TableTop Fun: CO2

Designer: Vital Lacerda
Publisher: Giochix.it

From BoardGameGeek:

In the game CO₂, each player is the CEO of an energy company responding to government requests for new, green power plants. The goal is to stop the increase of pollution, while meeting the rising demand for sustainable energy — and of course profiting from doing so. You will need enough expertise, money, and resources to build these clean power plants. Energy summits will promote global awareness, and allow companies to share a little of their expertise, while learning still more from others.

I've never bought anything off of Kijiji before but this was a diamond in the rough find. $20 got us an unwrapped but unpunched copy of CO₂. It's a semi-cooperative game where you are trying to control pollution but also meeting the needs of your company. The gameplay is wonderful and unique... I do have some slight worries that the game is too easy... but that can be mitigated by adjusting the starting parameters. Gameplay aside... the board is a work of art. Simply gorgeous. 

I also couldn't pick just one picture of Em. She was being too cute! It was the one of the first appearances of the nose crinkle! 

Emma at Work

...or at school. Same thing. Her most recent report card was pretty good. She is "most often found in the practical life area". "She loves anything to do with water. whether that be polishing a toy animal or pouring water from one pitcher to another". Lol. 

TableTop Fun: My Happy Farm

Designer: Oleksandr Nevskiy & Oleg Sidorenko
Publisher: 5th Street Games

From BoardGameGeek:

All players have their own farm with four nice animals. They feed those cuties. Animals which are fed well fill their stomachs with tasty food, grow and become longer and longer, even reaching unnatural lengths. The longer your animal, the better a farmer you are. The owner of the longest animal receives bonus points. Animals which aren't fed even one time lose their weight, take offense, and leave their bad master. Moreover, they will take some victory points from the bad master to punish him, so players have to be good and careful farmers and feed their animals well to create Their Own Happy Farm.

This silly little game was one of the first Rahdo Runs Through videos we watched. I was hooked in by the art but the gameplay isn't bad. It's simple and easy to learn. I can't wait to play it with Emma. We have the 5th Street Games edition but I'm happy that Portal games will start to publish it. It's a pretty light filler that comes with some adorable animals! 

Reading Time with Emma

I love when I stumble upon these cute adorable scenes with Emma. She decided to grab a book, set up elephant and panda and read to them. You couldn't understand most of what she was saying.. but it was still so cute. Note the sippy cup within reach. :)

TableTop Fun: Lords of Waterdeep

Designer: Peter Lee & Rodney Thompson
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

From BoardGameGeek:

Waterdeep, the City of Splendors – the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force!

Fantasy-based city building with set collection and worker placement. YES! I'm such a fan of asymmetry gameplay... the lord you're assigned at the start gives you some direction and you do your best to execute it through completing quests, gaining buildings and resources. We've enhanced the game by getting the DnDeeples, and an insert from Insert Here - set up is super quick! Funny story about this game... it was Ian's Christmas present two years ago. The first time we set it up, I decided the board had a little bend in it............ yeah, I snapped it in two. :( Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. I contacted Wizards of the Coast and they replaced the board for free!

DEER!

On our way home from Family Day dinner at the in-laws, we caught sight of at least six deer in a field near our house. The picture below won't do it justice at all... (yeah, the 3 or so dots you see in the white are the deer :P) but it was so pretty to see the deer munching in the snow highlighted by the moon. 

TableTop Fun: Sushi Go!

Designer: Phil Walker-Harding
Publisher: Gamewright

From BoardGameGeek:

In the super-fast sushi card game Sushi Go!, you are eating at a sushi restaurant and trying to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whiz by. Score points for collecting the most sushi rolls or making a full set of sashimi. Dip your favorite nigiri in wasabi to triple its value! And once you've eaten it all, finish your meal with all the pudding you've got! But be careful which sushi you allow your friends to take; it might be just what they need to beat you!

In the midst of all of our heavy games, it's nice to pull out a quick light card game with some super cute art. Sushi Go! was a game we tried at Games on Tap and loved.  It has card drafting and set collection but I think it's light enough that even my mom would like it. 

Awww, little gender neutral Emma. :)

My Goof Ball

Emma's Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

Totally.