board games...

i've never been a big board game player.
my mother blames the lack of self-control and fierce competitive edge of my brothers (mainly me).
i blame the fact that i think they are boring.
however, in spite of the fact that i have a natural disdain for board games...especially long drawn out games...we have taken to playing the game of life on saturdays when oliver jack goes down for his morning nap.
harper and calvary LOVE to play and i have decided if a parent wants to learn where the kids' heads are, playing a game like life can be a great indicator...
for instance:
1. harper is in it to win. even though i have tried to tell her that life is not about winning she is constantly assessing everyone else's piles of money or car loads of peg people. i can tell her that no one really wins, but she knows...someone wins...and it's going to be her.
2. calvary is clueless. he gleefully throws his money at anyone and the only thing that matters to him is having a car load of peg children.
3. kyle and i have been a horrible (wonderful) influence on our children when it comes to the subject of children. when asked if she wants to take the family path or continue on the regular path harper enthusiastically chooses the family path...after kyle informs her that her car is almost full she responds, "well, i have room for one more."
calvary lived in the smallest house with the most meager of means and by all accounts was "losing" the game of life, yet he was so happy because he had the most kids...
4. i am secretly proud when my children choose family over money.
5. harper always ends up suing everyone.
6. if the game of life foreshadows anything it is that harper will have it all, calvary will be incredibly happy, and kyle and i will modestly retire happy and healthy at countryside acres.

oh, and if anyone is really counting...i won both saturdays.