This post is sponsored by Pinhole Press.
(big catch up post coming tomorrow with lots of Christmas and Nutcracker and Twinkly Things. In the meantime, the perfect gift!)
In December, since we cannot exactly transform our house to a chalet in the snowy woods, we transform it into doable goals–a house with twinkle lights. A house with cocoa. A house with Nat King Cole crooning carols and kitchen smells of gingerbread and kids in Christmas jammies so thrilled with little pleasures that you remember it’s not the chalet that seems so dreamy but what’s behind the glow of its frosty windows…family.
And with that cocoa and carols and gingerbread and cozy Christmas jammies, there’s a good chance you’ll find a lot more games at our house this month too. Because, in December, we’re game people. Board games and card games, puzzle games, any game that pulls us to the table to spend time together. We play games on Christmas Eve, pack puzzles to take with us for holiday travel and often choose favorite games as gifts for family and friends.
Pinhole Press has been one of our favorite places to find unique games our kids love, and the best part? They incorporate our favorite family photos. We are huge fans of their little board books and memory games (we have a few of each), and this year, we are loving their Names & Faces Puzzle Game, a matching game that has become Nella’s favorite.
Not only does it encourage coordination and fine motor development with large, thick puzzle pieces that simple lock together, but it sharpens reading skills in a fun way by adding familiar names of favorite people to her growing site word bank.
Plus, it’s super colorful, durable and features our cherished photos–my kids’ favorite part.
Nella and Dash have been playing this game several times a day since it came in the mail, and it’s been so much fun watching how proud Nella is to help Dash find the matches because she can read and recognize every name in the puzzle now.
(We threw in our beloved dog friend from my dad’s cabin up north, the one and only George Bailey.)
I captured some video footage the other day of them playing it. I love hearing Nella practice the phonetic sounds of the beginning of the names
We created several gifts from Pinhole Press for the holidays this year, not only for our kids but for family members. A great grandparent gift? Make a game from favorite photos of them and your kids to keep at their house for something fun to play when your kids visit. They’ll love it!
Pinhole Press is super user friendly and makes creating games and gifts quick and easy. Plus, I love their adorable packaging. Slip into suitcases and pull them out at hotels and guests’ houses for some fun entertainment. My favorite? You can save them forever and ever. Because some games are far more special than others. These ones are keepsakes.
Click HERE to create your own gift for the family. Use the code SMALLTHINGS to get 20% off all Pinhole Press products. Offer expires 12/12 at midnight.
For Christmas Delivery: Order Photo Books by December 14th and all other products by December 15th.
amy says
I must know where you go the buffalo check blanket on Dash’s bed. LOVE IT!
Jennifer B. says
I wish I had made one of these for my son when he was younger. So cute!
I just wanted to say I love seeing how much Nella has blossomed this year. I can tell kindergarten agrees with her! :o)
Heather says
Are you aware that when you click to read an older post first it instead takes you to the newest post? Is that just to up page views or is it a glitch?
Katherine Smith says
Dash: Nella Nella Nella!
Nella: What?
LOL
Kate LeWis says
This made me smile! Sounds like my kiddos, except Nella is WAY more patient. Her speech and word recognition are fantastic. I know you’re so proud of your girl!
jenny says
i am so glad that i opened this post. i’m not ususally a huge fan of “sponsered posts” and i am new to your blog, but you really do an excellent job. i have only read the hallmark post and this one, but i absolutely loved them both. this game may be the perfect gift for my nephew. he is a little guy, lives out of state, and has a lot of family to remember 🙂 thank you for your posts. sponsered and all. i look forward to more.
KC says
Question: do the puzzle pieces link up with any other of the puzzle pieces, or do they only link up in pairs (aka, is it possible to make false matches because all the pieces or enough of the pieces are identically cut)?
Thanks!
Kelle says
It is possible to make false matches–they are identically cut.
Tressa says
Thanks so much for the promo code! Just ordered the sticker book for our nephew for Christmas and will definitely use this sweet company again.