NW Kid Chaser

Although charades is a classic group game, I must admit I've never been a fan. One person frantically racks their brain (and body) to act out a given term, while the crowd passively sits and watches.

Then I heard about Reverse Charades. Pure genius! This version turns the classic game upside down and has just one person guessing, while everyone else is involved in the 'acting'.

I made my own list of items/titles, cut them into slips and brought them out for our neighborhood Solstice party. It was hilarious fun! Favorite moments of the night: One neighbor stepping into a barrel to throw themselves over Niagara Falls; The neighborhood kids channeling the Beatles; and perching on a chair in an attempt to reenact the 'I'm the King of the World' moment from Titanic.

Here's my list (Feel free to use it at your next party!):

My oldest dressed as the stockbroker last year, but with the economy as it is.. he had to find more reliable work. Ha! (Are we the only family who creates back stories for our Halloween costumes?)

Happy Halloween - May your imaginative ones be safe!

My youngest son celebrated his 5th birthday this month. Ek! How did 5 years go by so fast?

For the special occasion, we planned a small party with school friends and chose a Superhero theme. (I thank all the fabulous Mommies who have come before me for their inspiration and great ideas!) Here was our recipe for fun:

Step #1-
Superhero ABC makes for a great read aloud, as it includes some pretty heavy alliteration that encourages kiddos to think of words that fit the pattern. (Mom alert: The V Superhero Vomits on Villains which is Very Vile – be warned.)

Step#2-
Superhero capes made from inexpensive costume fabric can be cut, surged, and finished with double fold bias tape with ease. Use super-savvy sticky-backed felt to create letters and symbols to decorate the back. Have even more stickers and jewels on hand for Superkids to personalize their cape and decorate their superhero mask.

Step#3-
Drop a pinch of paper confetti into brown balloons before blowing-up and allow your super heroes to demonstrate their superhuman strength by lifting and then crushing these “rocks.” The resulting confetti all-over-the-floor is dramatic, but vacuums up easily. We also hid stars throughout the house and children used their amazing eagle-eyes and x-ray vision to find those stars inscribed with their name. It’s all the fun of hide-and-seek, with no one crouched beneath your coats in the front closet.

Step #4-
Be prepared for running, as it’s almost impossible to put on a superhero cape, flex your muscles, and NOT run around in order to see the cape flap-in-the-wind behind you.