Fun Last Minute 'Game Show' Advent Calendar Idea for Big Kids { Free Printable }

 Our children are now 11, 11, and 14.  If you have older kids like us, that means you might be running out of ideas for ways to make the annual tradition of an advent calendar a fresh and fun experience.  We have done everything from puzzle pieces to Lego minifigure parts, from Christmas books to dollar scratch tickets.

Since all 3 of our children are gamers, I thought it would be fun this year to give them a way to earn in-game currency.  Usually, I am not a huge fan of spending real life money on virtual items, so I think this will be a real treat for them. Since we have three children, I'll give each child one guess at the answer to one 'game show' question each day.  Only one child needs to answer correctly for all three to win the prize, which I have decided to be one dollar per child to go towards in-game currency or a gaming membership.

DIY Game Show Advent Calendar Activity . . .

Step 1.  Download the PDF below.  Then either print out four copies of the blank cards or digitally add text and save four versions with six different game cards on each version.  Do not include the answers to the game show questions on the card, but rather keep a list of them in a safe place.

TIP 1: I found age-appropriate Christmas-themed riddles online and used one riddle per card.  Other ideas would be trivia questions, math problems, brain twisters, tongue twisters they'd need to say 3 times quickly, etc . . .  If this activity is a hit this year, next year I might try Star Wars trivia questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE PRINTABLE PDF

Step 2. Carefully cut out your 24 cards.  Then roll them into tiny little scrolls and secure them with curling ribbon, gold cord, inexpensive Christmas stickers, Christmas washi tape, or tiny elastics.

TIP #2:  If you don't have the dexterity (or the desire) to roll and secure 24 tiny scrolls, other options would be to merely fold the cards in half  or into thirds, or to put them in business card sized envelopes.

Step 3.  Put one scroll into each day of your advent calendar. I also always include one small piece of candy for each child, but that is certainly not required.

What ideas do you have for making an advent calendar more fun and interesting?

Tell us in a comment here.

5 Tips for Visiting King Richard's Faire with Teens

The following post contains sponsored content.

 Visiting King Richard's Faire in Carver, Massachusetts is a fall tradition for our family, like picking apples, except with far more fun, excitement, and laughter.  This year, our children are a bit older, with our oldest being just a few months shy of 15.  For the first time in 7 years, our children did not ask to go through M'Lady's Shady Maze.  It was the dawn of a new era.

For all you Renaissance faire goers who have older children, I've put together a few tips to help ensure a fun time is had by all.  Aside from common sense tips, like telling your teens to stay together, to keep their phones on and with them at all times, to not leave the faire, to stay away from axe and knife throwing, and to not take candy from strangers, these are some things we found to be helpful during our family's visit to King Richard's Faire this year . . .


5 Tips for Visiting King Richard's Faire with Teens:

1.  Renfaire t-shirts - If your children are getting older and are reluctant to dress-up in costumes, Renaissance faire-themed t-shirts are a great option. They are fun, festive, and comfortable to wear, especially if you plan to stay all day.  I purchased custom renfaire t-shirts from The Paisley Hanger Boutique because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted online.  It was super-easy to order once I decided what I wanted.   The three shirts below were created for me, my husband, and our daughter.  My husband received many thumbs ups throughout the day for his shirt.

I really love the way the 'warrior princess' t-shirt came out for my son's girlfriend.  The design was perfect for a teenage girl.

View this post on Instagram

A day at #krfaire is so much #funforteens! #renfaire #ad

A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Sep 15, 2018 at 11:16am PDT

2.  Enjoy some shows together as a family - Before you let your teens go off on their own, try to catch a few shows together.  We made a list of what acts everyone wanted to see and tried to time it so we could see as many as possible.  Believe it or not, being organized enough to get to each stage early enough to get good seats is not an easy feat.  For example, we missed The Great Cats of the World Show this year because we had to squeeze in a bathroom break.  By the time we got there, the audience was packed and we couldn't get near it.  Luckily, we were able to get great seats for some very fun, laugh-out-loud shows.  Part of what makes these shows great is they always ask for volunteers from the audience.


Our Teens' 3 Favorite Shows at King Richard's Faire 2018 . . . 

#1: Kevin Armour was new to King Richard's Faire this year with his 'Up in Arms' act.  Our usually not-easily-impressed teenage son declared this act to be his new favorite.

Yes, he does put his whole body through a tennis racket. 😮

Our daughter was selected to be one of the volunteers.  It was not her first time as an audience participant at King Richard's Faire.  She did great, and she got to keep a beautiful yellow rose as a souvenir.

View this post on Instagram

Our daughter got the best #krfaire souvenir at the Up In Arms show! #renfaire #ad

A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Sep 15, 2018 at 9:20am PDT

#2: Although the Washing Well Wenches are a King Richard's Faire classic, it was our first time watching their show.  I have to say that I have never laughed so hard in my entire life, and tears ran down my face more than once during the show.  Although there was no profanity, the humor is very suggestive and over-the-top.  You will need to decide when your children are mature enough for the Washing Well Wenches.

Gerty (pictured above) and Sprout (pictured below) were such animated, charismatic characters.  The entire family enjoyed the show immensely.

#3:  Jacques Ze Whipper has always been a favorite of the whole family.  We always watch his show at least once per visit to King Richard's Faire.  My husband secretly wishes to be chosen as a volunteer from the audience every year. Maybe next year . . .

3.  Set aside some free time - Be sure to set aside time when your teens can explore King Richard's Faire freely.  There is so much to discover between acts they've never seen and the many artisan shops.  This year, I feel like we did not leave enough time for exploration because we had to leave an hour before the faire closed for the day.  If possible, I recommend allowing two hours for your teens to walk around without being rushed.

4.  Make sure your teen has cash - Although most shops take credit or debit cards, some shops only take cash, and some only take cards with a minimum purchase.  In addition, all food vendors only take food tickets, which can only be purchased with cash.  All games and rides only accept cash, as well.

A new treat at King Richard's Faire this year are the 'unicorn donuts'.  They are delicious plain, but can be drizzled with maple glaze or the very special pink and blue unicorn glaze topped with edible glitter.

Some of the rides our teens chose this year, were the Pirate Ship Ride and the Pony Ride.

5.  Set a time and place to meet up - Set a time 10 or 15 minutes before you actually need to leave to all reconvene.  This builds in a buffer in case your teens lose track of time.  Also, set a meeting place that's easy to find, such as at the Remembrance Shoppe or at the SKY Chairs.  They can likely ask anyone at the faire how to get to either of these locations.

This year, King Richard's Faire is open every weekend between now and October 21st, 2018.  They are even open on Columbus Day!  Check out the schedule of themed weekends and special events to help you decide which weekend to attend.  You can purchase tickets online, which is what I recommend,  or at the gate.

See more photos from our 2018 visit here.

If you're a faire regular, let us know what tips you have to share for visiting King Richard's Faire

in a comment here.

Even MORE Fun Things Kids Can Say to Alexa (Amazon Echo)

Two and half years later, we still love our Amazon Echo.  In fact, we ended up purchasing an Echo Dot for the upstairs and another for my husband's office at work.  We love discovering new things to say to Alexa.  Check out some kid-friendly things we've tried asking or saying to Alexa recently.

50 More Things Kids Can Say to Alexa:

1. "Alexa, be a superhero!"
2. "Alexa, who is your favorite cartoon character?"
3. "Alexa, what is your favorite kind of pizza?"
4. "Alexa, be a super villain!"
5. "Alexa, who is Darth Vader?"
6. "Alexa, do you fart?'
7. "Alexa, what is your favorite flower?"
8. "Alexa, kiss me!"
9. "Alexa, do you sleep?"
10. "Alexa, who is your favorite DC Comics character?"
11. "Alexa, do you cry?"
12. "Alexa, how high can you count?"
13. "Alexa, who is your favorite Disney character?"
14. "Alexa, tell me a limerick." (Ask her more than once)
15. "Alexa, what does a monkey sound like?" (Also try chicken, ferret, blue whale, wolf and bunny)
16. "Alexa, who is your favorite Disney villain?"
17. "Alexa, tell me a Star Wars joke?" (Ask her more than once)
18. "Alexa, do you like cats or dogs?"
19. "Alexa, do you have children?" 
20. "Alexa, who is your favorite Marvel character?"
21. "Alexa, help! I've fallen and I can't get up."
22. "Alexa, what is your favorite kind of pie?"
23. "Alexa, are you ticklish?"
24. "Alexa, do you like my haircut?"
25. "Alexa, sing!" (Ask her more than once)
26. "Alexa, tell me an animal joke." (Ask her more than once)
27. "Alexa, who is your favorite celebrity?"
28. "Alexa, what is your favorite thing to collect?"
29. "Alexa, do you burp?"
30. "Alexa, high five!"
31. "Alexa, what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?"
32. "Alexa, what kind of mammal weighs the most?"
33. "Alexa, can you whistle?"
34. "Alexa, will I need an umbrella today?"
35. "Alexa, what is your favorite song to dance to?"
36. "Alexa, did the Ground Hog see his shadow?"
37. "Alexa, what is your favorite kind of movie?"
38. "Alexa, who is Clark Kent?"
39. "Alexa, what is your favorite Nursery Rhyme?"
40. "Alexa, tell me a Dad joke." (Ask her more than once)
41. "Alexa, roll two dice!" (Can also ask her to roll one die)
42. "Alexa, are you a Jedi or Sith?" (From the Star Wars saga)
43. "Alexa, who is your favorite Disney Princess?"
44. "Alexa, do you know how to swim?"
45. "Alexa, can you fly?"
46. "Alexa, what is your favorite Disney song?"
47. "Alexa, can you whisper?"
48. "Alexa, drumroll please . . . "
49. "Alexa, who made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?"
50. "Alexa, what is your favorite Disney movie?"

You can learn all about the Echo & Alexa devices here.  Bookmark this link so you can check to see what new skills Alexa has learned anytime you want.

What new things have you discovered to say to Alexa?

Share them with us in a comment here.

Did you miss these lists?

King Richard's Faire 2017: Old & New Favorites

We received passes for our family to attend King Richard's Faire 2017.  All opinions expressed are my own.

This was our 6th year returning to King Richard's Faire, a favorite tradition for our family, located in Carver, Massachusetts.  Through the years, we've come to accept that we will never be able to see everything this Renaissance faire has to offer in one visit.  Take a look at which favorites we just could not miss this year, and which new favorites we discovered . . .

Our Favorite Attractions at King Richard's Faire:

JACQUES ZE WHIPPER: He's been one of my family's favorites since our very first visit to King Richard's Faire.  Now, 6 years later, I think my oldest is starting to get some of Jacques' jokes.  My younger son dressed up like Jacques Ze Whipper last year, and was thrilled to death that the performer remembered him this year.

GREAT CATS OF THE WORLD SHOW: We missed this show last year, so we had to make sure we caught it this year.  We are a family of animal-lovers, my daughter especially.  She loves seeing all the great cats and how they share some similar behaviors with our own beloved cat.

M'LADY'S SHADY MAZE: Going through this maze and down the slide is a MUST for my children.  Some years, they even insist on going through multiple times.  I have a feeling it will still be so when they are all teenagers.  After all, it's tradition!  This year, we were able to enjoy part of the faire with good friends who have a 5 year old.  It was wonderful seeing the faire through his young eyes.  I bet if you asked him, he would say his favorite things about the faire were this slide and the kettle corn.

A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Sep 10, 2017 at 3:37pm PDT

New Favorites Discovered at King Richard's Faire:

KETTLE CORN: Speaking of kettle corn, we bought a bag for the first time ever this year.  Oh my goodness!  Was it delicious!!  One large bag was enough to share with family and friends for nearly the whole day.  This is going to be our first stop next year.

PIRATE SHIPS RIDE: This ride is not new to my children, however, they used to complain that it hurt their hands to pull on the ropes to make the ship swing to and fro.  Now that they are older, it's like a brand new ride to them.  They were able to ride with their friends, even the little 5 year old, without having a grown up along to power the ship for them.

SNORKEL THE TRAINED PIG!: As previously mentioned, we are a family of animal-lovers.  This addition to the King Richard's Faire line-up is a new favorite of ours, as Snorkel quickly won our hearts.  The husband/wife duo, Rick and Jan, offered an entertaining juggling act in addition to this charming pig showing the audience what he can do.  If you want to catch Snorkel at King Richard's Faire 2017, he will only be there this year through September 24th.

JOUST TO THE DEATH:  The joust at King Richard's Faire was not new to us, but this year is the first time our children were not too tired to stay for the last joust of the day, the 'Joust to the Death.'  If you can only catch one joust during your visit to the Faire, the 5pm joust is the one to watch.  The crowds were cheering enthusiastically for their brave knights as they waited to see which would be the last knight standing and the one to wake the sleeping princess.

Which attractions at King Richard's Faire are your family's favorites?

Tell us in a comment here.

Did you know you can buy your tickets online to King Richard's Faire and have them emailed to you?  Tickets can be used any weekend through October 22nd, so you can adjust your plans based on the weather.  Admission for children 3 and under is free, and group discounts are available.

50 More Fun Things Kids Can Say to Alexa (Amazon Echo)

About a year ago, I published 50 Fun Things Kids Can Say to Alexa.  It was a challenging list to put together, although the process was quite fun.  Since a year has gone by, I decided to see how many new things I could add to this list.  I can't imagine what Alexa is thinking when I tried asking her some of the silly things that popped into my head.  Here's what I came up with . . .

50 More Fun Things Kids Can Say to the Amazon Echo:

1.  "Alexa, why is six afraid of seven?"

2.  "Alexa, how many more days until Christmas?"

3.  "Alexa, what do you want for Christmas?" (Ask her multiple times.)

4.  "Alexa, who let the dogs out?" (Ask her multiple times.)

5.  "Alexa, help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi" (from Star Wars)

6.  "Alexa, every time a bell rings . . ." (from It's a Wonderful Life)

7.  "Alexa, Hey, diddle, diddle." (from Mother Goose)

8.  "Alexa, twinkle twinkle little star." (From classic nursery rhyme/ song)

9.  "Alexa, how tall are you?"

10.  "Alexa, how old are you?"

11.  "Alexa, how much do you weigh?"

12.  "Alexa, who is your best friend?"

13.  "Alexa, what is your favorite color?" (Ask her multiple times.)

14.  "Alexa, what is your favorite ice cream?"

15.  "Alexa, do you like to dance?"

16.  "Alexa, who did you vote for?"

17.  "Alexa, what is black, white, and red all over?"

18.  "Alexa, who are the seven dwarfs?"

19.  "Alexa, do you like flowers?"

20.   "Alexa, do you like chocolate?"

21.   "Alexa, who are Santa's reindeer?"

22.   "Alexa, do you fly?"

23.   "Alexa, do you sing?" (Ask her multiple times.)

24.   "Alexa, do you sleep?"

25.   "Alexa, do you like Star Trek?"

26.   "Alexa, who is your favorite super hero?"

27.   "Alexa, who stole a cookie from the cookie jar?"

28.   "Alexa, do you speak French?" (Works with any language.)

29.   "Alexa, what are your New Year's resolutions?"

30.   "Alexa, what is on your bucket list?"

31.  "Alexa, who you gonna call?" (from Ghostbusters)

32.  "Alexa, do you have any pets?"

33.  "Alexa, will you marry me?"

34.  "Alexa, who is man's best friend?"

35.  "Alexa, where do you come from?"

36.  "Alexa, what is your favorite Star Wars movie?"

37.  "Alexa, it's nice to meet you."

38.  "Alexa, I am one with the force." (From Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

39.  "Alexa, will you be my Valentine?"

40.  "Alexa, who sings _______?" (Fill-in the blank with a song title to test Alexa's knowledge)

41.  "Alexa, who wrote _______?" (Fill-in the blank with a book title to test Alexa's knowledge)

42.  "Alexa, who was _______?" (Fill-in the blank with a famous person from history)

43.  "Alexa, where does Santa live?"

44.  "Alexa, who is your hero?"

45.  "Alexa, what is the longest word in the English language?"

46.  "Alexa, do you rap?"

47.  "Alexa, good morning!" (Also try afternoon, evening, and night)

48.  "Alexa, what's for dinner?" (Also try breakfast and lunch)

49.  "Alexa, who is your favorite Star Wars character?"

50.  "Alexa, what is your dream job?"


You can learn more about the Amazon Echo here.  Also, find out what new things have been added to the Echo here.

If you've discovered even more fun things kids can say to Alexa, please share them with us in a comment here.

2016 King Richard's Faire: Kids' Renaissance Costumes, Amazing Performers & Souvenir Finds

Creating priceless memories at King Richard's Faire

Thank you to King Richards Faire for providing passes for my family to attend the 2016 Renaissance faire and to Oriental Trading Company for providing some of the accessories to complete our children's Renaissance costumes.  All opinions expressed are my own.

One of the things my family looks forward to the most in the fall is visiting King Richard's Faire in Carver, Massachusetts.  This was our 4th year attending this Massachusetts Renaissance faire and it has become one of our family's fall traditions.  The memories we create at the faire each year are priceless and will stay with our children for the rest of their lives.  Hopefully, when they have children of their own, they will be carrying on this tradition.

Jacques Ze Whipper at the 2016 King Richard's Faire

This was the third year that our children dressed up for King Richard's Faire.  It's the Faire's 35th Anniversary, so dressing up was a must for them.  Our now 9 year old son has attended the faire as a knight and a wizard in the past.  This year, he wanted to dress up as his favorite King Richard's Faire performer, Jacques Ze Whipper.

DIY Child's Jacques Ze Whipper Costume

I think I lucked out because I found a boys dress vest in the exact blue that I needed for this costume.  Some items I especially had trouble finding were the red costume sash (something other than a $30 red silk scarf) and leather-like arm bracers for a child.  Oriental Trading Company actually saved the day!  The red sash, whip, and face crayon for the mustache were found among their huge selection of Halloween costume accessories.  But wait! I had another stroke of luck with our son's Halloween costume.  He had chosen a ninja costume to wear for Halloween from Oriental Trading that happened to have leather-looking bracers for his arms and legs.  All these things brought our Jacques Ze Whipper costume together perfectly.  Our son was just thrilled!

Jacques Ze Whipper Costume Accessories

For our 9 year old daughter, who has attended the fair as a maiden and as Juliet, she wanted to go as a princess.  After we finally found a dress that looked and fit great (and wasn't itchy), we finished her costume with a goldtone tiara, black crystal goldtone earrings, and stacking chevron rings.  What truly made her costume stand out was the black lace fan she  carried.  I just happened upon it when I was looking for accessories on the Oriental Trading website for our Jacques Ze Whipper costume.  Another stroke of luck!

Girl's Renaissance Princess Costume with Lace Fan

In addition, to dressing up this year, we vowed to make it a point to see at least one or two performers that we haven't seen during past visits.  We tend to make seeing our past favorites a priority, so we rarely have enough time to discover new shows.

The Squire of the Wire at the 2016 King Richard's Faire

Upon entering the Faire this year, we had the pleasure of meeting the Squire of the Wire.  He was so nice (and funny too) that we made an extra effort to catch his act.  I also had the pleasure of catching the graceful Draiku Aerial Show because I happened to be waiting nearby while my daughter was having her portrait painted.

Draiku Aerial Show at the 2016 King Richard's Faire

It is also a tradition of ours for each child to choose a souvenir to take home from King Richard's Faire each year.  Some years, the souvenir hunt was a little painful because my children can be quite indecisive.  This year, they each knew exactly what they wanted right away!

Monogrammed Medieval Staff Souvenir

We discovered a wonderful little shop called Seekers and Settlers!  I don't recall seeing it in past years, so perhaps it is new to King Richard's Faire?  It carried such charming wooden items, like staves, witches' brooms, magic wands, and more.  Our 12 year old son chose a staff for this year's souvenir.  When we got home he had the idea to tie a piece of suede cord around the wood near the top for each year he's attended the Faire and intends to bring the staff with him for future visits.  We also purchased a magic wand and sleeve for a birthday gift for my daughter's friend (huge Harry Potter fan).  Both the staff and the wand were monogrammed for us free of charge!

By the way, our son (pictured above) is wearing the chainmail bracelet he got for a souvenir during last year's visit to King Richard's Faire.

Animated Baby Dragon Puppet Souvenir

Our mini Jacques Ze Whipper chose a baby dragon puppet from Imaginarium Galleries.  These puppets are controlled by a cable that runs down your sleeve to your hand.  The cable is used to control the motion of the dragon's head.  This baby dragon is perfect for children.  There were much more detailed winged dragons for teens and adults that were extremely impressive to see.

Having Our Daughter's Portrait Painted at King Richard's Faire

For her souvenir, our daughter asked to have her portrait painted.  There were sketches offered that would take about 30 minutes, but she opted for the oil painting, which would take about an hour.  I was amazed at how well she did sitting still for the artist.  After about 40 minutes, he ended up being nice enough to take a photo of her (with his magical medieval tablet) to finish the remainder of the painting, so that she wouldn't need to sit for the whole hour.  We just needed to come back to pick up the painting before we left because the paint takes at least 2 full days to dry.

When we returned to pick up the painting, we were extremely pleased with the results.  Our daughter was so happy.  This might just be the best souvenir we've ever taken home from King Richard's Faire yet!  I highly recommend  having your or your child's portrait painted, especially if you are in costume.

Original Oil Painting Portrait Souvenir from King Richard's Faire

You can view more 2016 King Richard's Faire photos on our Facebook page.  Visit kingrichardsfaire.net to learn more about the performers and artisans, view the entertainment schedule, buy tickets, or get directions.  The 2016 season runs through October 23rd, so there is plenty of time for you to attend.  If your schedule allows, I recommend visiting more than once because it is impossible to see everything there is to offer in just one day.

What would you love to dress up as for your next visit to King Richard's Faire?

Share your ideas with us in a comment here.

Check out our past visits to King Richard's Faire . . . 

2012a

2012b

2013

2014

2015

Fun Ideas for Kid-Friendly Sunny or Rainy Day Picnics

PHOTOS: Provided by Oriental Trading Company

Oriental Trading Company will be sending us supplies to use in our son's community service project, aimed at donating bags full of toiletries and fun items to children of local families in need, in exchange for sharing these kid-friendly summer fun picnic ideas with 3G2S readers.

By the time we are halfway through summer vacation, I am usually looking for fresh ideas to create some fun memories for my children.  Planning something fun doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be complicated.  There are two things I try to do . . . get the children involved in preparations and keep some supplies on-hand for impromptu fun.

Oriental Trading Company is my go-to place for fun ideas year-round.  You can find everything you need for a kid-friendly picnic indoors or out among their extensive collection of Picnic Party Supplies.  There, you will find everything from colorful gingham plates and napkins to fun summer-themed picks.  One picnic must-have would be the disposable checkered tablecloths, available in 4 colors.  They come in a pack of 12 and are perfect to cover your picnic table outdoors or to sit on during rainy day indoor picnics.

Keep it simple, but colorful!  My children would be perfectly happy with cheese, crackers, pepperoni, and fruit for a lunchtime picnic.  We try to keep a supply of colorful picks in the kitchen drawer to add some fun to cut fruit or cheese.


4 Fun Ways Kids Can Help to Prepare for a Picnic . . . 

1.  Ask your children to build a utensil holder and a napkin holder out of plastic interlocking building blocks.

2.  Have your children decorate LED tealights with colorful washi tape for a flameless candlelit meal.

3.  If you don't already have picks for serving bite-size food at your picnic, ask your children to make some with toothpicks and washi tape.

4.  When you have cut all the food, whether it be sandwich quarters, cheese, fruit, or something else, ask your children to arrange them in a pattern on plates or platters for you.

For more creative summer fun ideas, visit the Create Fun blog!

What ideas do you have for a fun kid-friendly picnic?  Share them with us in a comment here and be sure to pin this post for later.