"Four Things"

Lately we have been entertaining ourselves with a rousing game we call Four Things.  It's premise is simple.  Someone reads off a list of four things, three of which have a strong common element, one of which does not.  Everyone then has to identify the out-lier and then be prepared to justify their answer.  It has really captured the hearts and minds of the 6-and-under set.

Sometime the challenge will be pretty obvious:

• Blueberries
• The sky
• Bananas
• Daddy's JetBlue airplanes

Sometimes it might be literary:

• A Hobbit
• A Scarecrow
• A Tin Woodman
• A Cowardly Lion

Or seasonally-related:

• Stockings
• Trees
• House lights
• Jack-o-Lanterns

L, on her own, has decided she does better if she writes her choices down.  (I've noticed no difference in her win ratio, but her bold and enthusiastic attempts at spelling sure makes for a more entertaining game.)

Tonight's final game was a little on the malodorous side:

• Roses
• Old cheese
• Daddy's shoes
• N's toots.

L and N, in a burst of giggles, immediately chose N's indiscretions.  When asked why, they assured me it was because N's gastric disturbances were the only thing that was stinky.  Is that your final answer, I probed?  It was, they insisted.  So naturally I had no option:  I was thereby compelled, immediately and forthwith, to treat each of them to a whiff of Daddy's foot fashion choice of the day.