WW: Brothers {Linky}

Or as they like to call each other "Bra" or "Bro". I tried getting them to stop saying, "Bra", as it sounds a bit like what a girl puts on as  an under undergarment. It was like a losing battle, since they were alone together almost all of spring break. Just as long as they don't call me, "Bra" or "Bro". I tell them, "Ma" is ok.

 I think he's getting too big for this!

I tried getting them to sit all nice in a old school house desk at a museum. That didn't work. LOL

I have a low entry giveaway for a super fun game called Stuff Happens here.

Giveaway: Stuff Happens By @GoliathGamesUS

I'm so happy to find a game that my 12 year old likes! I grew up playing card and bored games. Mica's always rolled his eyes when it came to games. It's wonderful to find a game that Mica can get into.

The game that Mica likes is Stuff Happens By Goliath Games. 

About Stuff Happens:

The cards are both hilarious, and messed up. You get to rank them on how bad the situation on the card is. If you correctly rank 10 cards you win!

I love the vector images on the cards!

Instructions: 

They are pretty clear. I'm a visual person, so I also watched their video online before we played.

1. Shuffle the cards. They are glossy, so at first like any new deck they are hard to shuffle. There are a lot of cards. For one game you may only need 1/2 of the cards.

2. Each player starts out with 3 cards. Make it so everyone can see your cards. Organize them from lower to bigger.

3. We played from youngest to oldest. It's for ages 13 and up. We did include Isaak, but just had to explain some of the cards to him. You could also just do rock, paper, scissors, or flip a coin to decide who goes first.

4. The person to the side of you reads a card. You have to decide what percent the card fits into.

Example: Your Heart Surgeon Graduated at the Bottom of Class.

The person reading the card can see the percent. You can't see it. You have to guess where it fits within the 3 cards you have. If you guess right, you add it to your 3 cards to have 4 cards. If you get it wrong, you put it back in the discard pile.

5. Play until one player gets 10 cards. I won our game! The game ends there. Unless you're in my family. The boys played to see who got 2nd and 3rd place.

My ten cards and the boys playing for 2nd and 3rd place:

Who Wants to Win Stuff Happens? 

A $19.97 value. Purchase at Walmart. US entries only. You need to be 18 years or older to enter. No PO boxes please. Winner: Please claim your prize within 48 hours, or I'll pick a new winner. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Goliath gave me Stuff Happens to help with this review and giveaway. They in no way influenced what I wrote, or my opinions.

Ugears @UkrainianBridges Review

I love toys like Ugears! 

Why do I like them? 

1. They make my kids think before, during and after they create. 


2. They are toys for older kids. Mica still likes getting fun things, but he's growing out of many toys on the market. The sets we got from Ugears actually are for ages 14 and up.


3. Their models help push STEM learning: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Except I like to add in STEAM: A = Art. Their models have it all. 


4. It was a bonding experience between Dad and the boys when they were built. 

Sets:

Ugears were so kind to send us 2 kits to review.

1. Ugears Dynamometer $19.90 | 48 Pieces | Level Easy


2. Ugears Tractor $29.90 | 97 Pieces | Level Intermediate

Wood:

The parts are all in sheets of a high tech wood. They really do not waist on packaging. I love that these models are not plastic!

The sheets look like this:

You want to pop the pieces out evenly to prevent them from breaking. We had to correct Isaak.

Here's one of the gears in the process of being put together:

Travis loved helping the boys put these together. He's like, "I could see making sculptures like this!" 

We did have some hiccups. Like how Mica thought he needed no help. He also thought he could get by without measuring things. Umm...no! I think he learned how important it is to measure with his model. He also learned that not all instructions are just like Lego. The instructions for Ugears are all pictorial. 

Isaak relies on help much of the time, since he's 9 almost 10. He just learned to pop the pieces out evenly. 

Instructions:

The instructions had no words. I think the boys wished they had some words. It's nice for the company because their models are sold in other spots around the world besides the US. Their pictures are really detailed. 

I Almost Want to Keep the Left Overs: 

Ugears Dynamometer: 

This really turned out to be fun! Isaak did need help putting together the 48 piece set. It reminded me of something that would be in the movie Hugo.

Ugears Tractor:

The rubber band still could be added. Otherwise it's finished. Mica needed assistance with this 97 piece model.

Here They Are Together:

Excuse Isaak's, "The sun's in my eyes!" look, even though the sun was on the other side of the house. Ha!

Check Out Our Video:

Which Ugear model do you like the most? The Tractor or the Dynamometer? What could you seeing them add to their collection? They have 35 or so models on their website.

Disclaimer: I got both Ugears Models to review. Ugears did not tell me what to write, or think of their products. I choose to write about products that fit this site.

Random Tid Bits

1. Marketing flaw: Not having kid's jean shorts out before Easter. Every year I want to buy some jean shorts for my boys, but they are never out at this time. They go with everything. 


2. I've come to a plateau with the "freelance" job search. There's 3 different ones, but nothing is promised. 


3. My nephew Emerson had scans done this week. He has fractures on his spine. :( The poor boy can't communicate what's wrong. I feel for him!


4. My student that attempted her life, attempted again. This is the same one that thinks I don't like her, when I do. :(


5. Isaak's been off for a few days. He's snotty, headachy, doesn't want to eat, and is just lagging. He felt slightly warm, but didn't have a fever. I'm not sure if it's sickness, or allergies. Today (Thursday) he has NeSA testing, and school pictures. :( I sent him to school, but gave him an allergy pill first. 

WW: MyHeritageDNA {Linky}

My parents got me a DNA test kit for Christmas.

I was alway curious as to what I am. I knew where many of my relatives came from, except my Grandpa on my Mom's side. He swears he's English, but he has dark skin, and a wide nose. I thought for sure he had Native American or African in him. 

Here were my results:

I guess I'll never know what my Grandpa is. He's 91 and still kicking, but would have no desire to do a DNA test. Maybe I get my 1.1% Middle Eastern from him.

It didn't really matter to me where I came from other than the fact that I was curious. I kind of wanted to figure my Grandpa out through my test. Ha!

Do you know where your relatives come from? Would you take a DNA test? Does it matter to you where you come from?

Random Tid Bits

1. I think it's odd that there's "Stationery" like a mailing package, and "Stationary" like someone is holding still. I noticed it's used wrong on graphic design websites all the time.
   
   There's 2 acceptable ways to spell, "Doughnut" and "Donut".
   
   "Wind" like your hair is blowing in the wind, and "Wind" like you wind your clock is the same spelling. The English language is so confusing. 


2. I'm pretty sure Isaak doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny. He's playing his card well. I asked the boys, "So do you guys want to visit the Easter Bunny in a store?" Of course they didn't want to because they are too old. A Reese's Pieces carrot shaped bag fell down onto the ground downstairs. Isaak said, "This fell." I said, "That's too bad!" He said, "We'll have to leave it out for the Easter Bunny." At this point I'm about to tell him, "Isaak that bunny isn't real." I'm ready for, "I know Mom." 




3. Mica thinks the Easter Bunny is like Santa. He starts to ask for things. I'm like, "The Easter Bunny doesn't work that way!" 


4. The Director came into my office earlier this week to say, "I can't tell you anyone's name, or the situation, but a student thinks you don't like her."
   
   What in the heck am I supposed to do with that? It was one of three students. Two girls leave a lot. I started calling them out on it, to show I noticed. The one girl who I know it is went through a lot of depression the first part of the semester was all sad last Friday and left suddenly, which isn't like her. The last student I mentioned is the one.
   
   She was all happy and laughing last Friday morning. Then in the afternoon she was all down in the dumps. She turned no work in to me in the morning. Then slapped it all down on the table with missing components. I said, "You're missing this..." Then I asked if she was alright? She said, "Ya." and left. I told Travis when I got home from work, "I really don't know what I said. I was all excited because we were talking about Children's Books." He said, "Don't blame yourself if she tries something. It's not your fault." A different girl came up and said, "So did the Director talk to you about (insert name)?" So that's how I know who it is. Drama! Students in this field have to have a thick skin. I have no idea what I said, or how I offended anyone that day. I can't even ask because I'm not supposed to know it's her. 


5. Finally taxes are in. With Travis adding that teaching gig, which is done now, me looking for "freelance jobs", and work we just got behind more than normal. They kind of looked cross-eyed at Travis when he turned them in. So much medical stuff this year! But I told him to tell them, "It's all calculated!" I hate doing taxes! I'm going to hate it even more next year when I can't deduct the kid's camps, medical, and dentist. 

Hurtz Donuts {Linky}

We stopped by a donut shop tin Lincoln, Nebraska. They have all kinds of crazy decorated donuts.

I picked a Reese's Peanut Butter Donut.

Travis picked a Snickers Donut.

Isaak picked a Thin Mint Donut.

Mica picked a German Chocolate Donut.

Which donut would you pick? Do you spell out donut, or doughnut? I think it's odd we spell it both ways here in the US.