Telltale Review

The bigger version of a game I found at the bottom of Mu and Q's kids' meal.  It introduced me to a great new game from a great family-friendly publisher.

Dice Tower Reviews: Disney/Pixar Cars 2 Sorry Sliders

12 Games of Christmas: Flipper Felix

12 Days until Christmas means that I have just enough time to knock out 12 games that I've been playing as of late, and 12 gaming recommendations that go far beyond the Candyland, Scrabble, Monopoly fair.

Flipper Felix
Generally, if I see a yellow Haba game box, I try to pick it up.  The German company is synonymous with quality components for their games which are aimed squarely at the younger set.  I managed to find "Flipper Felix" with a $1 price tag on it at a local Goodwill, complete and in unplayed condition.  This could not have been a better deal considering that "Felix" may have single-handedly gotten the Mu into boardgames.  Though "Candyland" and "Go Away Monster" have been played in our house, "Flipper Felix" has had staying power - and more importantly - focusing power, that has taught the Mu basic game mechanics such as rolling dice, counting movement spaces, rule-following, and light strategy.

"Felix" is set up with 20 colored fish hiding in the seaweed in the corners of the board, with the goal of rescuing all of the fish into the middle of the board.  Circling the middle is a great big, purple fish who will gobble up any of the fish already rescued in the middle.   

Players play cooperatively, attempting to rescue all of the fish together.  On a turn, a player will roll the "fishie" die which will result in either a small fish or the large fish.  If a small fish is rolled, the player selects which color fish to rescue from the corners of the board.  Should the large fish get rolled, the player then rolls a purple numbered die to see how many spaces the big fish moves around the board.  If the big fish lands on a space that has him gobbling up a fish, a fish of that color is placed from the middle of the board into the big fish's hollow belly.  Some spaces will have the big fish burping up all of the fish in his belly, where they return to the corners of the board.  The game ends once all of the fish have been rescued into the middle or the big fish eats 4 of the little fish.

The simple rules and action of the game keep my toddler involved in what's going on.  He loves to roll the dice and falls back on the floor in an "oh no!!" fashion each time the purple fish is rolled.  We have fun deciding which colored fish should be rescued, and the game has him counting pips on a die, moving the corresponding spaces, and recognizing which colors need to be placed in the big fish's belly. 

The building blocks of game playing are here, and he loves setting the game up himself and working through the mechanics of it.  Games can drag on a bit with bad rolls, and sometimes he decides he's had enough - but "Flipper Felix" has got him sitting down and learning how to play through a game with the core skills a little gamer needs to learn at 3 years old.  It's establishing the building blocks for more to come, and it makes his nerdy dad very happy.

Santa will be bringing him Orchard this year, followed by Monza for his birthday in the summer, as we start to gradually build his capacity for more rules and more strategy.  But let's hand it to Haba - no one really grows gamers like they do.

Another day in the life of Fatherhood

Today, instead of pulling out a pair of running socks from my gym bag I pulled out a pair of toddler underpants.

Guess I won't be running today, after all!

Equation for a Focused & Happy Toddler

Cheerios + Bowls + A Pair of Tweezers

Way to go, Lady Rad! Anyone else with incredibly simple, yet awesome activities for the young'in's during the hot summer months when you're a S@HM?

What my dad's waited his whole life to hear

Grandma and Grandpa Rad came from Florida to visit this week and we all had a great, though exhausting, time playing with Mu and Q.  It's so fun to see how the kids react when my parents make their bi-annual (that's twice a year, not every other year - I hate you English) visit: it's non-stop playing, book reading, and overall zaniness for 5 straight days.  Needless to say, by the time they leave everyone (grandparents included) is sad but a also a little relieved.

Yesterday was Father's Day, and having both my father and my kids there was a great way to celebrate the day - especially when my dad and I went out for ice cream by ourselves while the kids napped; two days before, Mu and I took Grandpa Rad to Norm's for a straight-razor shave.  During the visit We talked life, we talked past, and he gave sage advice about family/work balances.  We were men being men who loved their families.

Now my dad is a huge golf nut; I can't stress enough that I am not, and despite playing a round with my dad on occasion, it's not my game.  Nevertheless, the US Open was this weekend.  After we got back from ice cream, the kids were up and my dad settled in to watch the 18th hole of the last round of the tournament.  Mu climbed up next to him, looked at the TV, popped his thumb in his mouth, and studied.  After a few moments of silence, he looked at my dad and uttered the words Grandpa Rad longed to hear:

"Papa, tell me of Golf, please."

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Pop Culture Collision

You can't beat conversations with a toddler.  From this morning:

Me: Hey buddy, who's that on your plate?
Mu: That's Woody.
Me: And who's that?
Mu: That's Woody's horse.
Me: And what's Woody's horse's name?
Mu: (emphatically) Luke Skywalker!

At least he didn't ask me to sing a "Han Solo" song again.  I have no idea how that tune goes.

Here's the thing: Mu hasn't seen either "Toy Story" or "Star Wars," yet.  He only knows of the characters because I tell him stories about those characters.  I think it'll blow his mind when he actually sees them on the screen.

Game Closet: Go Away Monster!

There are a lot of "experience it again for the first time" moments that I've had lately as the Mu is turning the corner and headed towards 3 years old.  In addition to him springing a Disney consciousness, and able to talk with me about Peter Pan, Mowgli, Beauty & the Beast, and (personal favorite) Aladdin, he's also able to tell me that he loves Chewbacca and Yoda - though he has no idea who they are or why.

Now board games have become a part of our regular play, and it all started with Gamewright's "Go Away Monster," quite possibly the best early, early-childhood game out there.  

The game is simple (as it should be): up to 4 players, each with their own board pick tiles out of a bag in order to decorate their room; if they draw a tile with a monster on it, they ceremoniously yell "Go Away Monster!" and throw it back in the box (or, if you are playing with a rowdy 2-year old, across the room, into the fireplace, out the window, etc.).  If players draw a tile for an object they already have, they are supposed to share it with another player who doesn't have that object.  The first person to complete their board is the winner.

Toddler Meets Xbox

I came home from work yesterday like any other day.  As I was helping Lady Rad pull dinner together by entertaining the Mu and Q, it was a good 20 minutes in the family room before I turned around and looked at our media rack - only to find the DVD tray of my Xbox open and askew.  Actually, "askew" might be a generous term.  Another term would be "looks like it was used as a chin-up bar."

The component that does almost as much heavy lifting in our home as our TV is now out of commission - which also means that DVD watching, game playing, and professional reviewing is down until I can get it repaired - hopefully without having to resort to purchasing a new box.

Here's the thing: the Xbox Slim is great, and normally the capacitive buttons I would welcome, except with a Toddler in the house... As Lady Rad reminds me "the flood waters of disaster continue to rise" but there's only so much higher I can place things before I am resigned to just living in the garage!

Scatological Report: Jungle Book Edition

© 1967 Walt Disney Co.

After a successful round of potty training yesterday, our little Man-Cub was congratulated on both his #1 and #2.  He responded with...

Mu: "I pee'ed and pooped in the potty.  It's the Bare Necessities!"

In a way, I guess he's right - having a designated place to do your business is one of those simple bare necessities of life!

Yea, Man!

Aquabats, Hi-Five Soup, and a Toddler

I've loved 'The Aquabats!' ever since I was introduced to them in 1999 by a friend who would pave the way for more important avenues to be explored than just superhero-based ska.

Although they've thinned their ranks a bit - getting rid of a horn section (regrettably) - and experimenting with new-wave synth, the 'Bats! still have never lost their cache with me: goofy song titles like "Magic Chicken," "Mechanical Ape," "Demolition Rickshaw," and (of course) "Super Rad," playful rhythms, bouncy fun, and all without an ounce of cursing or innuendo.

I've often flirted with the idea of becoming a Cadet (a card-carrying member of their fan club), but feel that my professional accolades would warrant me full-fledged status as "The Suit" (Aquabat Legal Counsel).  Maybe someday I'll get the call.

A 2-Year Old's Ode to Spring

Mu: "I love Springtime.  It's warm, and sunny, and plenty of bulldozers."

May your Springtime be full of bulldozers as well!

Scatological Report : Our floor will never be the same

Disclaimer:

Lady Rad does an amazing job of keeping the house tidy and establishing a very 50's lifestyle of me walking through the door with a hot, home-cooked meal waiting for me, the kids dressed and happy, and the house picked up.  She probably doesn't know how much I know that takes an enormous amount of prep and work each and every day.  I try to show my appreciation by being able to pick up both of the kids on my way through the door, and entertain them while getting changed and allow LR to put the finishing touches on our family meal.  I love her so much, and the loving servant she is to our home, our kids, and me.

Here's the scene yesterday:

Potty Training - it all comes out in the end

The SuperRad Fam has moved into a new frontier - that of potty training the Mu.

We wanted to put this off as long as possible, especially since our hands are pretty tied with making sure that Q doesn't roll into something painful as she manages to trench-crawl her way around the house like a Private during Boot Camp.

Still it was Mu who insisted, and we are happy to try to oblige him.  The past week hasn't been without highs and lows, many of which I'll chronicle in the near future.  For now, though know this - the SuperRad Fam is on high alert for all scatological activities in the area. 

And never have I imagined that Lady Rad and I would discuss poop in all manners so freely.

The Dynamic Duo... through a 2-year old's eyes

Me:  What'cha got there buddy?

Mu:  Batman and Christopher Robin.

Me:  You mean Batman & Robin?

Mu: Yea.  Batman and Christopher Robin.

Who.. of course... keep the 100 Acre Woods safe from the Joker, the Riddler, and very blustery days.

Toy Chest: Sprig Dino Adventure Rig

Hold onto your butts.

Tick-tock, Tick-tock.  That's the sound of time running out.

Never fear, though, because SuperRad Dad is here with another fantastic offering from Sprig Toys. 

What does the Mu love? He loves to smash things and he loves things that smash things.  This is why the Dino Adventure Rig from Sprig, which combines a truck to smash and two dinosaurs that smash, is like a slice of heaven to a 2 year old. 

Catch of the Day

The SuperRad Fam went up to Lady Rad's parents for Thanksgiving this weekend. In addition to a snow-covered forest and coma-inducing levels of food, Team SuperRad got to experience another holiday cliche - sharing a bed with a toddler.

Because we had only one pack-n-play available, we decided that the Mu was old enough to be able to sleep on an inflatable mattress next to our bed while Q took the pack-n-play. This idea was short-lived when Mu informed us that his new digs were "spooky." He crawled into bed with us and the next thing I knew, he and Lady Rad somehow managed to take up about 90% of the bed.

The Importance of Barber-ism

Most of my childhood haircuts involved my mother taking me to a place called Bo Ricks (does that place even exist anymore?). It was your typical chop shop for cheap haircuts ($6, I remember - that was the big selling point), and a woman would always cut my hair.  It was fine, it served its purpose, and my mom got another errand off of her checklist.

But there was a magic time when my dad took me to his barber - a guy named Franco.  Franco's shop was in the same city as my dad's office, so I only got to go see Franco when I went I went to work with my dad on a weekday.  I only recall going to Franco's once, and I don't remember the haircut he gave me, but I remembered the joy that I felt being in a place inhabited only by men with my dad - it was a right of passage.