Playing Around

NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE: One of Annabelle's birthday presents this year was a fun spin on a traditional chess set. Same game, same pieces, different color, but so much fun. She *loved* it. Makes you wonder how many more young chess players you could attract if it weren't a black and white game. 

Speaking of games, another present of hers was an expansion pack for a family favorite, "Exploding Kittens." The original game was the biggest Kickstarter ever, the brainchild of Seattlite Matthew Imman of "The Oatmeal" comic fame. 

We've played "Exploding Kittens" lots, and knew we had to have the expansion pack. It comes with the brilliant addition of a human cone of shame for those who dare lose track of whose turn it was.

Poor Annabelle was the first to absent-mindedly ask whose turn it was. 

 And not too long after that, CJ didn't pay quite close enough attention. 

Bummer, Dude.

LUNCH FUN: We're trying to think of things to offer up at a Harvest Party event we'll be attending soon. During the lastest insomnia event, I remembered these fun hot dog 'monsters.'

We didn't have the right hot dogs to really do them justice (we should have short, fat hot dogs, not long, thin ones), but we decided to give them a go, anyway.

Above, we cut some 'legs' into the hot dogs, leaving a portion intact for the heads. We poked a couple of holes into the heads, hoping they'd turn into eyes. 

Then, it was into the boiling drink for a bit.

 On the other side, they looked like this. ... Not bad, and would look lots better with more legs!