A few days ago Isaac was asking Bianca some interesting questions about Santa.  Here is how the conversation went:

Isaac: Can Santa see me in here?

Bianca: Where?

Isaac: In my room?

Bianca: Yes.

Isaac: But how, there is a roof [Points to ceiling]

Bianca: He lives in the North Pole, so a roof isn't really the big problem.  Plus, Isaac, you have been such a good boy, why are you worried?

Isaac: Well, sometimes I am not a good boy and I don't want him to see that.

Bianca:  You're not ever a bad boy and Santa knows that. 

He is always thinking, that kid.  Bianca said he inherited the schemer gene from me and I think this is proof of that.

I had this weird realization recently driving in the work passing two teenage boys shoveling snow.  Some time in the next decade I am going to be able to pass off some, if not all, of my snow shoveling duties to my two boys.  Ah...fat city.  I will be watching them from the window, sipping some hot chocolate, warm and toasty as they pelt each other with snow balls. 

I know this is just a pipe dream, but there are so many things two boys can help do. 

"Boys, do not make your mother take in the groceries.  She makes us meals, the least you two can do is haul in the raw materials for her."

"Boys, your mother and I are tired, can you go pick up some food for dinner?"

"Boys, I need some help bringing in this plywood."

"Boys, we need to clean out the fridge.  Go eat what's left."

"Boys, go rake the leaves."

"Boys, I need help moving the refrigerator, let's go."

"Boys, let's clean the house for Mom."

I am starting to understand why folks in the Middle Ages had so many children--FREE LABOR.  

Isaac has been obsessed with cups for reasons I don't exactly understand.  He has also really been interested in the classic video game Plants v. Zombies.  So on Black Friday while Mom was out shopping we used the cups and the tiles in the kitchen floor to invent Plants v. Zombies CUPS Edition. 

Here are the official rules:

Plants v. Zombies CUPS Rules

What you Need

20 “Plant” Cups

20 “Zombie” Cups

2 Equally sided dice

A grid of at least 2 rows and 5 columns

Zones

There are three zones in the game: the grid, the stash, and the graveyard.  All cups not on the grid or in a stash are in the graveyard.   Plants start with 10 cups in the stash and 10 in the graveyard.  Zombies start with 15 cups in the stash and 5 in the graveyard.  Earned cups are taken from the graveyard placed in the earning player’s stash.  The losing cup in a fight goes from the grid to the graveyard.  Players place cups on the grid from their stash. 

Moves Per Turn

On every turn the plants can do one of two things:

Place a cup

Earn a cup

On every turn the zombies can do one of three things:

Place a cup

Move a cup

FIGHT! 

Rules for Placing

Plants can be placed anywhere on the game board, with one exception.  Plants cannot be placed on the zombie start squares unless there are no other open squares. 

Zombies can only be placed in the zombie start squares. 

There can only be one plant or zombie per square.

Rules for Earning

Plants can earn a cup instead doing other options during their turn.  Earning a cup adds to the player’s stash (the collection of cups not on the grid).  There is one other way to earn a cup, see Rules for Fighting below.

Rules for Moving

Zombies can move.  Plants can’t.  Zombies move by going one space ahead.

Rules for Fighting

A plant v. zombie fight occurs when a zombie’s move puts it on a square occupied by a plant.  The plant and zombie both roll a die.  Highest number wins.  Low number is lost to the graveyard.  If there is a tie, both players earn a cup and roll again.  Players repeat until there is no tie.  If there are no cups in the graveyard, players roll again without earning a cup.

Starting

Plants begin with 10 cups in their stash.  Zombies begin with 15 cups stash.  Zombies proceed forward across the longest axis of the grid.

Winning

Zombies win by eliminating all plants in a row of squares and moving to occupy the final square.

Plants win by placing a plant on a zombie start square or eliminating all zombies in the zombie player’s stash.