Playin' Cards~

Playing card games seems to be an activity that runs in our family. I don't mean just face cards. Brian grew up playing cards with his brothers, his father, Grandma Jean, and many other relatives. We played cards too on my Dad's side of the family. It was a little humorous when we compared our family's different approach to playing Rook. Apparently, there are a few different ways to play and we tease about which is the true way to play. We still play cards. My Dad will play solitaire in the dining room while eating his cereal for breakfast. Brian and I started playng cards together when we first were married. We didn't have a television, but we had a comic book store just down the street where Brian had many friends. I learned to play a game called Magic the Gathering. Brian was pretty skilled at it, making up decks of cards that he could play against other players. We went to tournaments on Saturdays at BYU and UVSC(UVU) and of course the comic book store. We tried other games too some of the names of the games were; Legends of the Five Rings, Rage, Net Runner,and one I can't think of the name that I'll call "The Cowboy Game". After we had kids we didn't play as often. Brian would play with his brother from time to time and kept his card collections. Dawn, Lance, Brian, and I played a game of Magic the Gathering when they came for a visit at Rah Rah's last year.

As Emmy and Joseph have gotten older, We've played a few card games with them mainly when we go to the cabin on family vacations. This year we played a game called Loot, it is all about pirates, and ships, and their captains, we really enjoyed it. The year before we'd played UNO every night at the cabin after Celia and Spencer went to sleep, since they are busy and like to distract from the concentration on the game.:)

Brian has taught Joseph and Emmy to play our old game, Magic the Gathering. We have new cards, but it's fun to play, even though they are premade decks and not the ones Brian had so cleverly made in the past. The kids win sometimes, which is hard concept for my competitive nature to grasp.:) We play other games too, board games like Settlers of Zarahemla; Katan, and one called Pandemic which is the family as a team trying to cure diseases and outbreaks before it takes over the whole world! That is a great one for teaching the children about working together. Brian and I value spending time with the children and playing games together is one way we try to cultivate our family relationships. It builds fond memories, maybe some social and attention skills, and is just plain fun too. Sixteen years and counting for one of our cards games in our little family. I wonder how far the rook playing dates back?