RISK FOR CHRISTMAS
Intrigued by seeing the game of Risk in commercials as a young girl, I endeavored to find a classic version of the game for my son.
At last I conquered a few weeks ago when I found the original version which I purchased for my son for Christmas.
As he opened it, I explained that it was a conquering type of game, which immediately impressed; he couldn’t wait to play the game.
Only he and I played the first night since the others weren’t interested.
In that first game, my young Napoleon blew me away.
However, through the course of playing, the instructions made a bit more sense, so I schemed for the next game.
The next night we talked my daughter into joining us.
She did great, hanging in to the final round.
This time my son was calling me Napoleon! I won!
For this rare moment I’d best get bragging rights out of my system because it’s likely the only time I will ever get to say that in my entire life, because my son is now scheming for the next game. Beware!
CLEVERLY LEARNING CHESS
Humorously I took this photo of my son four years ago when we lived in Texas, playing chess…a special game I purchased to help him learn the game, since there are neat cards in the box that explain how each piece moves.
HISTORICALLY INSPIRED GAME TABLES AT COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
Often when we go to the Tucker House in Colonial Williamsburg, my son plays checkers at the game table with various other guests that we meet there.
When we were first invited by a friend who actually lives in one of the Colonial Williamsburg houses, she gave us a tour of all the history and her lovelies.
In the cozy 18th century foyer near the stairwell sat a chess table that beckoned us…but we were there for tea.
Such a charming home, that was then enjoyed by the public during public tours provided by the annual Green Springs Garden Club’s select tour of homes during Grand Illumination weekend…where the chess table cozily beckoned, once again.
This sweet friend, who originally hailed from Texas, and nicknamed us her Texas Regiment, has invited us over the years to her Grand Illumination party…where my son spent most of the evening playing at the game table in her foyer, with various guests.
CHESS-CHECKERS-BACKGAMMON TABLE FOR CHRISTMAS
So…when I walked into Hobby Lobby, my favorite store, I saw a lovely game table on mega-sale which perfectly fit our budget.
Purchasing the huge box wih the unassembled table, I wrapped and stored it under the tree behind the other gifts from our immediate and extended family…we are always so spoiled by loved ones…especially since we have the only grandkids for the on both sides of the family.
Due to other gifts in front, the kids had to dig their way through just to reach it, ensuring, with my declaration it must remain last to be opened…because I knew it would be the hit of the day.
With the gift tag hidden, my son puzzled over what could be in the largest of boxes under the tree, protected by Santa and his train.
At last, the box was accessible and permissible to open, the paper was torn, and squeals of delight rose through the room!
After happily assembling the chess/checkers/backgammon table that will fit inside my fun bay window in the living room, my son immediately hit everyone up to challenge him to a game.
The other night my son asked me to play checkers with him, whence we continually blocked each other, voiding every game we attempted.
NEW YEAR’S EVE GAME NIGHT
All of this is a build up to our traditional New Year’s Eve game night.
We haven’t played enough…bring it on!
Possibly we feel this way since my kids are now immersed in their high school years with deeper subjects demanding their time with little play…so we are enjoying our school break during this holiday season.
Early in the day the kids played a few games while I finished hand sewing the new wool breeches my son needed for our next trip to Colonial Williamsburg, since his old linen ones are completely worn out.
CHESS
By late afternoon my son asked me to play chess with him while the others were busy with other tasks.
Oh dear. I’ve only rarely played that game, never developed strategy…and how do the pieces move, again?
Thus…my son won! So he chose Mancala for the next game.
MANCALA
We were first introduced to this game, which originates in Africa, at the Powell House in Colonial Williamsburg.
Here’s how the game looks at the beginning of play.
It’s a great numerical and logic game…which my son won! So he chose Risk for the next game…but first I heated the snacks since evening was falling and we were hungry.
SNACKS
Our traditional New Year’s Eve meal matches that of Christmas Eve, our favorite snacks and treats to eat casually while playing games and watching classic movie.
Since I forgot to take photos, here are some from other years, which are quite similar.
RISK
For the game of Risk, everyone was given a nickname according to the color chosen:
Black armies = (guest) Black Plague
Yellow armies = (daughter) Big Bird
Pink armies = (me) Pepto-Bismol
Blue armies = (son) Smurf
In this game of world domination, the Black Plague quickly took over.
Eventually the Smurf began domineering, which we all knew was only a matter of time.
But some way, somehow…Pepto-Bismol oozed the world and left it wallowing in pink sludge, so I WON!
SCRABBLE
Choosing Scrabble, we used our unique rules to extend the game and enlarge the puzzle and use all the tiles we could…while winner still claims ownership rights to placing his/her name inside the box lid next to the old year.
It was close, but this time I WON! How fun! It’s been years since my name has regularly gone into the lid.
After the others continued play to for the primary goal of using every tile, just to see how large a puzzle we can make, only Z was left. Any ideas?
SCRABBLE TIPS
btw the top left corner was impossible to build on, because of small words in that area, which limits future play for anyone.
Thus, our challenge is to play the largest words possible in the large areas, to strategically leave smaller words for the smaller areas.
For example, from left to right, be, fin, and cat were opportunities for larger words.
Then in the bottom right pa and he blocked lots of play for larger words.
Although that can depend on what each player has at their turn, I’ve learned that if I keep seeking the larger word, I might surprise myself and find it.
This is exactly what happens after the winner claims their name in the box lid.
At that time the remaining players yield their pieces they’ve struggled with, when the others quickly see easy options to play. =)
Usually the player with the longest words becomes the winner.
Since Risk took so long, we finished Scrabble around midnight, when we used our noise and confetti makers to bring the new year in.
DAY TWO OF NEW YEAR’S EVE GAMES
Alas, my son felt cheated out of more games, and actually so did I, and so did my daughter.
So, we extended our annual game night into New Year’s Day, after we awoke with our logical skills restored to take on our challengers.
BLOCKUS
Choosing Blockus, we chose our colors, nicknamed by the kids a few years ago.
Red tiles = (guest) General Cornwallis
Green tiles = (daughter) Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton
Blue tiles = (son) General Washington
Yellow tiles = (me) Lafayette 😉
The winner of this game was Lafayette! Wow! I get to choose the next game, again!
MONOPOLY
Having already chosen my favorite games, and knowing my son was dying to play Monopoly, and we had a rare day of plenteous time for him to wheel and deal to agonize our slow death of property ownership, I chose Monopoly.
And…that’s exactly how the game played out! LOL So after placing his name in the box lid with the old year, he chose Yahtzee.
YAHTZEE
Although Scrabble is about the only game I amended the rules, in agreement to all the others, likewise I amended this game.
We must land the dice on a soft surface, otherwise the noises incurred make me lose my mind!
Happily in agreement to that rule, we make that happen by either playing on a padded surface at the table, or by sitting on the wall to wall comfy carpet.
My daughter won! After writing her name in the box lid, the guest implored her to just keep playing this game instead of choosing one she’d actually like to play, which would most likely be a geography game, at which she excels.
So, she gave in to the “guest” and we played more Yahtzee…but I think we should have let her choose one of her favorites, especially since she rarely wins. =/
I’ll have to work in a geography game with her later…
