Saturday, December 28, 2013

12/28/13: Win Angry Birds Go! Telepods Pig Rock Raceway

CONTEST CLOSED:  CONGRATULATIONS PAULA!
In the past I reviewed Angry Birds Star Wars Telepods from Hasbro.  Next up is a new one - Angry Birds Go! Telepods Pig Rock Raceway Set.  I am giving you a chance to win one!

 Evan has loved Angry Birds since he first played the original app.  The Telepods from Hasbro allow you to teleport characters in to the game.  Here he is teleporting the Angry Bird and kart in to the game.
Now they are in the game and you can play with them in the app.  This Angry Birds Go! Telepods app just came out on December 11th.  It puts your favorite Bird and Pig characters in a kart race to the finish and Hasbro adds to the fun.
Here is the cool race track to play with them on.

Race head-to-head to topple the pirate pigs! Slingshot your kart through swinging obstacles and avoid the pigs to be the first to the finish line.
Time to race!
They are off!
Woo hoo!  Go, go!  The kids loved it!
Here are the cool little guys in their karts.
I am now giving you a choice to win this set!  It is worth $29.99.
Enter in the Rafflecopter below to win your very own Angry Birds Go! Telepods Pig Rock Raceway.
Disclosure:  I received the Angry Birds Go! Telepods Pig Rock Raceway for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 26, 2013

12/26/13: The Magic and Smiles of Christmas

Every Christmas when I am stressed and running around like a crazy person the photos below is what I think of to get me through the holidays.  I hope you had a wonderful holiday and enjoy some of our highlights!
Reindeer Fred
Christmas Eve show!
Overflowing presents under the tree.  I have always enjoyed giving, and now with kids it is even better!
The kids waving to Santa who came to visit our house as he does every year and did when I was a kid.  This was always a tradition for Santa to come on Christmas Eve.  We open his presents and a few of the ones from us and then the rest on Christmas morning.
Excited with their presents.
Time to open Santa's presents.
A gift from Evan to Lauren from the Holiday Fair at school.
Look at that smile!
The favorite gifts - a Hess Police Car and Hess Fire Truck.
Lauren's 1st American Girl Doll - Saige the Girl of the Year.
Even Fred is happy with his treats!
Christmas morning.
Yippee!  Happy little boy!
Happy little girl!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  We definitely did!

12/26/13: Polar Express at Edaville USA

Every year it is tradition that we go to Edaville USA at the holidays.  I have been going since I was a little kid.  We used to always go for Christmas Festival of Lights but this year we tried out The Polar Express Train that was newly added last year.  
Here are the kids excited to go on The Polar Express train. 
The Polar Express runs till December 28th and you must buy tickets in advance to ensure you will have a spot on the train.  The Polar Express is $34 per person but you can also enjoy the Festival of Lights train and rides.  The Festival of Lights runs until January 1st so you still have time to go.  Check out their website or Facebook page for times, prices and details.  Evan was extremely excited to ride the steam train.
It really wouldn't be the holidays without us riding on The Polar Express at least once.  My kids love the book and I love the magical feeling of seeing them ring the bell.
 It was a little rainy when we went but that didn't ruin our fun at all.  Of course it was dry on the train.  The Polar Express train ride runs multiple times a night but you buy your tickets for a specific time.  The ride is 50 minutes.  When you board you are greeted by your cook/story teller that will be displaying the book for you.
You then journey to the North Pole.  This ride takes you on newer tracks that are not on the Festival of Lights route.  When at the North Pole you stop.
Adults and children are given hot chocolate and a cookie.
 
Then of course Santa must present each child with the first gift of Christmas - a beautiful bell.

Of course the bell only rings for those who believe.  Both Lauren and Evan believe in the magic of the season and heard the bell loudly ring.

Lauren was having fun clearing the window.

Then you back track and finish out the Festival of Lights route.

...and to all a good night.
 There are also rides at Edaville and a play area inside with trains and Santa.  They also had added a tent that had this cool inflatable snow globe that kids could go in. 
 There are lots of cool boxes outside with cool decorations.
Here you can see some of the lights.  I can't do it justice with pictures.
 Edaville USA is a must visit in summer and at the holidays!
Check out Edaville USA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdavilleUSA
Folow them on Twitter: @EdavilleUSA
Disclosure:  Tickets were provided to me for review purposes of The Polar Express.  No other compensation was received.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

12/22/13: VTech Connect to Cell Cordless Phone

Our cellular connection in our house is not good.  Most of the time the phone call will drop off when I enter in to the house.  I love VTech's solution to this problem.  It is the VTech Connect to Cell Cordless Phone.  It allows you to make a receive both your landline calls and cell phone calls through this home phone system.  We received the DS6511-3 Connect to Cell Cordless Phone and it is fabulous.  The sound quality is awesome and the functionality is great.
I have had so many times that I am on my way out or in and end up waiting to finish the call.  Now with this phone I don't need to as it is an easy transition.  It is so easy to connect as you just need to pair the Bluetooth device.  Plus you can store your contacts from two cell phones in this phone.  You can add handsets to it if needed.  They also have this 5 handset one that has some cool colors.
Plus VTech has lots of cool phones.  Check out this Retro one.  Super cool and functional.
We have always had VTech phones and loved them.  Plus we like VTech Toys too.
Like VTech on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/VtechPhones
Follow them on Twitter: @VTechPhones
Disclosure:  I received this phone for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.