There have been many versions of Bop It since the launch of this addictive follow-the-leader style game in the mid 1990s. The Extreme versions feature the five levers – pull it, push it, flick it, spin it and of course Bop It. This makes it one of the larger designs, looking a bit like a steering wheel with four levers spaced evenly around the circumference and the last in the middle. The first Extreme version had two games – Vox Bop Solo which had voice commands and Beat Bop Solo which had sound commands. This meant that you had to know, for example, that a bass drum sound meant Bop It and a slide whistle sound meant Pull It. This game was even more difficult to master than the original. The Bop It Extreme 2 found the heady heights of fame in 2005 when it received the accolade of ‘Electronic Game Of The Year’. The format had not changed from its predecessor other than a slight colour change, additional music styles, a volume control and another game called One-On-One. The last of the Extreme family of Bop Its was the Extreme Download. It changed colour to white and introduced various difficult levels. The Download name came from the included USB cable which meant that players could add new beats, sounds and voices to be played during the game.

photo credit: koiart71

Halloween is fast approaching it’s time to start preparing all the party games and kids halloween costumes for trick or treating.

Depending on what sort of Halloween you are planning you may be looking for ideas for Halloween crafts and costumes, Halloween recipes and some ideas for games and activities.  A good selection of Halloween games and activities will keep the kids interested and your Halloween party running smoothly.

Just a little bit of preparation will go a long way, so be sure to have more food and a few more games organized than you think you will need. Games may end more quickly than you planned or if the children are not showing interest, a few back-ups is always a good idea. Prepare any music and decorations before the party and make sure that you stock up with prizes.

You may know that you want to adopt a child, but is overseas adoption the right choice for you and your family? There are a lot of reasons that some families are choosing international adoption. These can range from waiting times to the idea of getting children out of foreign orphanages. However, the decision can be a hefty one.

First of all adopting a child from overseas is often expensive. Think about $15,000 to get started. This fee could be more depending on the country you choose to adopt from, their policies, travel expensive, and other fees that might pop up along the way.

You will need to be prepared to go and stay in the country where you will be adopting for a few weeks, sometimes longer depending on their requirements. Not only can this be expensive, but it will require your time, and you will be there for a lengthy stay.

You will also need to consider the adoption laws of the country you might choose to adopt from. Often times foreign adoptions come with a lengthy list of regulations and requirements. You will need to be of the appropriate age, make enough money, have a stable home, and be able to prove it to them.

You must also be prepared to wait at least 6 months to get through the paper work and to meet the requirements. Some parents have to wait as long as 18 months before getting their child.

Overseas adoption can be a wonderful thing. However it is often a difficult process to make it through and you really need to make sure that it is for you.