As much as I miss having my hubby around, I don't mind the single-mom routine occasionally. ... As long as blizzards are held at bay.
I'm at the point I am pouncing on any one-on-one time with our baby, knowing that at any moment, his pre-teen attitude could kick in and he'll want nothing to do with either one of us. So for now, I'll take advantage of every opportunity.
On Monday and Tuesday nights we had the same routine: supper, homework, then a game. We had a nail-biting game of Bustola on Monday (I barely beat him). And last night, well, we ran out of time, but I'm pretty sure I would have won the UNO game.
Although Daddy sometimes ribs me about hanging on every word Carter says, each day he says something I just find entertaining or even thought-provoking.
On Monday, he was thinking it might be a wise career move to be a government employee so he could get all the holidays off. Then, after further thought, he said a teacher would be even better. Three months off! "Can you imagine how different it will be when I'm a teacher?" he said. "We didn't even have SmartBoards (computerized chalkboard/wipe board) back when I was in first grade and now we do!"
Last night, after I picked him up, he talked about watching the inauguration and its historic value. "I just don't understand what the big deal is if someone is black or white," he said. "What's the difference? I mean we're all the same. Why do some people hate black people? We have a black president today but like 40 years ago they were killing each other. How did this even start?"
I think I prefer the simpler questions like how many planets are there? But even that changes.
When I tried to explain about the Civil Rights Movement, the Civil War and slavery, I got a sick feeling in my stomach just saying out loud, "We owned them." What kind of people were we? Are we?
I'm encouraged that Carter is growing up an environment where people are treated fairly and equally. Where he questions why it shouldn't be that way with everyone. I have faith this truly is a new era. And I'm grateful to be a part of it.
Showing posts with label UNO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNO. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Card sharks
I've always enjoyed playing cards and learning new games. I'm not saying I'm any good at it. I just like to play -- and I can shuffle pretty good.
When I was growing up we played a lot of rummy, hearts, variations of poker (including the Tripoly game), UNO, a game we called "Peanuts" and one we called "500" (which was an "adult" game because it had trump!). I learned euchre in college and we played that a ton. Thanks to computers, I've learned a bit about Texas Hold 'em, but I'm not so obsessed with it that I'd watch it on TV or anything.
I also remember playing cribbage with my dad. I don't recall if I ever beat him. My hubby is a huge cribbage fan and I do recall clearly -- no, I have never beat him. In fact, 4 out of 5 times I get skunked! I just don't have a knack for it.
Carter likes playing Slap Jack and War with me. At least I found an opponent of equal skill!
Last fall, my sister Rayna introduced us to "3 to 13" -- a new card game she learned down in Texas. I taught it to Jim and Carter over the holidays and it has become our new family game. It's not really a hard game -- you just have to pay attention.
The rules (in case you want to play): You start by getting 3 cards and the 3's are wild (Jokers are always wild). To go out, you have to get 3 of a kind or a run of 3 (all in the same suit). When someone goes out, the other players get one more chance to go out. They add up whatever cards they are left holding (face value for 9 and under; 10 points for face cards; 15 points for aces). Then we move to 4's -- 4 cards, 4's are wild, you need 4 of a kind or run of 4, and so on. From 4 on up, after someone has gone out, we are allowed on our last turn to lay down 3 of a kind or a run of 3 just to get rid of some cards. It really gets interesting (and challenging) by the time we get to 13 (kings are wild) and you have to figure out how many runs you need to equal 13 (3 runs of 3 and 1 of 4).
This is one game we've all won at least once. Daddy usually keeps score. Instead of just writing D, M and C on the pad for Daddy, Mommy and Carter, he is always D but mine and Carter's always change to initials like BT (Big Talker) or SL (Stinkin' Lucky) or just plain T if we finished third (or "turd") the game before. We can't have a game in my family without some teasing going on!
I'm OK with that. It's fun to sit at the table a few times a week and do something besides eat or homework. Carter has found it's a good stall tactic, too. "I can't go to bed. We're not at 13 yet." That doesn't work. The other night it was bedtime so I quit at the queens (12's). We actually just finished up the next night with one hand (I won, by the way. But who's counting?)
When I was growing up we played a lot of rummy, hearts, variations of poker (including the Tripoly game), UNO, a game we called "Peanuts" and one we called "500" (which was an "adult" game because it had trump!). I learned euchre in college and we played that a ton. Thanks to computers, I've learned a bit about Texas Hold 'em, but I'm not so obsessed with it that I'd watch it on TV or anything.
I also remember playing cribbage with my dad. I don't recall if I ever beat him. My hubby is a huge cribbage fan and I do recall clearly -- no, I have never beat him. In fact, 4 out of 5 times I get skunked! I just don't have a knack for it.
Carter likes playing Slap Jack and War with me. At least I found an opponent of equal skill!
Last fall, my sister Rayna introduced us to "3 to 13" -- a new card game she learned down in Texas. I taught it to Jim and Carter over the holidays and it has become our new family game. It's not really a hard game -- you just have to pay attention.
The rules (in case you want to play): You start by getting 3 cards and the 3's are wild (Jokers are always wild). To go out, you have to get 3 of a kind or a run of 3 (all in the same suit). When someone goes out, the other players get one more chance to go out. They add up whatever cards they are left holding (face value for 9 and under; 10 points for face cards; 15 points for aces). Then we move to 4's -- 4 cards, 4's are wild, you need 4 of a kind or run of 4, and so on. From 4 on up, after someone has gone out, we are allowed on our last turn to lay down 3 of a kind or a run of 3 just to get rid of some cards. It really gets interesting (and challenging) by the time we get to 13 (kings are wild) and you have to figure out how many runs you need to equal 13 (3 runs of 3 and 1 of 4).
This is one game we've all won at least once. Daddy usually keeps score. Instead of just writing D, M and C on the pad for Daddy, Mommy and Carter, he is always D but mine and Carter's always change to initials like BT (Big Talker) or SL (Stinkin' Lucky) or just plain T if we finished third (or "turd") the game before. We can't have a game in my family without some teasing going on!
I'm OK with that. It's fun to sit at the table a few times a week and do something besides eat or homework. Carter has found it's a good stall tactic, too. "I can't go to bed. We're not at 13 yet." That doesn't work. The other night it was bedtime so I quit at the queens (12's). We actually just finished up the next night with one hand (I won, by the way. But who's counting?)
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