Rocket Launching with Estes! (a giveaway)

We are SO excited to share our latest "unplug and build" activity this time with Estes!

--------------------> Click HERE to read more and enter to WIN!

Unplug and Build (a Revell Giveaway)

We've made the decision to work on stepping away from the electronics and purposefully interacting with our boys more often. We do try to spend a lot of time together as a family but we want to make sure that we are setting aside time specifically for them. They love to talk about what WE used to do as kids. You know, back in the olden days.

----------------> Click HERE to read more and enter for your chance at one of 2 $50 Hobby Lobby Gift Cards and a Revell SnapTite Model Kit of your choice!

Easy Playtown Set Giveaway!

We were recently sent an Easy Playtown Set from Square One Kids to try out for you all. It's a play set made from cardboard. The whole set comes in it's own box which turns into the "mat" and has 3 buildings...

----------------------> Click HERE to read more and enter to win an Easy Playtown Set!

SWOOP Bag Giveaway!

Finding just the right storage for our LEGO bricks (as you know) has been a never ending process. We have them stored nicely in drawer/bins right now but the biggest complaint is that the boys have to dump them out to find what they are looking for so there is always a supply of LEGO bricks all over the floor. I've seen Swoop bags before and was SO excited to get our first bag to try out.

It. Is. Awesome.

-------------------> Click HERE to read more and enter to win your own!

Dragons Meet Paper Airplanes

We all love paper airplanes right? So what happens when a creative Dad combine his love for things that fly (paper airplanes) and dragons? The Dragons of Armita.

Nate is the creative genius behind this pdf book and asked if we'd like to try them out. The verdict? LOVE it! The pdf book (or cd) comes with printable plans for 4 different and totally unique dragons (we've made 3 so far!). Each one has it's own personality and flying style. There are tips on how to best fly each dragon as well as easy instructions on how to fold them. I love that they come with their own stands too!

Both my 9 and 8 year olds love them. I think they'd be great for younger ones too with a little help. The pdf is $2.99 and you then can print as many as you like. I see these as being a great party activity! Or print out a few sets to have on hand for your own secret stash.

I think these are so smart. They are a great way to get your kids thinking about how they could create their own as well! If you have artistic kiddos they could decorate their dragons however they like!

Get your own Dragons of Armita book HERE I'd love to see/hear about what your kids think if you do!

Switch & Go Dinos!

We are so excited to have the opportunity to review VTech's Switch & Go Dinos. If you haven't seen them yet they are an electronic, animated, dinosaur and car all-in-one! It's my boys' dream to combine a dinosaur and car!

When we first got them in the mail I told the boys to wait for me to help them open the boxes, and they said "It's like Christmas, only I know what the present is. And I STILL can't open it!" They were pretty excited.

There are 7 dinos all together starting at $15.99. We got Horns the Triceratops, Sliver the T Rex, and Attila the Ankylosaurus. Attila is cool because as a car he can tow the other cars, and as the dino his tail flips around. The boys were actually pretty excited about them and finding out what they said (they have a talk button that plays fun phrases and dino facts).

The thing I though was really clever was that each one has a volume button! Thank you for that VTech!

We loved watching the LCD screens on each one. In car mode they have different drivers you can choose from, and when you switch it into dino mode the eyes change too! My boys always seem to notice eyes and facial expressions in illustrations in their books so they thought it was pretty funny that these dinos had animated eyes.

I wasn't sure what they'd think, but I think the fact that they were packed in a backpack for a trip to a friends' house says it all. They loved them! Dinos and cars all in one package? A pretty good idea if you ask me.

They actually got the boys talking about the types of dinosaurs, and they pulled out their books to find out more about the Ankylosaurus because they didn't recall reading about him before. I think the way they added the sound and high quality electronic components into these was really clever. It has the modern look of an electronic toy (that the kids like) but still allows for plenty of imagination. The package says ages 3-8 and I'd say that's right on.

Right now VTech is having a really fun Show & Tell with Switch & Go contest where they are challenging kids to transform their imaginations.

Show - What does your child's Switch & Go Dino look like?

Let your child choose 1 of 3 ways to show-off their home-made Dino creation and record it on video:

1. Draw: They can use markers, crayons, paint or pen to sketch your creation on paper
2. Build: They can use foil, paper, cardboard, or any non-branded household items to build your Dino
3. Customize: They can update their own VTech Switch & Go Dino with accessories and fun props to give them a new image!

Tell - VTech wants to hear about the cool things your child's Dino does. What makes it large and in charge? Encourage your child to name it and share its roaring sound effects

• From October 8 through October 19 cast your vote for the coolest, most creative and fiercest video.
• One grand-prize winner will get a kid's lifetime supply of educational toys from VTech. And your video will air on a VTech commercial on Nickelodeon, which you can watch at your very own viewing party with your family and friends. And VTech will also transform your living room into the ultimate Dino den!

My little man made his own video to hopefully inspire your kids to make one (we'd LOVE to see an All for the Boys reader win!) So go make your own and share it on the VTech Facebook page!

You can check out other bloggers' videos and reviews on the VTech brand page on BlogHer.com.

Remember: It's EASY to enter! Simply DRAW or BUILD your own Dino for a chance to win! Purchase of a VTech Switch & Go Dino is NOT necessary to enter.
Let their creativity come through by having them tell the world what their dino looks like, what it eats, what it sounds like, and more - it's THEIR VERY OWN DINO!

Our Lunch Time Solutions

I am pretty happy with our lunch box setup this year. We definitely had some trial and error last year with new products! The boys like to take sandwiches, soups, snacky/bento type lunches, and leftovers. So we need containers along with a lunch box. Also it was 115F their first day of school so to say we need to keep the food cold is an understatement!

I found these Klip it to Go containers and we really like them! The fact that they are only $4.99 doesn't hurt either.

I like that they are made from BPA free Virgin Polypropylene (in New Zealand) and they are fairly easy for the boys to open. The "sandwich" portion has it's own lid and the bottom section is divided. It's big enough to put chips in the sandwich section if they are having nachos which is a problem we've had with smaller containers.

I also bought them some reusable snack bags (I can't find the ones I got but these are close)

and we still love our Thermoses we've had for a couple of years now.

My favorite thing I found for this year is their lunchboxes. I hate how a lot of the lunchboxes make your sandwiches or containers sideways when you stand them up. We've tried some that lay flat but they were pretty bulky and still didn't lay flat when they crammed them in their backpacks. I just happen to come across these at Target - haven't found them anywhere else. You get 3 in a pack for $9.99 (looks like they are on sale online right now for $8.99). There are no zippers, or buttons, and no seams for applesauce or yogurt to get crammed in to! You fold it down as much as you need and the buckle makes the handle (also straps on to backpacks) I REALLY like these!

I wasn't sure how in depth you all would want me to get but I wanted to share my new favorites! Let me know what else you'd like to see from me! Thank you all that chimed in on Facebook yesterday on hearing my lunch finds!

Construction Vehicles Craft Kit Giveaway

We had the opportunity to try out the new Boy Craft Construction Vehicles craft kit from craftprojectideas.com. This kit gives you all you need to create (and play with) 3 wooden construction vehicles. 

My new 8 year old thought he'd like to give it a shot.

Here he's building the dump truck.

As soon as he was done with that one and waiting for the wood glue to dry - he wanted to start on the next! He decided he didn't want to paint so he pulled out his markers to do some decorating. He was very interested in the included decals as well.

A craft kit that kept him entertained during AND after it was finished? Check! Now CraftProjectIdeas would like to give one away to one of you! Easy entry here (as usual) if you want more info on the products or for more inspiration from Craftprojectideas you can visit their site, Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube!

Enter to win now! 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway