My kids were thrilled.  We spent some time on the ground attempting to recreate some of the cool cars, swings, and planes that were modeled in the pamphlet that came with these blocks.

First we put together the swing set.

The pieces were surprisingly easy for a 4 year old to put together on his own.

And fun to play with.

With much help from me, we were able to closely replicate the toy airplane that was displayed in the manual.  Unfortunately this airplane was a display only… once we picked it up off the ground, it fell apart.

The Pros:  The bristle blocks come packaged very nicely and are pretty colors.  There are a lot of moving parts which proved to be interesting to my kids.  They also have cute characters.  And the pieces are easy for young children to connect.  My kids are drawn to this toy.

The Cons:  I was sorely disappointed that the bucket the items came in was too small to re-fit all the pieces.  Shame on you Parents!  I now have to go out and buy an additional bin to store this toy set.  This is one of those moments where the packaging deceives you.  The items come in a large plastic bin, so you naturally think, “Great!  I have a storage case!”  Wrong.  This bucket is missing the top lid and does not fit the 57 pieces.  Boo!

In addition, I was bummed that the pieces fall apart rather easily.  The little yellow guy on the above swing that my son made continued to fall out of the swing attachment.  And when the item that has been created is a bit heavy, it falls apart as it’s picked up.

My summary:  Although I like this toy, I probably wouldn’t spend the $36.99 knowing that I will have to spend an additional $5-$7 to buy a bin to house it.  But if it was given to my kids as a gift, I’d think it was pretty cool!

Review: 57 Pieces Parents Bristle Blocks Spinners

Turns out, I was pleasantly surprised that absolutely no sales pitch given to us.  None.  We were asked, but not required, to leave a comment on Leapfrog’s community forum.  We were not even asked to blog about our experience.

OK, now I’m listening…

In lieu of a sales pitch, Leapfrog enlisted the help of Dr. Cunningham, a Leapfrog advisory board member and director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education at UC Berkeley.  Dr. Cunningham engaged us in an hour long discussion regarding the importance of frequently speaking and reading to your children ages zero to five.

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a podcast from NPR’s This American Life in which they did a segment narrated by “Whatever It Takes” author Paul Tough entitled Baby College.  He findings show that the typical middle class family speaks to their infants and toddlers dramatically more often and more positively than the typical lower income family does.  Fascinating!  His work focuses on breaking the cycle of generational poverty by focusing on the children.  If you have 30 minutes to listen about his ongoing work in New York, it’s truly worth your time.

Dr. Cunningham suggests that we should expose our children to rich language through our words, books, and technology, and in turn our children will have a better chance of reading fluently and comprehending difficult vocabulary at an early age.

What a powerful connection, and a fabulous discussion.

I left the event with a gift bag full of the latest Leapfrog products.  My children will be getting some pretty sweet Christmas gifts this year, thanks to our new favorite toy company, Leapfrog.

OH, did I say toy company?  I should clarify.  Leapfrog first identifies the skill that needs to be taught, then creates a system in which to teach that skill.  Kinda like a really smart teacher, huh?  So I should say that thanks to our new favorite teacher, Leapfrog, my children will have hours of fun learning through play!

*****Leapfrog also provided us with a coupon to save $10 off any order of $50 or more when you shop at leapfrog.com which is good through November 15th, 2008.  So shop away!  I know I will be.

Coupon Code: HY8BHPR

Thanks Leapfrog!!  I’m a new convert.  I’ll promote you.  I’ll consult for you.  I’ll work with you.  Heck, I’d even help birth some of your cute little froggy guppies if I could!  I appreciate how nicely you treated us mom bloggers!!

Leapfrog, an educator’s perspective.

But in addition to my excitement, I was sorely disappointed.  The bubble solution that comes with this bubble maker is literally about 4 inches tall.  It’s the smallest amount of bubbles I’ve ever received at one time.  None the less, I was hopeful that we’d receive great results.

After using 4 C batteries (YIKES!!) –not provided, I turned on the device.

And.…disappointment.

First, I was not able to get the Bath Blizzard to attach onto the water spout as the directions suggested we should.

Second, the amount of bubbles that were generated from this device were less than impressive.

Third, the minute the bubbles hit the water they dissolved.

This item is not worth the $19.99 it costs to purchase.

Mine will be going in the trash as soon as my kids go to sleep tonight.

Kid Kleen Bath Blizzard Review

What is it?  The Aquadoodle Draw N’ Doodle Mat allows a child to draw with water directly onto the mat and have a picture appear.  When the water dries the picture goes away.

At over $20, I feel the price is a bit steep, but still enjoyed the time my kids had to play with it.

Downside?  If you put the mat away and it’s not totally dry, it molds.  I learned this lesson the hard way.

Aquadoodle Review

My kids loved it.  I think that for $10.99 this is a great toy to buy a child for his birthday.  I don’t think I’d run out and buy it for my own kids, but as a gift, it was great!!

I think that I enjoyed this set even more because of the picture directions.  (I did alreay mention that, right??!!)  Anything that encourages independant play in our house is always appreciated!

Overall:  A great gift to give and receive!–But would not run out and buy it for my kids.

K’Nex Review

Since this blog has basically turned into a photo journal lately…I thought I’d just continue the theme for one more post.

“Yes Mom.  I will rise to the occasion.”

The challenge: Five naps and bedtimes without sucking her thumb.

The result?: Success!!  eClaire successfully put herself to sleep 10 different times without sucking her thumb.  Unfortunately for us, her going to sleep routine which use to take less that 2.5 seconds extended itself to a little more than an hour each night.  Sigh.  All good things must come to an end.

eClaire’s End of Thumb Sucking Ceremony

“Look at me, Mommy, I did it!!  I don’t suck my thumb anymore. AND I can ‘fake smile’ with the best of them!”

The anticipation is killing her as Daddy takes the new doll out of it’s box.

Sweet success.

A proud Daddy with his daughter and her doll.  (Notice the real smile that’s now on eClaire’s face?  Precious..)

I’d like to say that this has been 100% successful, but in all honesty it has not.  eClaire still often sneaks her thumb at night,  Old habits die slowly.  This daughter of mine created a blister on her finger in utero because she was sucking on it even then.

But the success?  Both we and eClaire now know she’s not completely dependant on her thumb for sleep.  Armed with this knowledge, I hope that quitting the thumb once and for all is just around the corner!

Dolls with strings attached

Know how I remember??  Each time I broke an arm as a child I got a ‘Kid.

Four.  Four breaks. Four ‘Kids.

Break #1 & Cabbage Patch Kid #1

My brother dared me to hang by my toes from the monkey bars at my grandma’s house.  If you know me personally, you know that I’m up for a challenge.

Yup.  Broken arm.  What can I say, I was four…common sense eluded me that day.

Break #2 & Cabbage Patch Kids #2

I was standing on the balance beam at age five waiting for my turn to do my somersault when I began to daydream when whoops, I fell.

Broken arm number two and the second addition to my Cabbage Patch Family.

Break #3…Cabbage Patch Kid #3

I was rollerskating in my front yard around the age of seven and tripped over a small rock.  At this point my pediatrician was beginning to know me by name… much to my mom’s chagrin.

Break #4…Cabbage Patch Kid #4

Six months later just before I entered second grade, on my mom’s birthday in fact, I was playing soccer in my back yard with my brothers and some friends when I tripped and fell.  I informed my mom that my arm was broken and she reacted EXACTLY as I would.  It went something like, “Uh huh, Nette, just rest it for awhile… you’ll be fine.”  Awhile later I was still complaining about the pain when my mom took me down for another x-ray.  (It’s a wonder that I could even get pregnant as an adult with the amount of x-rays that I’ve had in my life!) This time I, again, broke my arm.

So it’s clear that I was a fan of Cabbage Patch Kids!  Hell, if my mom wouldn’t just go out and buy me one I’d up the ante and break my arm!

Hehe, ahem…

About a month ago I received an email from Team Mom letting me know that they’d be sending me an new and very exciting NEW item to review.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my daughter’s new and very exciting authentic, limited time release Cabbage Patch Kid, Jacqueline Edith.

Kinda cute, right? Looks a bit like eClaire, no?  But really… do you think that I’d hand off a BRAND NEW CABBAGE PATCH KID for nothing in return???  Pu-LEASE!

____________________________

Stay tuned for the next edition where Nette says to eClaire, “In FIVE DAYS Jacqueline Edith can be yours IF and only if you stop sucking your thumb.”

Dun-da-dun!

My Cabbage Patch Kid(s.s.s.s)

Some new bling bling? Seriously!? I wasn’t expecting this when I signed up with Team Mom to review new kid’s products out on the market. After hearing this song, I was dying to hear how Beyonce’s sister and dad had modified other popular nursery rhymes. My personal favorite on the CD is, “The Wheels on the Bus”. Ya, it’s pretty funny.

So this new upbeat hip-hop inspired CD collection is not for everyone, but if you are a family who loves the hip-hop style of music, you might want to check it out. BTW, do we even call it hip-hop anymore?? Gosh, I’m so old!

Included with the CD, I was given this Baby Jamz Key Chain. The 7 1/2 month old boy I watch twice a week loves chewing on all the keys and pushing its buttons. It’s a hit!

The last thing I got in my box of goodies was a Baby Jamz Music Crew.

Can I be honest here?

I thought it was the dumbest thing I’d ever seen. Unless it were to be included in a McDonald’s Happy Meal, I would never, under any circumstances, buy this. The little people are easily lost, difficult to place into the foot holds, and frankly boring to my kids. And the little boom box only played 30 seconds of a Baby Jamz nursery rhyme. Don’t waste your time.

So two out of three ain’t bad, huh? I liked the Baby Jamz Nursery Rhymes Volume One CD. My friend’s 7 1/2 month old son loves the Baby Jamz Key Chain, but I hated the Music Crew.

There you have it, my review.

Team Mom Out!!

Some New Bling Bling

–First, the chapters have to be short. When I lay down in the middle of the night at the end of the day, I often read for about fifteen minutes. I like being able to start and complete a chapter within that time.

–Second, the books needs to be an easy read. Let’s face it. My brain is tired and I don’t want to think too hard about what I’m reading. I just want to be entertained.

–Third, I like feel good’ stories, and sometimes mysteries. But I only like mysteries if thy don’t keep me up with nightmares. A girl’s gotta get her beauty sleep!
So, like I said, I’m easy.

Forgive Me is a story about Nadine Morgan, a journalist, who has been on the road reporting in different countries for the past ten years. The majority of the story takes place when Nadine goes back to South Africa to cover a murder trial. During this time Nadine is faced with her past and has to make a decision about who she is and who she wants to become.

So Forgive Me met my first criteria. The chapters were manageable and I didn’t really ever find myself searching for the end of the chapter. This is always a pleasant surprise!

Forgive Me was also a pretty easy read for me. But, unfortunately, I found that I just never connected with the main character, Nadine. I sometimes found it to be a chore to pick up the novel and read. Nadine was not too likable or hate-able enough for me to love. She was just somewhere in the middle. I had a hard time relating to her through most of the story.

I felt that Amanda Eyre Ward’s writing lacked something. Maybe it was my inability to connect with the main character, or that the story didn’t flow and nicely as I wished, but it was missing the ‘it factor’ that makes fall in love with a novel.

Although I struggled to connect with Nadine, I found that I went back to the story night after night. There was something that drew me back to Forgive Me. Maybe it was my desire to learn more about a world that I knew nothing about. Maybe it was Amanda Eyre Ward’s story. Either way, it kept me coming back.

If I were to grade Forgive Me, I’d have to give it somewhere around a C+. The chapters were short, her writing easy to read, but it wasn’t really a feel good story or a mystery. It was more of a journey. A journey of a woman whom in the end I struggled to connect with and love.

Smiling: Book Review