365 Project–day 108

I am participating in the 2011 Mommytography 365 Project! For this year long project I will be posting an image a day, to get me out shooting, using my camera and learning new things with it daily. Anyone interested in photography can join, no need to be a Mommytographer. We have teens to adults, male and female, as well as people from all over the world. Come join the fun!

 

My cubbie girl at the AWANA Games.  

Start a Tradition

Easter is just around the corner…

On top of having chocolate to eat, why not getting a game or two to play with your preschooler?    Games can be educative as well as fun.    As a suggestion, I will present you some games that Hasbro has sent me.

Hungry Hungry Hippos is not a new game in our household.    I think this was the first game we bought when our oldest son was about 3 years old.    Alexandre was eager to have fun with mom and dad back then.   I had never heard of it.  My husband on the other hand was very excited since he had one when he was a child in the 70s.    The game includes 4 hippo heads/bodies, a base, 4 marble launchers and marbles.   Who is the hungriest hippo?   Will it be Sweetie Potamus, Veggie Potamus, Picky Potamus and Bottomeless Potamus?    If you hippo eats the most marbles, you win the game.  

These days, we have four kids that love to play this game every once in a while.    Personally, I find it a bit loud but to hear the giggles and laughs coming out of my kids is priceless.    They are bonding when they take out Hungry Hungry Hippos and enjoy spending time together.    I can only imagine the stories they will have in the future talking about the times they played this around the table.

I have seen Elefun when it first came out on the market a few years ago.    But I have never made the move of purchasing it.   I was curious though as it sounded like a very fun game.    I was delighted to receive it so I can review it.   You can guess that this mommy immediately put the nets together and tried to dig some batteries in our basement.   Unfortunately, the batteries were not at their top shape and I needed to go buy some…   As I post this, we haven’t had a chance to go to the store (and it’s raining and yucky today….).    This game is sure to please my three year old girl when I get some batteries.   Basically, the kids have to catch the butterflies coming our of the trunk of Elefun.    This game will help practice the skills of handling a butterfly net and counting as well to determine who has caught the most butterflies.    The adorable elephant will be 4 feet tall while it blows the butterflies in the air.   

Monkey Dunk is new to me.   The game consist to flip the monkeys and land them in the water with the intent of collecting the most bananas.    Monkeys are known for monkeying around in the jungle.   Well they do the same in the lagoon but you have to be careful of where you aim because Elefun (yes the cute blue elephant!) might popo out of the water and send the monkeys flying around again.  

I am assuming that this game will bring laughter for my kids.    I know already how they react with unexpected events during games and I am positively sure that they will enjoy Monkey Dunk.    The colors are bright and the

Candy Land is a well know game everywhere but to be honest, it has never entered our house yet.    However, I can see enormous potential with the learning of colour and counting skills involved in this game.  What I like about this one is that my kids can play in both languages, French or English.    It is perfect for a three years old who has learned her colour and needs practicing the recognition of them.   I am planning to take this game out on Easter week-end and play with the kids while eating – you guessed it candy…!  *grin*  

I am certain that Jasmine and her older brothers will enjoy discovering the land of Candyland.    The board game is full of surprises and fun characters appears everywhere on it.  Now I only have to go buy some licorice, jelly beans, and jujubes so we can organize our visit to Candyland.   Oh!  and I should not forget the batteries for Elefun….

So this week-end, I encourage you to go to the store (when it is open on Saturday) and get one of these fabulous games.  Sit down with your preschooler and play together.   He/she will have a blast!  Guarantee.

All these games are available at your favourite toy store.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The End of an Adventure - TOS Homeschool Crew

In 2008, I was blessed to be accepted into the first The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Crew program.  I had the privilege to review homeschool products while taking my first steps in the world of homeschooling.  During the 2nd year, (2009-2010) I didn’t return but in the middle of the year (in February 2010 to be exact) I was  asked to come back and continue my journey with the crew.    In 2010-2011 I was back on board but this time as a First Mate. 

A wind of change has blown in my sails.

Next year, I am not returning on the TOS Homeschool Crew for various reasons.   I had originally applied but realized afterward that I needed a break so I informed the ladies leading the crew not to consider me after all.   

I don’t know where God is leading me at this point.   I had made wonderful contact with companies here in Canada and will continue to review with specific publishers in the US as well.    I will also continue to seek out and find new products to reviews.  I am also a regular blogger on the Woodall’s blog which is specialized on RVing. 

I am also studying to complete a certificate in Social Media at Algonquin College.  It is a distance education certificate so technically anyone anywhere in the world can take it. 
Some crew mates had listed the various products they have reviewed during the past three years.  I’ve decided to do the same.

2008-2009 Crew Year

Digital Version of the Old Schoolhouse Magazine
The Schoolhouse Planner
HelpMe2Teach
Homeschool Library Builder
Time4Learning
MediaAngels – The Missing Link: Found book
Let’s Make a Webpage ebook
Rhyme to Read
Little Man in the Map
Spears Art Studio Grades K-8
Trigger Memory Systems – Times Tales and Clean N’ Flip
Salem Ridge Press
Puppetools
Math Mammoth
Peterson Handwriting
KinderBach
Crayola Art Studio
All About Homophones
Heads Up
WriteShop Story Builders
One Year Adventure Novel
Schleich
Rocket Phonics
Bible Story Songs
Math Tutor DVD
Cadron Creek – Further Up and Further In (Narnia)
One 2 Believe – Noah’s Ark
SpellQuizzer
Homeschooling ABCs – Knowledge Quest
WriteShop Primary
Tapestry of Grace
Homeschool in the Woods – New Testament Lapbook
Memoria Press – Prima Latina and Latina Christiana I

2009-2010 Crew Year (jumped on board in March 2010)

Homeschool in the Woods – Olde World Style Maps (World and US)
Math Galaxy
All About Reading – What Am I?
Travels of Wiglinton and Wenks
Terrestria Chronicles - Books 6 & 7
Time4Learning – PreK program
TV Teacher – Alphabet Beats lower case letters
Lesson Planet
Ideal Curriculum
Cerebellum Corporation

2010-2011 Crew Year

TOS Planner
Schleich
LanSchool
Talking Fingers – Read, Write & Type!
Soli Deo Gloria – Young Hearts Longing for God (Psalms)
Collectorz Book Collector
KBTeachers.com
Wits & Wagers Family
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids
Ten Marks
City Creek Press – Times Alive!
Curiosity Files – The Blue-Footed Booby
Kid Scoop
Zeezok Publishing Z-guide to the movies
Kinderbach
Science Weekly
Yesterday’s Classics – coming on May 4th
Monki See Vol One DVD and book – coming on May 9th
Go Trybe K-5 – coming May 11th
Talking Finger  Wordy Qwerty – coming May 20th
Eagle Wings considering God’s Creation – coming May 25th

As I wrap up the last few reviews, I am considering what a blessing it has been to be part of the crew for these three years.   I have discovered wonderful homeschool products along the way, made wonderful friends in the US and abroad which I hope to meet one day, re-discovered a love for writing which made me explore more opportunities of reviewing books and products and new adventures opening to me.  I am grateful to have been part of the crew and wish all my former crew mates a wonderful time whether they are returning or not.   I will miss you all on the board but hope to see you around facebook, twitter and other places on the blogosphere.   Farewell for now and I hope to see you all one of these days!  In the meantime, let’s have a group hug.

HUGS from Canada !