I knew that many of our Christmas gifts this year would be big hits. After all, as Caroline mentioned in her wonderful poem yesterday, the girls received a pogo stick and a basketball hoop. What I wasn’t expecting was just how much fun we would all find one of the girl’s gifts, Apples to Apples.

All the third and fourth graders at the girl’s school have a chance to play Apples to Apples at least once with their principal over the course of the school year. She chooses a group of students each day to join her for lunch giving them an opportunity to get to know each other in a casual setting. When Caroline came home on her game day, she couldn’t stop talking about how much fun she had. I went right to computer and ordered the game.

Since Christmas, we have spent a good amount of time playing Apples to Apples and now I know why both the children and the principal love it.

To give you a sense of the game, I quote directly from the manufacturer (because it’s much more confusing to explain than it is to play!):

APPLES to APPLES JUNIOR brings the hilarious card and party game, Apples to Apples, to younger players. Players aged nine and up will delight in all the crazy comparisons, while expanding their vocabulary and thinking skills at the same time. The game is as easy as comparing apples to apples – just open the box, deal the RED APPLE cards to each player, and you’re ready to go! Players take turns being the judge. The judge starts each round by playing a GREEN APPLE card featuring a one-word characteristic such as Chewy, Amazing or Scary. The rest of the players must then look at the RED APPLE cards in their hands and select the one they think is best described by the judge’s card – will you play A Volcano, Unicorns or Burned Toast? When everyone’s RED APPLE cards are on the table, you should try to convince the judge that yours is the best match. You’ll find that table talk is a big part of the fun. Just wait until you hear all the clever – and not so clever – ways that people try to convince the judge to choose a particular card. Do your best, because if the judge picks your card, you win that round! The first player to win four rounds wins the game. With over 500 cards, each round is filled with surprising comparisons from a wide range of people, places, things and events. Fast-moving and refreshing, Apples to Apples Junior is easy to learn and fun to play. It’s the perfect game for kids, families and friends!”

During our time playing Apples to Apples, Katherine learned to read new words, Caroline learned the definition of new words and I was able to watch both girls think with an amazing amount of creativity. Who knew that this present would turn out to be such a gift?