Don't Back Down

Is success in a video game something to celebrate in real life? I think so.

I got bitten by the Game Boy bug around this time last year. I was tired of playing and fixing old pinball machines. Collecting something small for a change seemed perfect. I spent a lot of time watching "best of" and "hidden gem" videos and reading similar lists online.

Apparently, one of the best (and most expensive) games for the Game Boy Color is Shantae. Look, it's on sale on eBay:

I was reading about Shantae in video game forums, and a few guys admitted they hadn't play that game, but they had played their sisters' copy of Sabrina: Zapped. Most agreed playing Sabrina was a good time. 

Both Shantae and Sabrina are platform games developed by WayForward Industries. They share a similar look and similar game play. Sabrina, however, is way easier and can be purchased locally for $6. Also, their recommendations were solid - Sabrina is fun. The run, jump, bounce controls were similar to the games Charlotte likes on the computer, so I showed her the game.

Char and I played the first few levels of Sabrina together last summer, and by watching YouTube examples, she finished the game. In times of stress, I also helped.

"In times of stress" is a kind way to put it. Char isn't very good at handling defeat. When things get tough she... oh, what am I saying? When things get tough, or she gets frustrated, or she fails at something important to her, she acts just like me. She yells, blames an inanimate object for her troubles, and sometimes hits things and hurts her hand. Like father like daughter. 

Anyway, to keep her interested in and positive about gaming, I've been keeping an eye out for games that are fun to play and not all that difficult. WayForward and eBay have been really helpful. So far Char has played Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2009), Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2006), Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus (2005), and Barbie: Princess and the Pauper (2004). That's a lot of Barbie games for a gal who does not play with dolls very often. "I don't really like Barbies, and these games are kinda weird, but they're way more fun than I expected." 

Sounds like high praise to me. 

I keep looking for games Char will enjoy, and when I read this DS game review of on IGN.com, I thought de Blob 2 would be a winner:

"It’s tightly designed, evolves nicely and is true to the style of de Blob, but it’s very easy... This makes it a fantastic kids game… It’s also short… Even so, this would make a perfect introduction to platforming on DS for casual players.”

I found a copy on eBay:

Char loved the game almost immediately. "Ha! This game is awesome. I love de Blob!"

The problem was the final boss. Char lost to de Blot, and she got intimidated. She snapped the DS closed and dramatically ran upstairs. I tried to talk her into trying again, but she refused. 

Now, do I really care if she beats this video game? No, I couldn't care less. But do I care if she runs from adversity? Yes, I care a lot about that. 

She was greeted with this sign on Tuesday morning.

"2s-day." Get it? Sigh. She didn't either.

That night Charlotte tried the game again. Twenty minutes later she had beaten de Blot, and finished deBlob 2 on her own. She was so pumped! Daphne exclaimed congratulations. I ran over to the couch and gave her a fist bump with finger confetti. I didn't get a picture or a video, though. Sometimes it's just good to celebrate without your cell phone.

This sign was waiting for her on Wednesday morning, though.

"Hmmp Day." Get it? Like Hump Day. You know, Wednesday?
Sigh.

The Week in Pictures

Monday: The "Special" at school is Computer Time.

Tuesday: "Cookie Sales at The Learning Post" (It was later cancelled.)

Wednesday: The "Special" at school is Guidance.

Thursday: 3rd Grade Field Trip, and I have Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Friday: Theodor Seuss Geisel's Birthday - Read Across America Day/ PJ-Day (observed at school).

White Winter Hymnals

This morning Urbandale Schools had a two-hour delay due to the weather. Daphne and I finished shoveling around 6:45, and from the driveway I could see that the light was already on in Char's room. Charlotte was hoping for a school delay so she could lounge around in her PJs.

Later I was watching the news while Charlotte was eating breakfast. A Toyota commercial appeared with the Fleet Foxes' "Ragged Wood" playing in the background. I thought, That would sound good on the way to school today. Fleeting thoughts like that usually don't return before we leave the house, but today I remembered to grab the Fleet Foxes' self-titled CD.

The music filled the car as I backed out of the garage. Outside, the snow was falling silently. By the time the second song came on, "White Winter Hymnal", Char was also quiet.

We passed under a bridge, and I looked into the rearview mirror and asked, "What do you think? I thought this music would be calming on a morning like this."

Char smiled. "Mission accomplished," she said without looking away from her window.

link--> White Winter Hymnal

I Know It's Not Art, but We're Having Fun.

Along with Charlotte's regular school schedule, she has lettered days that indicate what "special" she will attend each day. For instance, "C" day is for the music and P.E. classes.

When Charlotte opens her door in the morning, this lighted sign greets her from the floor. Daphne usually writes the message, but lately I've been killing time at night by doing some doodling.

Today is "D" day.

Neither Charlotte or Daphne got my pun. "D" day is for guidance.

Yesterday was teacher in-service, so Charlotte opted to go back to daycare at Kim's house. The "KD" is supposed to look like the Kim Possible logo. It doesn't look much like the logo, but Charlotte recognized it anyway.

This is from Char's first morning with a fridge in her room. It was also a jazz band morning when Daphne leaves by 6:30 AM, and I let Char play on the computer.

Charlotte loves when the art class gets to use clay. She's making a bag of potato chips with some chips scattered around the bag. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

On the 100th day of school, Char had a late start (mucho computer time during Adventuretime), and Clover Kids after school. She told me, "Today is going to be the best day ever!"

Self-explanatory.

Charlotte calls the little guy at the bottom the "signature star", so I'm now trying to fit him in each morning.

Breakfast with Dad (formerly known as Donuts with Dad part 3) and Friendship Parties (formerly know as Valentine's Day Parties) '19

Since donuts are now on the "no-can-do" list, this year's breakfast at KA featured croissants. To get Char pumped up, her morning sign greeted her with "Saunty" The Croissant-Narwhal. I tried to find an online picture of a croissant-narwhal that I could copy, but I came up empty handed.

So, here's my rendition.

Is this a good drawing? Mmmm, no.
Did this drawing impress my daughter? Actually, yes.
So, that makes this drawing awesome.
Take that, art critics.

There was orange juice, but sadly no bacon seaweed.

To make things even more exciting, Karen Acres is have their Friendship Parties this afternoon. This year it was Char's idea to fold 22 origami boxes with a ring-pop inside for her gifts. She proudly brought these to school yesterday.

Daphne and Char shared folding duties.

It should be another successful Friday, but I have my fingers crossed. You never know how school parties are gonna go.