Toy Review Tuesday

PLAYAWAY's

I found these at my library a few weeks ago and my kids are really enjoying them!

We have the  Boxcar Children one, and the Chronicals of Narnia one.

It fits nicely into a pocket or have  it hang from their necks.  They remind me of an IPOD -really small and portable.  The only catch is that we have to provide the headphones and we only have one pair!  It sounds easy enough to just go out to buy another pair or 2 more....but my memory fails me.  Oh well!

God bless,
Mary

Toy review Tuesday

Every boy's best toy at least once in their lives:
NERF SWORDS!!!

I googled them on Amazon and they say $34.99 but there is noway that we would have paid that.  They must have been on sale! ;)  I think we got them at Walmart or Target. 

My boys love love love them.  They are strong enough to not bend and there is some cushion to them too.  But beware, kids can still get hurt by them.  They are made by nerf and with my experience w/nerf, they tend to last a while longer than the average everyday sword. haaa haaa

God bless,
mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Hullabaloo

Pros: 

• all ages up to 10 or so like it-even me, but then again it's not too hard for me not to like a game that makes you do goofy things!!!
• Great to play indoors in the colder months or on a rainy day
• kids are learning colors and how to follow directions without even realizing it!

Cons:

• Have to replace the battery to keep it going and going
• Then....we got the DVD version of the game...love it but the con of it is that if the DVD gets scratched (which in our house is not too difficult to do!) then you're out of a game

This is one of my all time favorite games for rainy days (uh...like today again, Rainy day #3, need I say more???).  I ALWAYS bring it out and the kids giggle w/excitement!

GO HERE for more toy reviews!  If you want to join in on it, just let me know ;)

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

We are big Beatrix Potter fans, so when I saw these building blocks at a tag sale, I had to get them.  I store them in our school closet and only take them out during school hours. 

We enjoy the little books rather than the whole big book that holds all the books.  Those little books are great for little hands to hold.

My 3 year old's favorite book is The Fierce Bad Rabbit.  For Easter, the easter bunny even got him a Peter Rabbit chocolate bunny to match his already had Peter Rabbit stuffed bunny that he is so fond of.  Very cute.  Very.  Very.  Cute. (if I do say so myself!)

Go HERE for more toy reviews.

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

well, sorta kinda...

Here is what I think is a super invention...

PUZZLE STORAGE ORGANIZER

Pros:  My sister-in-law gave it to us for Christmas and it has been so helpful in keeping our younger childrens' puzzles together and not loosing the pieces. (Well, some of them are lost but not all and that is awesome!).  I've always admired the one at the library and wondered if they sold them to anyone, not just the libraries.  What a suprise to get this as a present-just what I wanted and what we needed!  It's easy to transport to the table and let them pick out the one puzzle to work on.  Then off the puzzle organizer goes up far from little hands to get a hold of it. 

Cons:  Only holds certain kinds of puzzles-it has to be the exact width and thickness to fit in nicely to the organizer. There are some of our puzzles that are too thick and/or too small or big for the organizer holder thingy and they sit next to it.  I think there are different size puzzle organizers and even cool wooden ones that I really dig, but I found those to be too expensive unless we get them for Christmas too!!! (hint, hint! heee heee).  The one on amazon.com I just googled came up for the price of a little bit over $10!  I think that is a great price!

God bless and happy puzzling!
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Toy Review Tuesday

Playskool Tonka Bounce Back Racer

Pros:

Any age child can play with it.  Even my 1 yr old was!  (shh...and even I was too!)

Really really durable

Can play inside our outside

Cons:

Batteries go quickly if not turned off...

Batteries...

....Why does it always take us forever to remember to buy those batteries?!?!

A little pricey but worth the $-Grandparents bought 2 for 2 of my boys-they love them

God bless,

Mary

p.s.  (Go here for more)

Toy Review Tuesday

It's...Toy Review Tuesday!
Felt Boards!

Pros:

• Quiet game to play solo or w/others
• Portable-in car/van long trips is great! Some even come w/a handle for little ones to carry along
• can make your own felt pieces or use the ones they provide
• low cost and last a long time
• not that messy
  

Cons:

• pieces can get lost
• does not entertain for a very long time (at least w/mine!)
  

Go HERE to my friend, Sam's blog, for more toy reviews!


God bless,
Mary @ Cheerios

Toy Review Tuesday

Leap Frog Products

My 4 year old daughter got THIS for Christmas this year and it has been a hit for all my kids-but especially those that are learning their letters and following directions. It is portable and easy to bring in the car/van on long trips or just to the grocery store! It is also not too big and easy for them to carry around and hold onto. I am very pleased with this toy-worth the $20!

This year I have found that many of the "Leap Frog" products my kids have truly enjoyed and I find helpful in their learning. I wish we could get all these educational fun tools! Check out THEIR SITE for all the products. Below are some that we have and our kid tested-we approve.

• We have rented lots of THESE from the local library. (shh! don't tell them they are actually learning while enjoying the shows!)
• We got THIS 2 years ago and we have not lost all the pieces yet (some but not all!) and if we do not loose all the letters -if can be quite fun and educational too!
• Last year at Christmas, my oldest received THIS (but in a boys' theme), and it was a total hit among all the kids(he had to share quite a bit!). It was even used as a reward b/c we do not have video games or lots of TV time. It was expensive but a gift from someone else, and it is worth the money....it was great....until...it landed in the toilet! Bye Bye leap frog Leapster-we miss you so!!!
• A friend passed THIS leap frog to us and my kids somewhat enjoy it. It is something that I can pull out every now and then for them to work on quietly at the table while I am teaching the others.

Go HERE for more toy review products!

If you want to join in on the fun (b/c we all know how great it is to see reviews on toys so that we do not spend the money-that is so precious-and the time -that is also so precious- on things and toys that just collect dust.....right?????

Plus, I want to know what your reviews are too so leave me a comment if you are interested. There are always tons of b-days I have to make gift lists for and I need new ideas ;))

God bless,
Mary

Mom said never to play with food *Toy Review Tuesday*

...But do these count? (see below)

No?
Really?...why not?!?!

If you think so like I do, then this is the 'toy' for Toy Review Tuesday!

Bachman's Pretzel Sticks

I can't seem to upload the pics of what my boys made this morning and my baby is crying right now...so pics will come soon!

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Homemade Play dough!!!

I got this recipe from our town kindergarten teacher and I have to say... it is the BEST Recipe ever!

Here it is:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar(in spice isle)
2 cups water
2 tablespoons of oil
food coloring of choice

• mix together flour, salt and cream of tartar
• mix together in separate bowl the water, oil and food coloring. Add to flour mixture.
• cook mixture on low heat until dry and gummy.
• cool a little and knead w/hands until soft.
• Have fun!

We just made red play dough yesterday and my kids are still playing with it. It keeps well and long in an air tight container.

Go HERE to see more toy reviews ;)

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Toy Review Tuesday

Wooden Blocks

--all shapes and sizes, but especially those big natural wooden blocks we all used to play with and learn with in kindergarten centuries ago! (yikes...that makes us all feel o-l-d! sorry!)

Pros:

all ages can play

boys and girls love to play with them

even moms and dads and grandparents love to play with them

kid tested-mother approve

Cons:

heavy and can be used as a dangerous weapon (just sayin'!)

takes up lots of room to store them

Why did it take me so long to post about these? I have no idea. What I do have to say is that these are just about the best toy around-my 1 year old and even my 9 year old still plays with them. They can create doll houses, garages, apartments, towers, spaceships for Star Wars figures etc...

My kids play with them every single day-even many times a day. We got our huge stash at 2 different tag sales but for a very cheap price of like 10-20$! compared to what stores sell them at! A dear friend gave us her stash that started us off when my oldest was only about 1-2 years old and I have been adding to it every since, wherever I see them at tag sales.

Go HERE to see more!

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Hexabits

Aren't they cool? I found them at a really cool toy tag sale in mid Novemeber and they are a hit for my kids from age 4 to 9 (even I like them!).
(BTW, I got all my Christmas toy shopping done for my kids at that really cool toy tag sale too! yippeee!)


Pros:

• be creative


• can make whatever


• make designs


• takes a long long time to click them altogether but it does not seem to bother my kids a bit (a hexabit! heeee heee)

Cons:

• super small pieces that little babes can choke on ;(


• can get easily lost and sucked up in the vaccuum

Go HERE for more toy reviews!

God bless, Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

MASTERMIND Do you remember this game?
This was one of my favorites from my childhood and you can imagine my delight to find it at some tag sale last summer.

PROS: We all love to play this game-all ages, Moms and Dads too! We can play solo-one against one; and we also play in teams. It helps with recognizing colors and memory and it is FUN!

CONS: The only downside is the small pieces for little ones to find and into the mouth they go.

Go HERE to see more:)
God bless, Mary

Toy Review Tuesday (Mom's Toy Today)

Who said that "Toy Review Tuesday" had to be only kids' toys?! (Hope you don't mind, Sam!!!)

Here is my top toy lately:

I took this picture before it got so cold so now it is filled up with fall and winter coats and boots! It is absolutely perfect for us!

I got it from a lady who was selling her house/daycare and moving to NY. It was the deal of deals-she paid $320 including s/h and sold it to me for only $50! It is 5 years old and as sturdy as can be! I have been praying for us to get one-hoping to get it installed in our mud room/laundry room...but this is even better!

I kept asking God and asking Him to give us one and he sure did! Prayer is so powerful-never underestimate the power of prayer!

It is this Momma's favorite toy right now :)

Go HERE to see more toy reviews!

God bless,

Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

LEGO'S!
I can't say enough great things about them!!!

All my children LOVE them. In fact, we were at a Blue Knight club meeting last week and to the side were a box of Star Wars themed Lego's. Sure enough, my boys went right over to them, by passing the table where they were to go for the club meeting! Many boys were there right besides them! We had to pull them away from them!

Recently, I bought off of craigslist this great Lego table, in the pic above. It is priceless! Worth every dime I bought it for! It was a terrific deal, costing me only $10!!! It is big and bulky but homemade and extremely sturdy and with my house of boys-I need toys to be sturdy! I think we'll be hanging onto this table and all our Lego's for a very long time.

All ages really do like Lego's. My friend told me that her brother in law plays with them and displays them.

I even find myself playing along side of my kids too :)

God bless, Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Lincoln Logs!!!

Pros:

• good for boys and girls


• my boys love to build and play Knights and Indians with them


• easily found at tag sales


• I used to play with them when younger-solid toys that last a LONG time


• Not too expensive, depending on which ones you get

Cons:

• possible choking for little children


• messy


• easily lost and then thrown out


• can be expensive, depending on which ones you get

If you want to see more toys on Toy Review Tuesday-go HERE.
God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Congrats Sam on your new baby boy!(I knew it was a boy!!!).

It's Toy Review Tuesday!

Little People from Fisher-Price

I can't say enough good things about these. All of my kids (age 1-8) enjoy playing with them-there are girls and boys, young and old. There are animals of all kinds, firemen, chefs, farmers, engineers and just about any imaginable occupation. They end up outside, inside, in the pool and in the tub. My girls esp. like the little dollhouse and the boys like the farm.

I find the sets and individual ones at tag sales and from hand me downs from friends. They are not that expensive compared with other toys. They last long and they will be some of the toys I will save for our grandchildren!

God bless,
Mary

Toy Review Tuesday

Thanks SAM for allowing me to join in on your "Toy Review Tuesday". Since most of her advice on toys (and parenting! Thanks Sam and Rob-they are expecting #12 in a few weeks!) came from them both, I hope I don't duplicate any toy reviews. So, for this Tuesday, one of our all time favorite toys are the wooden tracks or Thomas the Train wooden train tracks. Even if they are not the classic Thomas brand, they all seem to fit in together. I get them at tag sales or freecycle or from friends.
This pic is not of our Thomas the train wooden track set but it's close to it.


What I like about Wooden Train Tracks:

• All of my kids love them-from age 1 to 8 (so far!) and when our older cousins visit or Pop-Pop comes to play-these are a great toy for all ages :) This is one of my favorite things to play with my children-that is, when the baby is sleeping!
  
• Very easy to put together


• Create many different track designs


• boys and girls BOTH like to play with them


• All the wooden train tracks fit together-not just the Thomas brand

What I don't like about Wooden Train Tracks:

• They were made in China- now, before you all go nuts on me...I know the deal w/the lead paint issue. As long as my little one does not chew on them or eat them-or any of my kids-then they are okay w/us. Good handwashing and so far, so good!


• Pricey $ for the big complete sets but like I said-if you ask around and see at some tag sales, you might find them like I did :)
• We once had a Thomas the Train table but would you believe it? My kids broke it! I know, no shock here... I told you that we would be a terrific bunch of kids to test toys so why aren't those toy companies hounding me w/phone calls yet?!?!

Thanks Sam for letting me join in. If you want to join in too just send Sam a note on her blog!

God bless,
Mary