Now that our family has settled into a busy fall routine (work, school, dinner, repeat), we're usually so wiped out we fall asleep before we get a chance to spend any quality time together. This got me thinking back to my own childhood and the fond memories I have of playing classic board games like Candyland and Monopoly with Mom and Dad. My husband and I are excited to bring back the old-fashioned 'game night' with our children--read on for 5 great suggestions for your own!

I happened to be in San Diego this weekend for a family wedding and was worrying that our return flight on Sunday had a good chance of being canceled. Lucky for me (or unlucky, however you want to look at it) our flight went without a hitch and we arrived at 4pm right before JFK canceled all of their domestic flights. On the way home to CT we made a point to fill up the car with fuel and to stop by the grocery for "power outage food", mainly chips, fruit, water, cookies, almond milk and cereal. I also hit up the ATM to have cash on hand. I plan to cook up soup and some meat tomorrow morning so that it doesn't go to waste and is edible these upcoming days. You see, embarrassingly enough, even after Irene's wrath last year we still don't have a generator! When the power goes out you can find us all huddled by the fireplace roasting marshmallows. Many along the coast have been evacuated due to anticipated heavy flooding, mass transit is closed as well as most schools. We're all in this together. Might as well make the most of it while we can and prepare for safety's (and sanity's) sake. Our NYC site has a great post with lots of ideas on ways to keep busy and have fun with the kids during the storm.

Whether making a direct path for Boston or simply threatening to hit with high winds, a hurricane can wreak havoc on the unprepared. Rather than panic, though, when the news reports begin to hint of an impending storm, it's definitely worth spending some time to be sure you and your family are ready to handle emergencies that can arise. (Batteries? Check. Flashlights? Check. Water? Check.) Read on for a roundup of some sound advice about hurricane preparedness from a number of reliable sources.

Well, NJ, for the second year in a row, we’re facing a whole lot of “indoor time” with our kids due to freakish weather. We will say nothing about global warming in this post (ahem), only give you some great ideas for fun stuff to do inside while Sandy rages outside. Check out the tips from our own NJ writers, or hope over to NYC Mommy Poppins for a more extensive list of don’t-go-crazy ideas. Stay safe, NJ!
 

Talk about déjà boo! Remember that freak snowstorm we had the weekend before Halloween last year? Well, Mother Nature is playing another cruel trick on us as we all brace for Hurricane Sandy. Due to the approaching wild weather, the NYC Department of Transportation has decided to suspend subway and bus service beginning at 7pm on Sunday, and the NYC Department of Education has canceled school on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30! (Follow NYC Public Schools on Twitter for the most up-to-date info.) All New Yorkers are being urged to stay indoors from Sunday night until the storm passes.

While we hope this turns out to be much ado about nothing, chances are your family is going to be spending a lot of time at home over the next few days. If you're wondering how best to prepare (hopefully you've already shopped for necessities like food and filled the bathtub with water), just turn on your local news or visit the official website of your town, city or state. New Yorkers can find info on potential flooding zones, emergency shelters, evacuation notices, public transportation updates and more at nyc.gov.

So what are you going to do to keep your kids (and you) from going stir crazy during the hurricane? After all, you can only watch TV for so long (especially if the power goes out). We've got the scoop on some fun crafts, kid-friendly recipes, cool analog games and even Halloween fun you can do at home. Here are creative ways to keep busy during Hurricane Sandy.

The sad fact is, small businesses have it rough in New York City, especially these days. We're constantly posting about family spots that have closed—this year alone we've lost bowling alley Harlem Lanes, the Little Gym of Harlem, the Upper West Side Scribble Press and Park Slope's arcade/restaurant PSbkln, to name a few. But this time, one of our favorite kid-centric businesses has reached out before it shutters to ask families for help. Beloved children's bookstore Books of Wonder is in dire financial straits and is soliciting donations in order to stay open into 2013.