Ice Blocking

Ice-Blocking

It's hot here in the summer, so we like to beat the heat with a little ice-blocking.  All you need is a grassy hill, block of ice and a towel.  

*This activity like sledding can be dangerous, so please take adequate precautions.  

**Only Ice-Block with a responsible adult.  

***Wear a helmet of some sort, and/or some sort of safety gear.

You want to pick a hill based on your skill level and age of participants.  If you have little kids, you might choose a smaller hill.  Remember, you pick up speed the longer the hill.  Plus, you have to carry the ice back up the hill.  Check the hill for lumps, holes or other dangers that you might hit on the way down.

*Check with the rules of your local park/hill, some forbid ice-blocking.

For the ice you can either just buy a block of ice at your local store or make your own.  I would bring one ice block per every two to three people.

Home made ice

We like to make our own, because the ones a the store are too skinny for bigger booties, and have no handle.  We picked up some water basins (similar to the ones you get at the hospital) and some dog ropes at the local $ store.  Fill the water basin a little more than half full with water.  Place a dog toy rope halfway in the water where you would like your handle.  Place water in the freezer at least overnight.

Head out to your favorite hill and climb to the top.  

Remove ice from water basin. 

 Fold your towel in thirds the long way, then again the shorter way.  Your towel should now fit nicely on your block of ice.  We like to use a full size towel for cushion and to keep our booties dry longer.  As the ice melts you will begin to get wet.  I might suggest bringing more than one towel.

We found everyone sat a little different on the ice.  Some people liked to cross their legs, others found it easier to to balance with their legs straight out, so whatever feels more comfortable and balanced to you and your particular body type.  The dog rope offers a little more stability and balance.  If you bought a block of ice from the store only sit on two-thirds of your towel and use the other third as a handle.  This helps you balance a little better.

*As the ice begins melt, you will go faster!

Wipe Out!  This is why I suggest wearing a helmet!

We found the dog rope handle made it easier to carry the ice back up the hill.

*If the ice starts to break a part or melt to much, discontinue use of that ice block!

Have Fun! Be Safe!
Take some funny Pictures!

(We even took a wet booty picture of the kids all standing together,

 that was pretty funny, but we didn't include it on the blog, sorry)

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Who didn't grow up playing outside games with the whole family or neighborhood?  It's my kids favorite thing to do in the summer, so why not in the winter?
(Dress Appropriately for the weather)

Snowball Tag

You will need either a white loufa, large pompom, yarn pompom,  yarn ball or lightly packed snowball.  The person who is it must throw the loufa.  If they it hit someone that person is now it. They must pick up the loufa and chase and throw the loufa and hit next person.  

Snowball Freeze Tag

You will need either a white loufa, large pompom, yarn pompom, yarn ball or lightly packed snowball.  The person who is it must chase and hit players with the loufa.  When each player is hit they must freeze and hold the positon they were in when they got hit.  They must hold that position until all players have been hit and froze.  The last person to get hit gets to be it.

Toy Soldiers
This game is like hide and go seek, but backwards.  The person who is it hides.  The rest of the group counts to 60, and then splits up in search for the person hiding.  As each player finds the person hiding, they must then hide with the person.  It gets pretty tight, so eventually if you have enough players you will be lined up like toy soldiers.  The first person to find the person hiding is it the next round.

Candy Cane Races
Give each team of two, two candy canes.  Each player must hold one candy cane.  The players must link candy canes and race to the finish line.  If the candy canes become unlinked or break they must start over.  The first team to successfully make it across the finish line with their candy canes still linked is the winner.

Reindeer Games

Remember playing wheel barrel as a kid.  Where one person walks on their hands and their teammate holds their feet.  Instead of a wheel barrel you are a reindeer.  Race to the finish line.  If there is snow wear warm gloves to keep your hands from freezing.

Animal Tracks

Have one person with big feet make tracks (footsteps) in the snow from the start to finish line.  Each team member must race only stepping in the original tracks

Christmas Music Freeze Dance

Play Christmas music and have the children dance.  When the music stops the kids must freeze.  The last person to freeze is out.  Play music again and repeat until you have a winner.

Christmas Carol Frozen Sing Along

Have the group sing along to a Christmas song.  Turn the music off and whoever stops singing last is out.

Candy Cane Hunt
Hide a box worth of candy canes for every two players.  Have the players hunt for candy canes like you would an Easter Egg hunt.  You could even have a giant candy cane for the grand prize.
* I like to buy plastic candy canes if playing in a large group, otherwise real ones break easily and everyone wants to eat them.

Rudolph (Red Rover)
Rudolph, Rudolph send ______ right over.

Pin the Carrot on the Snowman

Build a real snow man.  Blind fold the kids  and spin them in front of the snowman. They might trip/slip and get hurt walking through the snow.  Have them try to put the carrot in the right place.

Snow Ball Fight
If you live in a warm climate, have a marshmallow fight outside.  The rain or sprinklers will eventually dissolve all the marshmallows.  Take precautions if you have pets or wild animals to clean up the marshmallows, so they don't eat them and get sick.
You could also use a marshmallow gun, slingshot or shooter.

Shaving Cream Fight

If it's warm where you live, a shaving cream fight looks just like snow, but it way more fun.

Shaving Cream Fight Link

Ice Blocking

If it's warm where you live and you still want to go sledding try Ice Blocking.  It's just as much fun and super easy.

Ice Blocking Link

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Pringle Ringle Challenge

We saw the Pringle Ringle Challenge on the Today's Show.  We are always up for a challenge, so we thought, why not?  Another fun family night activity or party game.

 

 For each ring you need one Pringles container.

We decided to break off into two teams and race.  This did lead to some fighting and I would recommend for older kids and adults to each make their own.

Gently pour out your Pringles to keep them from breaking or chipping.

You want a good solid base.

Keep going from there.

They thought they had it, but it has to be free standing and when they removed their hands it fell.

The final piece.

The winning team!

*See the bottom of the blog for our secret method.

Duck Face

Duck Kisses

I wanna be a DUCK!

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Ice Blocking

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  * Our Winning Secret Method.

Place two Pringles sided by side for the base.  Place the Pringles touching each other to give support and hold in place.  Place a Pringle on top centered over the two touching pieces and build from there.  Ensure the pieces touch each other and a build all the way up.