TOS Review {and Discount Code} ~ Pig Pile by R&R Games

Well, here it is! My first official review as a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew!
Pig Pile by R&R Games
What is Pig Pile? 
Pig Pile is a fast-paced card game where the object of the game is to be the first person to get rid of all your cards and collect the most pigs.
How do you play Pig Pile? 
I will be honest...the rules are a little difficult to understand. Basically, each player has 6 cards laying in front of them (3 face up and 3 face down). These cards do NOT come into play until the draw pile is gone. Additionally, each player is dealt 7 cards as a starting hand. The remaining cards become the draw pile.
The dealer goes first. During each turn a player must play one or more cards into the pig pile (the discard pile) which is formed next to the draw pile. Discarded cards must be equal to or higher than the top card on the pig pile. The only exception is the Hog Wild card. If there are no cards or the top card is a Hog Wild card than any card may be played. To play more than one card at a time the cards must be the same or include a Hog Wild. At the end of a turn the player must draw a card from the draw pile. If a player can not play any cards then he/she must pick up all the cards in the Pig Pile and play goes to the next player (do not draw a card). Play continues this way until all the cards are gone from the draw pile.
Once the draw pile is gone, play continues as before except players no longer draw a card at the end of their turn. Once a player has played all the cards in his/her hand he/she now plays any of his/her face up cards. The card played must still be equal to or higher than the card in the Pig Pile. If the player can not play a card he/she must pick up the Pig Pile and one of his/her face up cards. 
When a player does not have any cards in his/her hand and has played all his/her face up cards he/she must play one of the face down cards (a Slop card). This is a blind draw. If the card is not equal to or higher than the top card in the Pig Pile he/she must pick up all the cards in the Pig Pile and play goes to the next player.
Special Cards and Plays ~ Hog Tied (#4) the next player loses a turn (if two are played then the next two players lose a turn). Ewe-Turn (#11) the direction of play is reversed. Hog Wash (#8) the Pig Pile is washed away (this also happens if 3 or more of the same card or Hog Wild cards are played in a row). With Hog Tied and Ewe-Turn the players turn ends. With a Hog Wash the players turn continues.
How do I Win?
The first person to get rid of all his/her cards gets 3 pigs. Play continues and the second person to get rid of his/her cards gets 2 pigs and the round ends. All other players get 1 pig except the person with the most cards, he/she gets none. The deal passes to the left and a new round is started. The game ends after 5 rounds or when all the pigs have been released from the pen. The player with the most pigs wins.
Are there Alternate ways to play?
Yes, there are quick start directions and directions for an easier version.
Other important information.
*The game is for  3-6 players ages 7 and up.*Pig Pile retails for $15.95. *Some other games from R&R Games include Pressure Point, Take Your Best Shot, Pants on Fire, Ticked Off, Smarty Party!, disorder, Thingamajig, Flea Circus and much, much more! 
My thoughts:
*Once we got the hang of the game it was fun.*The alternate version is easier to play and produces a faster game. *The game is geared for 7 and up but my 5 year old enjoyed playing as part of a "team". In fact, she is getting the hang of it and will probably be playing on her own soon. *The game is more fun the more people are playing. One night my sister came to visit and we were able to have 4 people play. You can play with 2 people but it is definitely not as exciting! *This game would be a great way to reinforce greater than, less than and equal to since you can only place a number that is equal to or greater than the top number on the Pig Pile.*My kids were disappointed that the pigs are not used more. *I was disappointed with the difficulty of the directions. I would like directions that my 11 year-old could read and understand.
To learn more about games from R&R Games you can go to their website www.RnRgames.com or call 1.888.8-RIDDLE.
Discount Code ~ CREW20
R&R Games was generous to offer a discount code! The code is for 20% of any purchase from their website and is good until the end of 2011.
Click here to see what other Crew Members are saying about R&R Games!
{Disclaimer: I received Pig Pile for free to review. I received no other compensation. All opinions are my own.}

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st and 6th grade workboxes.

This week I am featuring Ladybug's K/1st Workboxes:




After Chores and PE, Ladybug will start her workboxes (the first two and last two are as a family).1. Religion: Friend Magazine2. History: The Mystery of History Vol. 1 Lesson 9 - The Epic of Gilgamesh3. Math: Math Mammoth Grade 1 - pg. 35 Addition Sums to 6 and Find the Missing Addend4. BigIQKids: Math Facts and Spelling Lesson5. ReadingEggs: Lesson 486. Art: The World's Greatest Artists Vol. 1 - DaVinci7. {BFIAR}: Yellow Ball
**Reminder: I only have ONE GUIDELINE...Please link back or grab a button. This will make it easier for others to find workbox ideas! Thank you!

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Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ August 26, 2011

In my life this week…

This has been a week of ups and downs. Ups: We got our schooling finished, we ate FREE breakfast at Chick-fil-A (twice) and Downs: I spent 2 days in pain (I live in pain everyday but this was on top of the normal everyday pain) so much pain that I wanted to curl up and cry!

In our homeschool this week…

As a family we finished our If the World Were a Village unit and our Picasso unit. 

Monkey focused on the letter "G", the colors green and gray and Geese, Goats and Great White Sharks. He also rowed I Am an Artist for BFIAR.

Ladybug worked on finding the missing number in math, practiced her math facts and spelling words (got 100%) on BigIQKids, wrote about friends and completed 3 more lessons at ReadingEggs.com. She also rowed with her brother.

Unicorn worked on her addition and multiplication facts, learned 2 more problem-solving strategies, reviewed adjectives and adverbs, did 6 lessons in Latin and wrote in her scripture journal.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

If it isn't working...try something else!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This month our local Chick-fil-A is having a special promotion. They are giving away free breakfasts! One entree per person per day! So...this week we went out to breakfast (twice) and will probably go again on Saturday. I had never tried their breakfasts before and was pleasantly surprised! Very Yummy! We even bumped into some friends while we were there. The kids loved having the play area to themselves too!

My favorite thing this week was…

Free breakfast! ;)

What’s working/not working for us…

Free breakfast! :0)

Questions/thoughts I have…

Thinking I better stop now since the only thing I can think about is free breakfast! ;)

Things I’m working on…

Lesson plans for next week (yes, they include 3 days of free breakfast)!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Some fun education cartoons: http://www.danscartoons.com/education_cartoons.htm

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st and 6th grade workboxes.

This week I am featuring Monkey's Preschool Workboxes:



Monkey hangs with us in the mornings, doing Chores and learning about Joseph in Egypt for Religion. Then he starts his workboxes (or folders in our case).

1. Coloring things that start with the letter "G"for fine-motor skills and Phonics. Most of the time he tries to cut out the objects too.
2. Putting Green leaves on the tree for Math.
3. Reading about a Goose for Science.
4. BFIAR: I Am an Artist with focus on finding things God created in the book.

Reminder: I only have one GUIDELINE ~ Please link back or grab a button. This is so others will be able to find the link-up and contribute as well. THANK YOU!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ August 19, 2011

In my life this week…I am ready for the summer to be over. It has been hot and humid here. At least last night we finally got some much needed rain! Unfortunately, I had to go out during the worst of it to get our garbage can that had blown down the street...I was SOAKED!!!

In our homeschool this week…we have been plugging right along!

As a family we have studied Joseph in the Old Testament, geography (using If the World Were a Village) and Picasso.

Unicorn has been working on her addition and multiplication facts, solving word problems, identifying main ideas, reviewing grammar through literature and progressing in Latin.

Ladybug has been working on her addition facts, finding the missing number, spelling consonant-vowel-consonant words, writing about friends and learning how to choose a title and practicing her reading at readingeggs.com!

Monkey worked on the letter "F", the number "4" and did some fun activities with Corduroy for BFIAR.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…this week a friend I used to teach with came by to visit. It was nice to have some adult conversation. Tomorrow I get to hang out with my sister again. I am so glad she moved here!

My favorite thing this week was…seeing an old friend!

What’s working/not working for us…is being finished with school by noon!

Things I’m working on…finding us a place to live (our lease is up at the end of December).

I’m grateful for…another nephew (actually a great-nephew)! My niece had a bouncing, baby boy yesterday! Both mama and baby are doing well!

A photo(s), video, link, or quote to share…my kids eating homemade rainbow pudding pops and last night's storm:

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st grade, 6th grade and our family workboxes.

This week I am featuring Unicorn's 6th Grade Workboxes (11 years old):


Shown first is her Student Planner. She does her journal and chores before breakfast.
Then we do Religion (lesson 16 - Joseph in Egypt using LDS Workbooks) as a family.
Next Unicorn and Ladybug work on their If the World Were a Village lapbook for geography.
Then Unicorn does her Math. Currently, she is learning her math facts (using ALEKS and BigIQKids) and problem-solving strategies (using Solve It! 3rd).
She is learning how to write newspaper headlines (finding main ideas) using Wordsmith Apprentice and reviewing grammar through literature using Living Literature Grammar and Language Arts Packets by Cindy West at Shining Dawn Books.
Then it's RosettaStone Latin.
Last, but not least, our family is studying The World's Greatest Artists (Picasso) using an Unit Study by Erika at Confessions of a Homeschooler.

**Remember my ONLY GUIDELINE is that you link back here or Grab a Button! This is so others looking for workbox ideas can find them easily. Thank you!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ August 12, 2011

In my life this week…things have gone fairly smoothly. I really like not having a full calendar.

In our homeschool this week…we had a very good week.


Unicorn finished reading Little Women (we get to watch the movie now), started a 2 month free trial of ALEKS for math, did a couple lessons in Latin, practiced writing invitations and thank you notes and practiced her math facts, spelling and states at BigIQKids.com.


Ladybug started learning about < and  > in math, wrote a story about hugs, used BigIQKids.com to start learning her math facts and to practice her spelling words and started using ReadingEggs.com for reading. She also did BFIAR with Monkey.


Monkey started BFIAR this week with We're Going on a Bear Hunt. He acted out the story (fine arts), counted things in the story (math), learned about mud and other parts of nature (science), talked about family (social studies) and answered questions about the story (comprehension). He also did some letter "E" and number "3" activities as well as read about Eels, Elephants, Eagles, and the Emerald Tree Boa.


As a Family we learned about Jacob and Esau and Jacob's Family (religion). We also started a lapbook for If the World Were a Village (social studies).

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…check out the Homeschool Buyers Co-op! They have awesome deals on curriculum (and more). Sign up for their newsletter because they partner with new companies all the time (I am NOT an affiliate...I get nothing for saying this...I just really love the great deals)!

My favorite thing this week was…that the girls had a play-date this week.

What’s working/not working for us…our routine (finally and for now)! ;)

Things I’m working on…budgeting my computer time. I spend too much time on social media and my email.

I’m reading…I finished the 2nd Harry Potter book!

I’m grateful for…the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and the comfort it brings me when tragedies occur in life.

I’m praying for…my step-brother's wife and her family. Her 2nd youngest sister died this week leaving 2 VERY young children without a mother. 

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…"If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves." ~C.G. Jung

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st grade, 6th grade and our family workboxes.

This week I am featuring Ladybug's K/1 Workboxes:


First up, is her morning work including Calendar and Journal.Second, we do Religion as a family (Old Testament Lesson 14: Jacob and His Family).Next, I do BFIAR (Literature) with Monkey but Ladybug likes to join us! This week is We're Going on a Bear HuntThen, If the World Were a Village (Social Studies) lapbook (click here for the lapbook pages).Math Mammoth grade 1 p. 28 is next.And WriteShop A lesson 3:7 for Writing.On to BigIQKids.com for Spelling and Math Facts.Last, but not least, is Reading at ReadingEggs.com.
*Reminder ~ I only have one guideline: Grab a button or link back, Please! Thank you!!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ August 5, 2011

In my life this week…

I have stayed home, attended Facebook and Twitter parites and won some really cool homeschool products (I will blog about them soon)! Hubby went back to work yesterday and we started our more structured school-year routine.

In our homeschool this week…

Monkey practiced coloring (his new thing is to say he "needs help" to color), tracing lines, patterning and even some color by number.

Ladybug worked on adding, reviewing her sight words, dictating stories and painting Bible stories.

Unicorn finished Anne of Green Gables, did some sample lessons of Teaching Textbooks 4 (and ASKED to do more...about gave me a heart attack), practiced writing captions for photos and painted Bible stories. 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Tonight my sister is coming over after work and after we get the kids in bed I get have a sleep-over with her (NO KIDS)! Then tomorrow we will clean and run errands together!

My favorite thing this week was…

Unicorn asking to do more math! This is amazing because up until recently she thought she was no good at it and hated it. She still isn't confident with her abilities but at least she doesn't hate it anymore. I think finding the right delivery for it helps. She likes that Teaching Textbooks is on the computer and reads the problems to her. Now I have to find a used version that doesn't cost $120 (we can't afford that right now). I am looking/bidding on e-bay so we will see.

What’s working/not working for us…

Is starting our school year slow. This week we worked on our routine, reading, writing, math and religion. Next week we will add in one more subject...I'm thinking a family one like geography.

Questions/thoughts I have…


Besides e-bay and paperback swap, where do you look for deals on curriculum when you can't afford the retail price?

I’m grateful for…


My relatively empty calendar for August!

I’m praying for…


My sister's house (in PA) to sell quickly!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…painting the "Tower of Babel"

Lowe's Build & Grow Field Trip ~ Binoculars

Recently we attended another Lowe's Build and Grow Workshop. This time the kids made binoculars!

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st grade, 6th grade and our family workboxes.

This week I am featuring Monkey's Preschool Workboxes:


*Everything is from the "How to Train Your Dragon" Preschool Pack from 1+1+1=1.
1. "V" is for Viking coloring and letter recognition page.2. Hiccup and Astrid patterning.3. Help the Viking get to the dragon prewriting page.4. He will also participate when we do Religion and Chores!
Remember to Grab a Button and

The Homeschool Lounge ~ Summer Daze Giveaway Event

The Homeschool Lounge is giving away a ton of stuff this week! Click the button to check it out!