Benji & The Giant Kite Book Review and Giveaway

I received this book free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Benji & The Giant Kite is a hardcover children's book that is by bestselling author Alan C. Fox with illustrations by Eefje Kuijl. This adorable book is the story of a child named Benji's experience of kite flying and earning money for a giant bright orange kite with hard work. Benji & the 24 Pound Banana Squash is based on a real-life event that happened when Alan Fox was eight. It teaches kids about patience, love, ambition, dedication, and perseverance and how working hard to earn money to achieve a goal can be so rewarding in the end.

Our Thoughts and Spoilers:
Benji & The Giant Kite is a wonderful story of a little boy and his determination. I love how Benji gets right to work and doesn't complain or fuss about how tough it is. He never gives up on his dream. He is determined to get the large orange kite that he saw in the store window even though it is expensive. Because of his "sweat equity" he earns the kite and is able to fly it.

We loved this cute book and its lovely illustrations. The book starts from the beginning where Benji is watching others fly kites on a beach to where he lets the giant kite free to fulfill its destiny and soar high among the clouds. The pictures are fun to look at too. One picture shows the toy shop keeper showing Benji a box kite with nostalgic toys all around. Another shows his dog trailing behind Benji as Benji carries the giant kite down a sandy trail to get closer to the sea. My kids and I will treasure this book.

My kids having fun flying kites.

As a family we love to fly kites too. We also love to go to Once Upon A Breeze in Cannon Beach Oregon. It is the oldest kite shop on the Oregon Coast. It reminded me of the kite/toy shop in this book. Lincoln City Oregon also has a Summer and Fall Kite Festival each year. We have also been to the World Kite Museum and Store in Long Beach Washington which has over 1500 kites from 26 countries around the world. They also have the Washington State International Kite Festival that goes on annually every 3rd full week of August.

Teela and Zari enjoying the Benji & The Giant Kite book.

I suggest this sweet and endearing story to everyone. It is perfect for those who want to teach their children about how working hard and being committed pays off in the end. We love the adorable illustrations and wonderful story. Highly recommended!

BUY IT
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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA Exhibit at The Portland Art Museum is Not to Be Missed!

Since October 14th of last year The Portland Art Museum has been showcasing the awe inspiring art of stop-motion animation in their Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit. This exhibit will close on the 20th of May and, in my opinion, should not be missed.

LAIKA Studios is an animation studio that has become a local fixture of Portland Oregon since 2005. They are not just any animation studio, however. They use stop-motion animation, a technique where the animator has to physically manipulate the object so it appears to move on its own. You might have seen one of their 4 award-winning films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The BoxTrolls (2014), or Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). Just by watching you don't feel of the real scope of these movies, but the characters are brought to life by animators painstakingly moving them 24 times for every second of screen time. The Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit gives you an up close and first hand look at the meticulous artistry that goes into each one of their films. Visitors to this exhibit are immersed in LAIKA's wonderful imaginative world. Museum-goers get to explore production design, sets, props, puppets, costumes, and world-building that have become the studio’s hallmarks.

Here is a sneak peek at what is in store for you if you go...


My son, Jaedan, and I went to the Portland Art Museum on April 27th. We started the day out at Voodoo Doughnut. I had a Mango Tango and my son had an Apple Fritter. Then we went out to lunch at some of the food trucks in the Pearl District. Jaedan had seafood curry noodles and I had a Gyro. We just couldn't visit Portland and not partake in these delectable treats. Going to Voodoo Doughnut and eating from food carts is part of the experience of the of the City of Roses.

Eating Voodoo Doughnuts and Food Cart Food are a must while in Portland.

After our meals we headed towards the Portland Art Museum (PAM). As we had never been there before we tried to partake of what all the museum had to offer before diving into the LAIKA exhibit. We looked around first at the art that was part of the permanent and private collections. Of the Museum’s collection of 42,000 objects, we saw only a representative few, of which my favorites were: Isa Genzken's Two Orchids, Claude Monet Nymphéas (Waterlilies), Nude in Sunlit Wood by Childe Hassam, Joseph M. Raphael's Cottage Garden, Uccle, Belgium; Gabriele Münter's In The Village Chamonix, Frank Stella's Newell's Hawaiian Shearwater (Exotic Bird), Sonya Clark's Penny Loafers, and Dale Chihuly's L'arbre rouge.

Just some of the lovely art we saw at the PAM.

Then we headed to the exhibit we had been anticipating all day. When you go through the doors to the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit you are automatically drawn to a towering skeleton puppet looming over the room. This was used for the film Kubo and the Two Strings. This piece is over 18 feet tall and the largest stop-motion puppet ever made. It is jaw dropping with its impressive lighting and glowing eyes to make it look even more menacing. It was fun to learn that LAIKA's studio is too small to house this giant beast all put together and they had to film it in two pieces: legs and torso, for Kubo. For this exhibit it is the first time this puppet has been in one piece.

Skeleton puppet used in Kubo and the Two Strings.

Beside this massive creature you can see the puppets of Beetle, Monkey, Kubo, and the Origami Samurai Warrior for reference of size. On the far wall you can see the "Wall of Faces", which features the rapid-prototype face replacement 3-D printing that LAIKA won a scientific and engineering Oscar in 2016 for. This technology, used first in ParaNorman, is astounding to me because each tiny expression and movement of the face is captured in individual faces that LAIKA snaps off and on the puppets to make them seem far more lifelike than other stop-motion animations.

Jaedan looking at Coraline's "Other World" House.

Next we migrated to a room with Coraline's "Other World" House in it. We saw first hand how LAIKA animators could go behind it so they could manipulate the puppets. This was a piece of the actual set! It was like a large doll house and it was intricately designed...all the way down to tiny plants hanging from the porch and lights that actually glow. The attention to detail is mind-boggling!

Back into the skeleton room and through a corridor of Asian art we come to the main LAIKA exhibit. Before you enter it warns, "This exhibition contains a zoetrope that produces a strobing effect and may trigger visitors with photosensitivity or epilepsy. Staff are happy to direct you to another entrance or answer questions." The room has a darker ambience and there is so much to take in and see. We saw many LAIKA artifacts, including: original sketches, small models called maquettes, puppets, sets, costumes, rigging, storyboards, etc.

Some of the LAIKA sets we saw at the exhibit.

The sets are amazing! As you go in you can see the set of Kubo's childhood home to the left with Beetle and Monkey inside. We saw some of the sets for The BoxTrolls: one scene of the verminator puppets chasing down Eggs and some BoxTrolls in the hill top town of Cheesebridge, Norvenia and another set of the ballroom dance scene. Coraline's Garden set took up almost a whole room by itself and when seen from above you can clearly see Coraline's face in the garden itself. There were also some neat sets from ParaNorman.

Jaedan looking at the Kubo and the Two Strings Giant Eye Monster.

There are also things you can touch and manipulate too! Inside there is a 11 foot Giant Eye Monster from Kubo and the Two Strings that you could go behind to see the robotic framework and then move with the same bowling ball trackball interface that they used to create the underwater scene in Kubo. We also got to manipulate the ocean waves in Kubo which were made out of paper and seemed to topple over each other like a string of dominoes.

Everything had remarkable detail. There are so many teeny-tiny handstitched outfits and props to go with the sets and puppets. These must have taken them so much time and effort to make! All of it is just so intricate and ornate and ultimately makes the films feel even more lifelike.

Snapped a photo of the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit banner as we left.

I wish we could have taken more time to explore the Animating Life: The Art, Science, and Wonder of LAIKA exhibit. We enjoyed it all so very much! We had a fabulous time visiting the Portland Art Museum and hope that LAIKA decides to come back there again at some point. I highly recommend to go see the LAIKA exhibit if you can. The last day is the 20th of May!

This exhibit is organized by the Portland Art Museum and the Northwest Film Center in collaboration with LAIKA.

Follow LAIKA on Social Media:

• Website: https://www.laika.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laikastudios
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/laikastudios
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBnyjFhOn23xjsqOUW4j6OQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laikastudios
  

Follow Portland Art Museum on Social Media:

• Website: https://portlandartmuseum.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portlandartmuseum
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PDXArtMuseum
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PortlandArtMuseum
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/portlandartmuseum

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this review.

Wordless Wednesday Jaedan's Wire Thestral Art

Jaedan made this Thestral (A bat-like winged horse creature from Harry Potter) out of wire for art.

Look carefully to see the dragon skull (carved into the wooden base) it is standing on.

Real Kids Shades Eye Protection For Kids Review and Giveaway

The Real Kids Shades we picked out.

I received these products free to facilitate this review. 

Everyone knows that the sun can damage the skin and most parents know to whip out the sun screen to lather on their family before they go outside as a protection from harmful UV rays. But did you know that UV rays from the sun can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Eyes can not repair themselves like the skin can and the damage can build up over time. UV rays can also still do damage anytime of the year and even on overcast and cloudy days. This is why it is so important to protect not only your whole family's skin all year round, but also their eyes when they are outside.

Real Kids Shades, RKS, is a great company that promotes sun eye protection for kids. They sell a wide variety of stylish sun glasses with super sun protection for babies (0+), toddlers (2+), kids (4+), and youth (7+), and new young adult sizes. These sunglasses have a number of wonderful features which make them even more desired for a parent to purchase for their kids:

• Third-party verification of 100% UV-A/UV-B protection
• Durable - shatterproof and impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses
• Comfortable fit - not too tight, not too loose
• Unbreakable polymer frames - can bend and twist, but won't lose their shape
• Transparent enough to see your child's eyes
• Tested to contain no lead, BPA or phthalates
• Many styles have wrap-around frames to minimize exposure to peripheral light
• Explorer, Bolt, and Breeze models have P2 Lenses = Professional grade polycarbonate + Polarized
• Warranty - one year warranty from manufacturer defects
• Affordable - prices range from $14.99-$39.99

All the sunglasses I received came in a clear plastic case with carabiner and came with a reusable soft neoprene® zippered case with carabiner. This is great because they can put their shades in their cases and know where they are. They can also hook them onto a belt loop, backpack, etc. so they can take them with them everywhere they go.

My kids looking cool in their Real Kids Shades.

Delbin, my oldest son, received the Swag for Young Adult in Black/Blue to keep and try out. The Swag design is very similar to the Wayfarer design, but fitted for young adults. The blue color on the temples (arms/sides that are placed over the ears) is one of my favorite colors and so vibrant on these. He liked the way the lenses are mirrored and shimmered blue too. These fit really well on him and looked great.

Jaedan, my middle son, received Blade for Young Adult in P2 Polarized Lens in Graphite/Orange to keep and try out. The polarized lenses on these help with glare-reduction so that your child can see better through them. The wrap around frame looked good on Jaedan and helps minimize peripheral light. The nose pieces on these made them a bit high on his nose, but he could still see well out of them. Orange is his favorite color so he liked that about these too.

Teela, my middle daughter, received Breeze for Kids 7+ in P2 Polarized Lens in Cherry Pink/Lime to keep and try out. These have a squared off wrap around frame that make them look very stylish and very protectant of little eyes. The polarized lenses on these eliminate glare, increase visual clarity, reduce eye strain, and enhance contrast so that your child can see better through them. These are also Flex-Fit^TM which means that the frames are made of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPEE) and are very flexible. I love the bright colors of these too and they match so much of Teela's wardrobe.

Zari, my youngest daughter, received Breeze for Kids 4+ in P2 Polarized Lens in Purple/Navy to keep and try out. These have a squared off wrap around frame that make them look very stylish and very protectant of little eyes. The polarized lenses on these eliminate glare, increase visual clarity, reduce eye strain, and enhance contrast so that your child can see better through them. These are also Flex-Fit^TM which means that the frames are made of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPEE) and are very flexible. If you know my daughter Zari, you know her absolute favorite color is purple. She took one look at these and fell in love. I am so happy they fit her so well.

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BUY IT
To celebrate the holidays, Real Kids Shades is offering a 20% off coupon and free shipping on orders over $25.  Use the HOLIDAY15 coupon code when checking out from November 18 through January 3, 2016. These are great for stocking stuffers for Christmas!

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Prize: Win one pair of Real Kids Shades - winners choice (style, size and color). USA and Canada Only!

I run giveaways with Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to review and an opportunity to giveaway one as well. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Wordless Wednesday Hay Ride

Our boys and their friend got a hay ride in the truck to the barn.

Wordless Wednesday Climbing Trees

Monday Jaedan fell out of a tree he was climbing, dislocated his arm and fractured his left elbow.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons to take his mind off the pain.

Star Toaster Orphs of the Woodlands Review

My children and I had the privilege of testing out Orphs of the Woodlands for Star Toaster free for this review to use in conjunction with my own homeschool curriculum. This is a Schoolhouse Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

The Orphs of the Woodlands is a fun online adventure game for 4th through 7th graders with over 300 lessons. Within this game is an interactive online book called The Treasure of HighTower. This game teaches lessons in math, science, reading, language, grammar, vocabulary, character values, thinking skills, life skills, the arts, etc. There are fun links, popups, recipes, rollovers, memory games, videos, flash cards, and more throughout the online education to further the learning in an interactive way. After each chapter there is a review to help remember skills learned. Then jobs can be completed as fun tasks to get "paid" rewards of gold stars to help orphaned woodland creatures (Orphs of the Woodlands).

I really wanted my boys to enjoy this game because it sounded fun to me and I thought they might learn a lot of new things from it. I should have known that it would be too easy for them though because both my boys are advanced for their grade and age. Because of that they didn't feel challenged enough to keep playing after a few lessons. I tried it out first with my 8th grader, but since he was older than the age group for this he got bored with the game fairly easily. My 7th grader, Jaedan, was next to try the game out. Jaedan is a very fast reader and loves reading. He seemed like he was enjoying the game once he got started, but burnt out fast like his older brother further into the game. I think it had something to do with the fact that Jaedan doesn't read a lot of books online. We do not own a tablet yet, so he really hasn't had much chance to do so. He has told me though, that he likes reading physical books better.

It became very clear to me early out that I was going to have to test this with another child. My daughter Teela had been pleading with me to play the game ever since she saw her brothers play. So because I had no other willing testers, I helped her along with the game.

The Treasure of HighTower has a total of 15 chapters. This is the first book in the series and later on there are going to be other books available. Each chapter has roughly 20-30ish pages to read. While reading there is a convenient page counter to count down the number of pages there are left in the chapter you are in until you get to Ivythwaite. At Ivythwaite your student can pick and accomplish tasks in the Help Wanted section that solidify what they have learned in the chapter so they can earn gold stars from the Star Toaster that creates them. After earning these they can help the Orphs build a place to live out of harms way from the evil villains, the Night Creatures.

Orph Settlement your student can help build and maintain to eventually save as many Orphs as possible.

Teela is in 1st grade so this game was of course above her level. I sat down with her and helped her through it each chance we got. I am glad I got the chance to sit through it with her because I came to understand the game better myself. When she first logged on the game asked her to fill out a Spy Application which she got to pick out her spy alias or character name. She told me that she wanted to be female pony in the story, but they only had one choice for the character, male (gender) and gray squirrel (critter) so she picked a boy name for the alias. She was able to pick a favorite color which she picked purple (pink was not an option) from a list of colors and was told to check off qualifications that the character had. She checked off all of them. Then it asked are you willing to learn, and she picked yes, then hit apply.

Vocabulary rollovers that popup

Recipe for Nutty Nut Bread

The chapters of the online book are a bit long winded, but do set the stage for the game. The first chapter in The Treasure of HighTower is called Boar's Head and it tells the story of the gray squirrel, his home, how he became a spy, and why he started helping other Orphs. Teela did very well reading it and only needed help with a few of the larger words which I had her sound out before helping her with them. Since the first chapter was 27 pages it took a while to get through especially when she wanted to mouse over all the rollovers that popped up vocabulary definitions and quotes, as well. We also could click audio sounds to listen to and spy letters to open and read along the way. Above the reading there is a timeline that she could click and go backwards in the story if needed. It also showed where she was in the book chapter-wise and all the chapter titles how they where laid out. The subsequent chapters introduce you to more of the story, characters, and skills. They also include more of the popups, rollovers, videos, and links to enhance the learning.

Timeline to show you where you are.

At the end of the first chapter we came to Ivythwaite and the Help Wanted page in which Teela did tasks, learned skills, and earned gold stars. The only tasks to complete for the first chapter was answering 11 multiple choice questions about vocabulary she learned in the chapter. Each task/question had training on the subject before the she could answer so she knew the material covered even if she hadn't moused over everything in the chapter previously. Subjects covered in the chapters following include: math, science, language, vocabulary, thinking skills, life skills and the arts. There is a lot of ground covered with each subject. Teela loved the life skills section the best because of the recipes you could actually make that went along with the story. We saved a number of them to try later. After each question she answered correct she would get a certain amount of goldstars to put towards helping the Orphs later on.

Jaedan looking at vocabulary flashcards in the lesson review.

Help Wanted job section

In the Orph Care section Teela could purchase food, water, clothing, medicine, protection and energy with your gold stars. These resources help sustain more Orphs. Teela could also purchase buildings and crops for the Orph settlement. If she placed them well the settlement would thrive.

As a parent, I could log into the parent section with my own password and check Teela's progress and status. I was also emailed a progress report after each chapter when tasks were completed so I knew how she was doing in each section. This tells me the number of lessons completed correctly, how many pages read, and what can be expected in chapters following.

I feel that even though my boys didn't warm up to Orphs of the Woodlands that it is still a wonderful supplement to our homeschool. I think that if I had a 4th or 5th grader then they would enjoy this a whole lot better. Teela, although only in first grade, loved the story and learning along the way. I kind of wish this game was geared to kids in the younger set. If your child loves reading and doesn't mind spending time in front of a tablet or computer to do so then this game might be a great fit. I think it would also be great for a summer reading program.

TRY IT
Star Toaster is offering a FREE TRIAL for a limited time. Get access to the first 100 pages, over 50 lessons/games for FREE!

BUY IT
A 60-day subscription of Orphs of the Woodlands for up to 3 children is regularly $19.99. You can also purchase 30 day extensions for $6.99.

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Read other reviews for the Star Toaster Orphs of the Woodlands...

The Critical Thinking Co.™ World History Detective Book 1 Review

The Critical Thinking Co.™ World History Detective Book 1 (Gr. 6-12+)

I had the privilege of testing out the World History Detective Book 1 (Gr. 6-12+) for The Critical Thinking Co.™ free for this review. This is a Schoolhouse Review Crew Review. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

The Critical Thinking Co.™ has award winning products that help students of all abilities achieve higher academic results with lessons that develop and sharpen their critical thinking skills. They have fun and easy to use products with lessons in standards-based reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history that are guaranteed to produce better grades and higher test scores. Critical thinking is: identifying, analyzing, defining, evaluating, examining, reasoning, questioning, and challenging evidence to guide decision making and problem solving in a manner which is clear, rational, and open minded. A good acronym for the main keys of Critical Thinking are to think RED: Recognize Assumptions, Evaluate Information, Draw Conclusions.

The World History Detective Book 1 is geared for grades 6-12+. It is a softcover workbook and textbook in one with 362 perforated pages so you can tear them out cleanly, if needed. This workbook covers Prehistory, Ancient Civilizations, Medieval Civilizations, and Early American Civilizations for a total of 78 lessons. The lessons include maps, charts, timelines, line drawings and black and white photos to help the student with visualization. Students develop critical thinking skills in doing history with reading comprehension and writing skills. Each lesson as a passage to read and then questions about the reading follow. It has multiple choice, short answer, and some short essay questions. The sentences of each lesson are numbered and the students are asked which sentence best supports the answer. It also has a answer key at the back of the book for easy grading.

Jaedan working in the World History Detective Book 1 (Gr. 6-12+)

I had my son Jaedan, who is 12 and in 7th grade work through the book three times per week. I took the answers out so I could grade his answers easier. We had not ever used The Critical Thinking Co.™ books before, so this was certainly a treat. He enjoyed learning some new things about history and getting some review of others. We started on the Greek History lessons, which were more in the middle of the book, because that is his favorite and I wanted him to get the hang of how the book worked better with stuff that he might have already knew. It is easy to skip around in the workbook because the lessons are all self contained. The reading is about 2 pages per lesson with questions that follow. Jaedan devours about a thick chapter book per day, so this reading was easy for him. This book made him use deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills just like a detective to figure out his answers. The answers were not spelled out to him like in other textbooks we have encountered. Since he was having to think more he seemed to like this history book a lot more because he was being challenged, although; it still made him frustrated at times.  I am glad that this workbook had essay questions as well because my son needs to work on his essay writing skills. Jaedan loves history and is on the History Bowl this year, so I thought that he might like a challenge. I am glad that my son enjoys the workbook!

The World History Detective Book 1 is wonderful! My son and I love the workbook. We are glad we got the chance to add it to our curriculum this year! The many maps, charts, and timelines are a great addition to the reading and questions. We love that it also creates a positive challenge to learning history by making children better problem-solvers. It is great to use as a standalone curriculum for World History or as a supplement with other history lessons.

Follow Them on Social Media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheCriticalThinkingCo
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Wordless Wednesday National History Bee and Bowl 2015

Jaedan and his 7th grade Middle School Team strategizing before the tourny.

National History Bowl Oregon tournament, Saturday, February 7th 2015 at Rainier Jr Sr High School: 19 teams in three divisions from 8 different schools getting ready.

Jaedan and his 7th grade Middle School History Bowl Team who qualified for the Nationals in Kentucky in May!

From The Chief (a newspaper in Oregon) posted on Thursday, February 12, 2015 8:14 pm "National History Bee Bowl organized its first nationwide series of National History Bowl tournament for the middle school age level. In all, 19 teams from around the northwest competed at this event. Rainier High School’s seventh and eighth grade History Bowl Teams qualified for the nationals final competition, which is taking place in Kentucky on the weekend of May 22-24. Tyler Brackin and William Carver will represent the eighth grade. Regan Zelinski, Jaedan Abel, Robert DuPlessis, Jack Bauguess, Josiah Jones, with student coach, Rocky Hein, will represent seventh grade. The History Bowl advisor is Mr. Andrew Demko of Rainier High School. Efforts are now underway to raise money for these teams."

Other related articles: Rainier hosts Oregon History Bowl and Bee for fourth consecutive year

Wordless Wednesday Halloween 2014

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Princess Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie

Without wigs at the party

Ranger Jaedan with captured bag of candy.

Delbin was manning one of the activities at the party.

GeospacePlay Jumparoo Boing! JR Pogo Stick Review

It takes a lot of concentration to pogo.

We received a GeospacePlay Jumparoo Boing! JR Pogo Stick free to facilitate this review.

I try to have lots of options for my kids to stay active and busy especially in the summer when the weather is nice and they can get their wiggles out outside. We all love the outdoors! Summer is a blur of camping trips, hiking, biking, playing water sports, building outdoor forts, gardening, etc. We visit a lot of parks, fairs, festivals, zoos, museums, etc. during the summer. When we are home my kids get bored easily, but I try to keep it fun with a variety of activities they can always turn to when they can't think of something else.

GeospacePlay has a bunch of cool toys that were engineered to be awesome and just for kids. They have flying toys, sports and active play, remote control, water toys, novelty and more. They have: foam rockets, water rockets, water cannons, stilts, pogo sticks, hopper balls and LED jump ropes, just to name a few of their neat looking toys. These are all great for summer vacation gifts to keep your kids active and make summer a blast!

We just received the new GeospacePlay Jumparoo BOING! JR Pogo Stick and it is a great outdoor activity for smaller kids. It is just the right size for my son Jaedan at the moment, although I'm sure he will grow out of it soon and then it will be handed down to his sisters. It is sized shorter for smaller kids from 40-80 lbs. This pogo stick is perfect for smaller children and beginners. It bounces up to 24" with practice. Like the entire Geospace family of BOING! Pogos, the rugged metal spring is completely encased within a steel housing for safety. This pogo stick has comfortable foam grips on a T-handle and rugged rubber type non-slip tip and non-slip foot rests. Ages 4 & Up. Dimensions: 37 x 10.25 x 2.75

You can also use this pogo stick with their 99 cent app called Boing-O-Meter for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It measures max air time, scores how many bounces, and shares with friends.

This was our very first pogo stick for the kids and my oldest, Delbin, was a bit jealous because he has been wanting one for a while now and is too big for this particular one. Jaedan has had a lot of fun on this pogo stick and loves to take it out on the pavement to bounce. I made a short video of him bouncing on it :)

Here, see it in action...



DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Sakar International Batman Spy Adventure Kit Review

I received these products for free to facilitate this review.

My boys are like most, they love superheroes! With all the new superhero movies coming to the big screen this year they have been having a great Super Hero Summer. My son, Jaedan, loves Batman. The Dark Knight is definitely one of his favorite super heroes.

I received a Batman Spy Adventure Kit from Sakar International for free to facilitate this review. Sakar International has paired up with Warner Bros., DC Comics and Cartoon Network to create a large line of consumer electronics. They also have been known to pair with other awesome companies to make some very cool gear with your favorite characters on them. I looked on their website and I love the WINX branded items myself! They also have Disney, Nickelodeon, Nerf, Marvel, Hello Kitty, Crayola, among others.

This Spy Adventure Kit has branded items from Batman The Brave and The Bold series on Cartoon Network. With all the camping that my boys do over the summer they will sure be taking along this fun kit. When we opened this kit my son went outside straight away to try the items out.

Here is a list of contents:

• 4X28 Binoculars
• Directional Compass
• Telescope (10 power)
• 35MM Camera
• Flashlight (illuminates up to 10 feet)

These kids toys are great for the adventure and nature lover that also loves Batman. The binoculars are great for sightseeing and nature observations. The directional compass is great for camping and nature studies. The telescope is good for viewing large terrestrial and astronomical bodies. The camera is an old fashioned 35MM that takes 35MM slide or film to work, but was also focus free. My kids had never seen a 35MM camera before, they are used to digital so they had no idea how to work this and I am so glad it came with instructions on how to load it. The flashlight illuminates up to 10 feet and is great for taking camping for night time use. It uses 2AA batteries that were not included.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

MiracleFold Clothes Laundry Folder Review and Giveaway

I received MiracleFold complimentary to facilitate this review and the opportunity to also give one away.

I know how to fold clothes, but I find folding clean laundry sort of boring. My kids don't really like doing it and usually end up stuffing their clothes drawers full of wadded up clothing. Then the clothes are wrinkled and don't fit in the drawer well. The drawer ends up staying open because of the mess and the clean clothes that should have been folded to begin with end up all over the floor and stuffed in places they should be. Then those same clean clothes end up in the laundry again to get rewashed. This wastes so much time and energy, let alone resources in the end.

Enter the MiracleFold into our lives and clothing gets folded, clothing drawers are more organized, and my kids are happier because they have something that not only entertains them, but gets the job done. The MiracleFold is also great because it is so easy for littler kids to also join in the folding fun. It folds shirts, pants, and towels really well. My kids were even trying to figure out how to use the MiracleFold for other clothing, garments and linens. This time saving gadget is especially great if you have kids who think folding laundry is boring or not worth their time. It also makes the clothing/linens uniform and more organized in the drawer or cabinet. I have heard that it might not work as well on baby clothes or clothing that is in the extra larger sizes or above. Since I really don't have those sizes in my family this product works really well for us.

The plastic the MiracleFold is made of is fairly robust. I can see that if it is used nonstop that eventually it might break along the plastic hinges where the panels can be folded in. It comes in two great colors: Sky Blue and Orange. They are also going to implement more colors down the line. We picked the Sky Blue because it goes with our home decor better. I did find that the plastic it is made of does attract static electricity so make sure your clothing has ran through the dryer with a dryer sheet that reduces or eliminates static cling. The back of the MiracleFold also has rubber nonslip grippers so that it doesn't slide around while being used.

The MiracleFold also takes up very little space since it is flat and it can be hung on a hook that attaches to the wall with an adhesive sticker. This makes it easy to find and also great for laundry rooms, linen closets, or by where you iron your clothing. We love how compactly it folds up.

Here are the abbreviated instructions (Read the full instructions for the individual items on the MiracleFold website):

1. Lay MiracleFold on a flat surface with the rubber nonslip grippers facing down and open up all panels on it so that it is also laying flat.
2. Lay a shirt, pants, or towel on the MiracleFold. Flatten it out and line it up properly as per full instructions.
3. Fold the panels in as per full instructions to to achieve perfect folds.

WIN IT
Prize: 1 winner will win a MiracleFold in their choice of color, blue or orange.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product complimentary to facilitate my review and the opportunity to give another away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Real Kids Shades Eye Protection For Kids Review and Giveaway

Everyone knows that the sun can damage the skin and most parents know to whip out the sun screen to lather on their family before they go outside as a protection from harmful UV rays. But did you know that UV rays from the sun can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Eyes can not repair themselves like the skin can and the damage can build up over time. UV rays can also still do damage anytime of the year and even on overcast and cloudy days. This is why it is so important to protect not only your whole family's skin, but also their eyes when they are outside.

Real Kids Shades is a great company that promotes sun eye protection for kids. They sell a wide variety of stylish sun glasses with super sun protection for babies, toddlers, and kids up to age 12. These sunglasses have a number of wonderful features which make them even more desired for a parent to purchase for their kids:

• Third-party verification of 100% UV-A/UV-B protection
• Durable - shatterproof and impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses
• Wrap-around frames to protect from peripheral light
• Comfortable fit - not too tight, not too loose
• Transparent enough to see your child's eyes
• Tested to contain no lead, BPA or phthalates
• Affordable - prices range from $14.99-$39.99

Teela received the Flex Duo Shades for 3 - 7 Years in Purple/Pink to try out. The Flex Duo Shades for 3 - 7 came with a reusable pouch and removable neoprene® strap. They have flexible rubber frames that are a great fit for Teela's head. They are also rustproof and waterproof proving to be great when she is playing in water or in the rain. I had a lot of trouble getting the neoprene® strap on her sunglasses, so I just left it off. It would be a great addition if I could get it on easier. Teela does keep the sunglasses on her face so hopefully she won't misplace them or have them fall off. She really loves them and wanted to wear them all day when we first got them. I had to tell her they were only for outdoor use. So when ever she goes outside now she puts them on.

Jaedan received the Xtreme Gear Convertible for 7 - 12 Years in Silver to try out. The Xtreme Gear Convertible for 7 - 12 Years came in a reusable zippered case with foam padding inside. They have a small button on each side where you can slide the temples (arms/sides that are placed over the ears) off and replace them with bands that snap into place and can be adjusted. Before putting them back in the case you have to put the temples back on or they will not fit. Also, even with proper adjusting my son had problems with the lenses fogging up. I am not sure what to really do for this issue. Otherwise he really liked them and thought they looked cool on him.

WIN IT
Prize: Win one pair of Real Kids Shades - winners choice (style, size and color).

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product to review and one to giveaway for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Green Toys Airplane Review

Green Toys make eco-friendly toys and tableware that are made from recycled plastic milk containers. This plastic is high-density polyethylene (or HDPE) and considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around. Their products have no Phthalates, BPA, PVC, melamine or external coatings with lead paint. Green Toys are made in the USA in California where they have very strict toy safety and environmental laws. They are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. This packaging is easy to open without having wrap rage.

They have play vehicles, outdoor toys, kitchen play, building toys, and tableware. I received a Green Toys Airplane free to review on my blog. My 10 year old son took to this plane right away. He loved it the moment he laid eyes on it. This airplane has a single seat for a small pilot. My son could fit a single Lego man, Playmobil person, Fisher Price Imaginext person or something similar in size in the cockpit. This made it even more fun for him as he could have fun taking his little toy people for rides in his new eco-friendly flyer all around the house. The plane's propeller spins manually and it has two-wheels that also spin for landing gear. The wings and tail are rounded to make it more safe. My girls love the plane too and can grasp it easily for a great take off even with their small hands.

Dimensions: 9"L x 9"W x 4"H.
Recommended for ages 1 and up.

"Like" Green Toys on Facebook HERE. Follow Green Toys on Twitter HERE.

BUY IT
You can buy the Green Toys Airplane on the Green Toys Website for $14.99. Comes in two colors: Blue and Red. (We received the blue version.)

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Green Toys for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Oregon Zoo ZooLights - Our Experience

This is the first year we braved the cold rainy weather to go to the Oregon Zoo for their annual ZooLights. We went Friday, December 7th. When we arrived it was already dark and we were greeted by this amazing purple and green lit tree in the parking lot. My kids were excited as we exited the van. We quickly got our tickets and shuffled through the gate. I took some pictures of the zoo lights sign as we entered. Then we saw some spectacular light displays, some that seemed to be moving across the landscapes and others that blinked into different poses and positions.

Other firsts for us were riding the Thrill Ride simulator and the zoo train. For the Thrill Ride we got to pick out our movie simulation and we all agreed upon the Prehistoric Underwater one. We waited our turn under a covered area behind the ticket booth and I took some more pictures. We were handed 3D glasses and entered the simulator ride. The glasses were too big for my youngest daughter and so I held her in my lap so she could see the screen while holding her glasses on her face. My boys especially loved the simulator and would love to do another ride again someday. The simulator is hydraulically operated and it twists and turns to the movie so you feel like you are in a submarine.

We parked our stroller under a nice covered area just for that purpose. It was so nice of the zoo to provide these covered places so that the strollers and wagons wouldn't get soaked while we were riding the train. While we waited in line Teela hugged a person in a tiger suit. The steam train was all decked out in lights too and it's steam rose like an iridescent blue cloud from the smoke stack. The zoo train was very pleasant and even though the metal seats were cold we enjoyed seeing all the zoo lights all along the train ride. It was definitely a unique view of the lights and some of the lights that we saw can only be viewed from the train.

I was in awe at just how many lights there actually were and we didn't even seen all of them. We stopped and saw some hula hoopers that were also lit up for the event do their performance. I took a few more pictures and the kids were getting cold and hungry. We decided to go even though I would have loved to stay longer to see more and we totally missed the concert lawn lights which I heard from others were spectacular. I also heard that we missed out on some free fudge from the gift shop because we didn't bring an old string of Christmas lights. Maybe we can see more and get some fudge next year if they are still honoring the promotion. At some point we would also love to see the new baby elephant that was born recently too.

We had a lot of fun and we are glad we could go this year. We loved seeing all the magnificent lights and sights while we were there. We can't wait to go back next year to experience more.

2012 Oregon Zoo Lights Facts
What: "More than a million LED lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes."
Admission: ZooLights admission is included in memberships at the Plus level and higher. Train and Thrill Ride simulator is extra, but can be purchased at a discount through member packages. If you buy one of the packages with the train at the admission counter instead of getting them after you enter you can skip the hassle of multiple lines for the train. You can also take advantage of some nice specials the zoo is offering for ZooLights. 
Dates: November 23rd-December 31st, There will be no ZooLights Dec. 24 or Dec. 25.
Times: Sunday-Thursday hours: ZooLights gates are open from 5-8 p.m. Guests may stay on grounds until 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday hours: ZooLights gates are open from 5-8:30 p.m. Guests may stay on grounds until 9:30 p.m. Train will begin running around 5:15 p.m.
Preparation: Bundle up and check the weather forecast and temperature before going so you know how to dress. You might want to pack extra warm clothing just in case, especially if you are planning on staying long. The food stations and restaurants at the zoo do cost extra so you might want to pack food and drink for the trip. Take a stroller or wagon for small children and extra baggage. Come a little early to get a good parking spot.

Oregon ZooLights Link Up:


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Since I am in the Cascadia Connect group of bloggers I became aware of this event and was given free tickets for my family to go as well as free tickets for the zoo train and simulator ride. Thanks to the zoo and others involved for this opportunity. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this promotion.

Melissa & Doug Magic Mine Train Tunnel Review and Giveaway

The Melissa & Doug Magic Mine Train Tunnel is a wonderful toy for kids this holiday season! This toy is so much fun and is recommended for ages 3 and up. It comes with a train engine, two magic mining cars, one 8" (203mm) ascending track piece, and wooden mine tunnel (5 total pieces). The mine cars enter the tunnel empty and reappear through the gate loaded with gold and gems. It features realistic train and mining sounds that are activated when the train enters the mine tunnel. Batteries are not included. Requires (2) AAA batteries. Additional track sold separately and this set is compatible with popular wooden railway sets.

My kids love trains and have quite a few wooden railway sets that go together well. This one caught my eye in the available free toys to pick to review from Melissa & Doug's Terrific Twenty Holiday Gift List. We installed the batteries and tried it out. The train has sounds that come from the tunnel as the train presses a large button down as it goes through. The sounds are a train whistle, the train going down the track and also mining sounds like pick axes hitting rock and the treasure being loaded. The sounds; however don't correspond well with the movements of the train through the tunnel and since the tunnel is on a hill the train goes through fairly quickly with the sounds still trailing behind it. In my opinion all toys that make noise should have an off switch...this one does not have one. In order to turn off the sound of this toy you have to take out the batteries completely. You also have to flip the gold and gems over manually and one of our mining cars was finicky and wouldn't stay empty unless you pressed it exactly in the right spot. Once flipped over to empty you can send the train through the tunnel and the levers on the bottom of the mining cars will flip them from empty to full automatically as soon as it passes through the tunnel. The tunnel is constructed mainly of wood and painted with a very nice mine in a mountain scene. The train cars are made of mostly plastic and the train engine of mostly wood. They hook together magnetically.

Here is my son, Jaedan, trying out the train:

My kids really enjoyed this train set and have added it to the sets they already have. It is a great addition to them. They love the tunnel and watching the cars go from empty to full. I also think this set is pretty ingenious. It would definitely be a great gift to buy for someone who loves trains.

BUY IT
Purchase the Melissa & Doug Magic Mine Train Tunnel for $29.99.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a Melissa & Doug Magic Mine Train Tunnel.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: For my participation in this Melissa & Doug Review I received the toy above and another one of the same to offer as a giveaway to my readers from their Terrific Twenty list. Thanks to Melissa & Doug for providing me this free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this review and giveaway.