To keep in the spirit we just finished reviewing Barefoot Books Lin Yi’s Lantern. At the back of the book was directions on how to make a lantern. So while my oldest was at school, the younger two worked on making their own lanterns to decorate the house.

First they decorated the outside of their lanterns

After folding the paper in half...

... they cut strips

Rolled and glued and handles added, the lanterns are finished.

The kids loved their finished lanterns. They’ll make great decorations for Chinese New Year if they survive being paraded around the house.

You can also see my review of Lin Yi’s Lantern as part of my Write a Review Wednesday post on my main blog.

As if the movie itself wasn’t enough to get me excited, Disney Interactive Studios will be releasing video games based on the Alice in Wonderland movie, for both Nintendo DS and the Wii.

When I received an invitation from High Road Communications and Disney Interactive Studios to attend a sneak peek presentation of the new games and I jumped at the chance. Sitting at the Mad Hatter’s table for high tea set the tone of the presentation wonderfully.

In Disney Alice in Wonderland, players journey down the rabbit hole into a whimsical world of immersive exploration. The objective is to protect Alice from the angry Red Queen and you do so by playing various characters like the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat, Dormouse and more. From what I saw of the Wii game, the look and feel is very close to that of the movie. You solve puzzles, battle the Red Queen’s army and discover new powers. The game can be played in single player mode or as a co-op game with two players working together. Disney Alice in Wonderland for the Wii is expected in stores around the same time the movie is released (March) and will retail for $39.99 Cdn.

Disney Alice in Wonderland, Wii
Release date: March 2010
Rating: 10+ for everyone with fantasy violence
Age range: 10+
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Retail: $39.99 Cdn

There will also be a DS version of Disney Alice in Wonderland and although it is based on the movie, the game itself is different from the Wii version. The graphic design is a flatter, 2-D cartoon like feel, but from what I’ve seen, I think it works really well. Like the Wii version, you role is to protect Alice and you can play one of the various characters in the story. The game is designed to work well with the stylus. Even the menus are creatively built into the screen design. The DS version of Disney Alice in Wonderland is also expected in stores March, retailing for $29.99 Cdn.

Disney Alice in Wonderland, DS
Release date: March 2010
Rating: 10+ for everyone with fantasy violence
Age range: 9-14
Platform: Nintendo DS
Retail: $29.99 Cdn

Although both games are based on the Tim Burton’s movie Alice in Wonderland, the look and varied game play seem to make them unique enough that I could own both (and probably will). Now I’m excited about the movie AND the games. I look forward to the opportunity to review the games when they’re released.

Other games Disney Interactive Studios also has releasing in March:

Sonny with a Chance for Nintendo DS™ allows players to experience random and humorous events inspired by the hit Disney Channel series with the “So Random” cast. Fans can play as their favourite character and take their chance in a board game loaded with mini-games, random events and wacky power-ups to get the most fan mail. Players compete in more than 40 mini-games, including pie throwing, puzzle solving, races, and more, with two designed exclusively for Nintendo DSi. Navigate through five different game boards inspired by familiar locations in the show as well as customize your characters with costumes. Sonny with a Chance will launch in 2010, timed to coincide with the second season premiere of the Disney Channel series.

Sonny with a Chance, DS
Release date: March 2010
Rating: E for Everyone with comic mischief (anticipated)
Age range: 8-12
Platform: Nintendo DS
Retail: $29.99 Cdn (anticipated)

In Disney Stitch Jam, Stitch must embark on rhythm-based missions that take place in stunning locations, from tropical beaches to outer space, and defeat Dr. Hamsterviel in an epic galactic showdown to save his kidnapped girlfriend, Angel. Disney Stitch Jam is also equipped with two-player co-operative play via download, which means two players can play with one game and play as Stitch and Angel.

Disney Stitch Jam, DS
Release date: March 2010
Rating: E for Everyone with comic mischief
Age range: 6-12
Platform: Nintendo DS
Retail: TBD

All four games are due out in March which will be great as a March break boredom buster.

My seven-year old will be turning eight in April. I know, that’s a few months away, but we thought we’d be taking a trip to celebrate her birthday that’s why we were talking about it now. It turns out she doesn’t want to go away but instead wants to host a party at home. Remember last year, when I hosted her birthday, my very first at home party? It was a great success even though it was a lot of work; I was exhausted at the end of the two hours. But if I could do it last year, I could do it again this year, right?

So after dinner my daughter and I sat down to talk about what she wanted to do. See, my daughter gets these great big ideas in her head which is fine but I’m the one that has to fulfill them so I wanted to set expectations early. She wants to throw another Webkinz themed birthday party like last year, but with different things. The only thing different from last year is she wants to control the party.

I know what you’re thinking: So what, it’s her birthday. It should be what she wants it to be. You’re right, but the parent in me, the one who has to gathers all the elements and buys all the supplies and makes all the decorations and deals with the upset child when it doesn’t turn out the way she wants, that parent stepped in and started taking control. Needless to say, my daughter took this as taking over HER party. We exchanged words, not pleasant ones, and she went to bed.

As I was getting the other two in bed I replayed the events in my head. I totally was taking over her party. I had set high expectations at the last party, the one I had more control over, and was worried her version wouldn’t live up to it. I felt awful. I went in and apologized. I explained that she could have the party anyway she wanted; it was her party and I would work with her to make it what she wanted. We talked about it. We apologized for the things we said. We hugged. We both realized we were getting wrapped up in The Party and forgetting the actual event: celebrating my daughter’s birthday.

Now my daughter is thinking of just having a few girls over for a play-date (movies, munchies and video games). I think that’s going to be a great birthday.

Have chess board, will travel

Due to the weather the kids at school has an indoor day last week. To keep the kids occupied and stop them from bouncing off the walls one of the teachers introduced my daughter’s class to the game of chess. She fell in love. For the next few days dinner conversation consisted of different moves you can make with the chess pieces, what the chess pieces are called, how much fun it is to play chess, so on and so on.

When she found out the school has a chess club she just had to belong. And to belong meant she had to practice. And of course in order to practice she needed her own chess board. So her dad bought her a chess board on the weekend. Actually he bought it for the whole family but my daughter has become the keeper. So now in the morning she plays chess, after homework she plays chess, they practice at school on Wednesday and of course she has to bring HER chess board to school (like carrying a backpack and lunch bag isn’t enough of a struggle). My daughter is so obsessed with chess she tries to play a game with her three-year old sister, who just wants to make the pieces dance.

I guess I need to learn so my daughter has someone she can actually play and practice with. No any good chess books for beginners?

If you’re going to applaud your airline pilot then why not your train engineer or bus driver or taxi driver. Some of the risks taxi drivers take to get you from point A to point B without killing either of your or getting ticketed deserve a round of applause (unless you’re another car or pedestrian, then he probably deserves the finger but that’s a different story).

Heck, while you’re at it, why not give me applause. Helping with a homework assignment and mediating a Lego fight while wielding a sharp knife for cutting dinner vegetables is pretty amazing if I say so myself.

I’m all for recognition of a job well done. I just wish those who did a well job actually received it.

We arrived back home and she heads back to school, still wearing her party arm band. Christmas comes and goes and my daughter still wears her arm band. You can see it on her arm during our breakfast with Santa. I was only able to convince her to remove it today. Now it sits on her dressor, so she can daydream about the next time she head’s out to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (hopefully without the rain and with her brother and sister in tow).

One of the first things we do as a family on New Years Day is visit my in-laws. When we arrive my husband dashes in front of everyone on the walkway to get to the door first. Not to open it for us, but to make sure he’s the first one through the door. It seems there’s a superstition my mother-in-law believes that the first person to cross her threshold, the first footer or ‘lucky bird’, can influence the entire next year. And if you want it to be a lucky year that person needs to be a dark haired man. A blond or red-haired person is bad luck and a woman? Well, let’s just say historically people were encouraged to deter woman from crossing the threshold first, even if it meant using a gun (I’m not kidding). Thank goodness my mother-in-law likes me.

So every New Year’s Day my husband is the first one invited into my house before anyone else. Thank goodness New Year’s is only one day. Are there any New Year superstitions you or your family believe in?

Only a dark haired man need to apply

Everything Mom

Bigger Than Boxing Day Sale: Up to 60% off

From December 26, 2009 until January 31, 2010, you can save up to 60% off all in stock 2009 Fall active wear. From hoodies to shirts, pants and skirts, stock-up now. And if that’s not enough to entice you, all orders over $50 receive free shipping! Hurry, sale ends January 31 or while supplies last.

If you have a little one, be sure to checkout our review on Agoo’s Leg Huggers. We’re also giving away three (3) pairs to three (3) lucky Everything Mom readers. And keep your eyes peeled on Everything Mom for a review and giveaway of Agoo Activewear line for active kids, coming just in time for Spring.

Let me explain. We’re fortunate to have a house large enough that all three of my kids have their own room. I think everyone needs personal space at home (if you can afford it that is). But during Christmas break things change. During the two weeks my kids don’t go to school and therefore are up later and sleep in longer (though not much longer it seems), all three of my kids camp out in their brother’s room. Thus the Sibling Sleepover. My son sleeps in his raised bed and we blow-up two air mattresses for under the bed and on the floor for the two girls. They tell stories and jokes, make plans for the next day, talk about what they did today and just have fun, sometimes for hours after bedtime. And the surprising thing, no fighting.

Let the chatting commence!

Of course weening the kids from Sibling Sleepover won’t be a lot of fun, but at least they’ll have two fun-filled weeks of silliness. What are some of your Christmas traditions?

Then the answer appeared in my email yesterday. Jaren(a Sommelier who’s a friend of a friend of a friend) sent out her 2009 Food and Wine pairing list for the holiday season and now I’m here to share it with you (with her permission of course):

The wines Jaren pairs in this chart can be found in the LCBO’s General list versus the Vintages section. This means they are available in most LCBOstores. All the wines paired in this chart have been highly rated by Billy Munnelly, author of Billy’s Best Bottles. Wines for 2010, and Wine Educator David Lawrason. And if that wasn’t good enough, all the wines are listed below $16.00 Cdn.

I should also point out that in her email Jaren mentioned that all these wines are on the shelves now but that does not mean they will be there the rest of the year.  So enjoy some new wines or interesting pairings this holiday season.

Cheers. And thank you Jaren for making my holiday season a little more festive.