Marcia Miller's Reflections & Resources

‘Games, Puzzles, Toys, & Tools’ Archives

Plywood Play Planks

These Plywood Play Planks look like the coolest thing since Lincoln Logs, although on a much grander scale.  When I was a kid, I had a little cardboard playhouse that we loved, but of course it fell apart after a while.  I can only imagine how fun it would have been to [Read More]

Konexi: The gravity-defying word game

Konexi: The gravity-defying word game

We recently found a great new game called konexi.  It’s a 3D word-building game somewhat like Scrabble or Bananagrams plus Jenga.  It’s an interactive group game with players trying to build words within the group’s connected tower of letters.  Each [Read More]

Puzzles For All Ages

Puzzles For All Ages

Lots of people like puzzles.  They’re fun to work on individually or with friends.  Some people like abstract puzzles on paper or in books, while others like the hands-on, three-dimensional variety.  Here are some of the many puzzles we’ve enjoyed over the [Read More]

Glorious Games!

Glorious Games!

We love all kinds of games.  Over the years we’ve enjoyed a variety of board games, card games, and dice games.  Here are a few of our favorites: Bananagrams Oh Scrud!  Word fun with cards Apples to Apples: The Game of Hilarious Comparisons! SET: The Family Game of [Read More]

Kapla Building Blocks

Kapla Building Blocks

Kapla blocks are beautiful, smooth-sanded pine building planks for people of all ages.  We got a set of these when Ben was about thirteen, and we’ve loved them ever since.  We keep them in a pretty basket in the living or family room so they’re always ready to [Read More]

Recent Posts

Fire Station Field Trip!

Fire Station Field Trip!

After many years of sharing a variety of outings and field trips with our son, Ben, when he was younger, it was great [Read More]

Hoorah!

Hoorah!

This summer, Ben participated in a two-month intensive fire service training academy through the Getchell Fire [Read More]

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

It’s a lovely new year, with many new days and months to create new adventures for yourself, your family, and [Read More]

Smart, curious, alert, observant…

Smart, curious, alert, observant…

I once again came across this wonderful quote from John Holt, and thought it deserved sharing: “What makes people [Read More]

Create Your Own Graduation Party

Create Your Own Graduation Party

Reilly, Sarah, Ben, Taylor, Tanner After years and years of homeschooling together, five families from our local [Read More]

Hard Work & Recognition

Hard Work & Recognition

Sometimes people question the ideas of unschooling because they wonder how kids will learn to work hard if [Read More]

A Day at North Bend Fire Training Academy

A Day at North Bend Fire Training Academy

Ben has been participating in a fire service technology class for the past couple years at the Fire District 1 [Read More]

Traveling Adventures

Traveling Adventures

“And when the kids are old enough, we’re gonna teach them to fly…” Thank you, Dave Matthews. [Read More]

18 Years

18 Years

My sweet son, Ben, turned 18 a little over a month ago. I’ve been thinking about what a pleasure it has been to [Read More]

Not Back To School Camp!

Not Back To School Camp!

At the end of August, when most teens are getting ready for school, Ben and a few of his lucky friends are happily [Read More]