Wonder Forge Game Review

Last month, I was asked if I'd like to review some of the top new games for Holiday 2012 from a company called Wonder Forge. After reading about the company, and learning more about them, I was so impressed, I simply HAD to say yes! I'm always on the hunt for new games for family game night that can be played and enjoyed by the whole family. Let me share a little bit about Wonder Forge with you, right from their website.

Wonder Forge, and their preschool sub brand, I Can Do That! Games, was created in 2007 when a small group of creative types came together to develop extraordinarily fun, original play experiences for kids and families.

 The Wonder Forge takes an innovative approach to licensing, bringing cherished literary classics and award-winning television shows to life in a whole new way, through dynamic and inventive game play. 

 Wonder Forge family games provide brain challenging fun for all, while bridging  generation gaps and building family bonds....

I received a selection of games, ironically enough, on Halloween.  It's ironic because, well, the twinnies dressed up as The Cat in The Hat's Thing 1 and Thing 2 for Halloween, and my little #6 was not in the mood to have turquoise hair until we pulled this out of the box and could show him pictures! Dr. Seuss' Fun Machine App-Play game was an instant hit, and we had to play a quick game of memory with the tiles before preschool.. with turquoise hair.  Though this particular game is an App-Play game, we have enjoyed it both with and without the Daddy's iPad.

The fun from Wonder Forge is not only geared toward boys. Disney Princess addicts, have no fear! Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party and Disney Princess Dazzling Princess are perfect for your own little princess. Racing to crown cupcakes, dressing up, pretend play... it doesn't get much better than this! There's no way to avoid embracing your inner princess while playing these darling Disney Princess games.

Who Shook Hook is my personal favorite. I realize that I'm oozing praise from my pores at this point, but I have to share this. While this may not have been the intention of Wonder Forge, my little guys have been using Who Shook Hook as part of their fine motor practice, and loving every minute of it. Logan's hands shake when doing any type of fine motor skill, so having a game like this has really helped to make his practice a fun time rather than one of drudgery. Way to go, Wonder Forge! Very cool. Very.

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Neverland Challenge game was another instantaneous hit at the monster house, bringing out each monster's inner pirate with sword action, a cannon ball, treasure, and lots of giggling and silliness while trying to keep balance and crab walk. This is our favorite game for right before bed time to get all the wiggles out. Even the teenage monsters like to get in on the action. But shhhhh! That's supposed to be a secret! *wink wink, nudge nudge* It gets better! This game has been nominated for the Toy of the Year (TOTY) award by the Toy Industry Association (TIA). This is so completely fabulous, I'm providing a clickable link HERE, because Wonder Forge would love your support. Please vote for them by checking the box right at the top for Disney Jake and the Neverland Pirates, then scrolling down and clicking submit.

Whether it's family game night, entertaining a sick child, having a play date, or just spending some quality time together, Wonder Forge has definitely figured out how to make games that will surprise and delight. We may not be Siskel and Ebert here at the monster house, but we DO know games and family time, so we have 18 thumbs up (7 monsters, 2 parents... 18 thumbs up. Do the math, people! ) for the good people of Wonder Forge. Keep up the good work, and best of luck for TOTY!

Official game images property of Wonder Forge, and used with permission

Images of children and children playing games are mine

Very special thanks to G. and S. Bosshardt for contributing to this post

Dear Santa's Little Helper...

Dear Santa's Little Helper,

I know I'm tardy in writing, but let me just say: you made my day, my week, my year. Truly. I cried happy tears. I am still overwhelmed, and I am in awe to the point that I still tear up every day as I use your gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Your gift is.... well.. it's perfection. I am humbled. And also? Curiosity is killing me, because I can NOT figure out who you are!!! That is all.

Love,
Me

For everyone who doesn't know what the heck is going on, or why on earth I'm writing a thank you letter to Santa's Little Helper in November (and no, I don't mean the dog from The Simpsons), I'm going to tell you a story. A very cool story. A story that should be a fairy tale, but actually happened in real life. And I still can't believe it.

Once upon a time last week, there was a Momma. That would be me. Now, this Momma has had a heck of a time with a #5, and school lately. His teacher is amazing and wonderful and incredible and I love her extremely, but we are both all emotional now, trying to figure this silly #5 out. The boy is stubborn, and most likely smarter than any 7 year old has a right to be. Anyway, after a rough morning at school with #5, I walked out to my car at lunch time with aforementioned child for an impromptu lunch date and heart to heart, in hopes that it would help with... stuff.

Now, in this wonderland in the sticks that we call home, no one locks their cars or their houses. And, when we reached our mom enforcement vehicle (remember, I drive a retired black and white police cruiser), several wrapped boxes were in my front seat. Not little boxes, either.

I admit it. We stood in the parking lot like idiots,my precious #5 and I, staring at our car like we had never seen it before, and saying intelligent things like "huh??" and "What's that?" And then, we remembered that we were hungry, so we put the boxes in the back and headed out to eat. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to get back home so I could tear in to that wrapping paper because I was really hoping the presents were for me, and not the monsters. I know. I know. I actually have guilt about that part. I should be a better mother. I love presents a little too much. Mostly because I never get them, but that is entirely beside the point.

I dropped #5 back off at school, amidst a flurry of stern admonitions, expressions of love, and "I just know you're going to have an awesome afternoon! See you in a couple of hours, baby!" while crossing my fingers and hoping that there would be no call that afternoon. Then I broke the speed limit the entire length of the three houses that are between my home and the school, and took the loot the stash the pretty boxes into the house, with help from my #1, because I was still recovering from having a kidney stone. (story for another day)

The boxes were labeled "open first" and "open second" and then there were a couple of smaller, unlabeled boxes, and an envelope labeled "open last!", which was underlined three times. I got the hint. I opened the envelope last. Remember, there was no name on these boxes, so there was a tiny little thing in the back of my brain saying "DANGER, Will Robinson! These presents are not for you! DO NOT OPEN!" but I ignored it.

Want to know what was inside? Do ya? Check it out, people. This is what was inside. Can ya STAND it?! I stood there, looking at the box with the Daddy. I looked at him, he looked at me. We both said, "Oh, no way. No WAY! There's no way." Because we're eloquent like that.

Well, in fact... WAY. It was a brand spanking new Bosch universal mixer with food processor and other completely awesome goodies. This is the mixer that I have silently wanted for ten years, and never got because I couldn't ever afford one. And some how, somewhere, Santa's Little Helper found out I was doing everything in the kitchen by hand. The card in the envelope confirmed, without a doubt, that these boxes were indeed for me. In November, when no one expects Santa's Little Helper to be off vacation yet, there it is.

Needless to say, I have been mixing, baking, shredding, and killing candy canes with insanely sharp food processor blades, and making cookies, bread, rolls, and cheese balls, and buying lots of sugar and flour and eggs and vanilla, and planning lots of scarily involved things to bake and mix and chop and slice and whip for Thanksgiving next week. And the Daddy has been roaring "No touch the Momma's machine!!" at the monsterlettes. And the monsterlettes beg me to use "the machine" at every moment of the day, because they giggle while they watch things mixing through the lid. The fam, as you might guess, has not complained about this. Not even one tiny little squeak of "What?! Homemade rolls for dinner again? Aw, man! Pumpkin bread for breakfast? But I wanted Cap'n Crunch!" This is the epitome of awesome.

The timing was impeccable. I mean, seriously. Right before the most awesome holiday baking marathon of the year. So, I'll thank you again, and I'll think of the magic of that day last week every time I use it. And I will never ever get over the feeling I had that afternoon, which was just like the feeling I got on Christmas morning as a little girl, looking at the sparkly lights on the tree and seeing the proof that Santa is real.

Thank you for reminding me, a cynical, deeply sarcastic 38 year old child, that Santa is real.

Santa's Little Helper image via the google, by virginmedia.com

Bosch Universal Plus image via the google, by boschmixers.com

Air Quotes and Villains

Yesterday, I asked my cute little #6 what he would like for lunch. I offered a couple of options, and fully expected the child to select from them. But, no. That was not to be. Instead, the boy looked me dead in the eye and said,"Mumma, I want *air quote* gwiwwed teez *air quote*.  An oval *air quote* gwiwwed teez *air quote*" Let me translate for you, as we have a little speech issue here, and it's not nearly as easy to understand in print as it is in real life. #6 wants an oval grilled cheese sandwich. Not just any oval grilled cheese sandwich, but an air quoted grilled cheese sandwich. And also? What's an oval grilled cheese sandwich? I'd love someone to explain that to me, as the only bread this child has ever seen usually has square slices, unless someone stepped on, sat upon, or otherwise mangled the bread on the way home from the store. This happens more than I care to admit. We have a lot of french toast shaped like scary abstract art sculptures..... but I digress. *Ahem*

I'll have you know that my over active (and extremely under used) imagination went right to work. I couldn't help myself. It was the fault of the air quotes. I just know it. But when he did that whole thing? My brain went there. I totally imagined a mustachioed villain, speaking out of the side of his mouth while twirling that long evil 'stache, standing on a street corner waiting for innocent children to walk home from school. "Hey, kid! KID! Wanna buy a dime bag of..... *air quote* oval grilled cheese *air quote*?"

Is this what we have come to? My 4 year old is now using oval grilled cheese as code for some sort of black market baby crack? What would that black market baby crack be? Cinderella fruit snacks? And who taught my monsterlette the proper use of air quotes anyway?? It boggles the mind. I'm not old enough or mature enough for this kind of trauma. This kind of thing is what prompts the Daddy to encourage me (yet again) to go to the doctor and get a nice prescription for ativan....

Air quote image via the google, by panoplyofnothing.blogspot.com

Villain image via the google, by tvtropes.org