answers but I'd like to know we're doing it right !