For homework he had to draw a picture and write a paragraph about the picture he drew. He wrote his paragraph first and then proceeded to draw his picture.  What he had in mind to draw he couldn’t put it onto the paper.  This is where it all came crashing down.

He wanted me to draw a building.  Well, my interpretation of a building is a square box, a door, a couple of windows and that’s about it.  That didn’t work too well with him.

See, he wanted me to draw Farrell’s for him. Yes, the Ice Cream Parlor.  This kid wanted me to go into details about the place.  I told him that I wouldn’t and that him drawing what he could was fine.

He cried and cried and quickly it turned to sobbing.  All he kept on saying was that he wanted “Farrell’s.”

I drew 3 (yes, THREE) separate interpretations of what I thought Farrell’s looked like and all three were, according to him, wrong.  At this point, I think I cursed at Farrell’s for even existing!!!

I have to admit that I was a little taken back at his reaction to both of us not being able to draw what he wanted. I was beyond frustrated.  I went to my room to keep me from ringing is neck!   I simmered down and went to my son and tried to reason with him.

We finally were able to draw (what I had already done in the first place, UGH!) the building he wanted with the Farrell’s sign on top of the square box.

The single piece of homework turned into an hour ordeal.  How do you deal with your perfectionist?

As Mr. Popper quickly gets acquainted with – and increasingly attached to – his winged roommates, his  life quickly unravels: the deal he’s long been working on with a formidable socialiate, Mrs. Van Gundy, played by the acclaimed Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote, Beauty and the Beast),  is derailed and Popper almost lands in jail.  While Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland – they teach him valuable lessons about family- human and otherwise!  Read about my special “Sea World” weekend!

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS is based on a novel, originally published in 1938, written by the husband and wife team of Richard and Florence Atwater.  Awarded the Newbery Medal in 1939, Mr. Popper’s Penguins became a classic through generations, and is a staple on elementary school shelves to this day.  The Blu-ray and DVD bonus feature “The Legacy of Mr. Popper’s Penguins” highlights literary experts and family of Richard and Florence  Atwater telling the fascinating story behind the story.

I had my reservations about Jim Carrey.  I can’t even remember the last movie I’ve seen with him in it.   But Mr. Popper’s Penguins has me crazy for penguins and I feel Jim Carrey has completely redeemed him self with this super loveable movie. Your kids will laugh!  This is such a great movie. Totally different from the book, but a great adaptation otherwise.

Last Friday, the kids and I were invited to a sleepover at Sea World in San Diego, Ca.  We got the chance to sleep in the Penguins Encounter exhibit at the park.  It was an experience like non other.  No, we did not sleep with the penguins but we were in the viewing area of the exhibit.  I had a blast. Besides freezing the whole night, my kids and I had a wonderful time.

The staff and “camp crew” were extremely professional.  They engaged the kids the whole time we were there.   I really can’t say more on how impressed I am with the sleepover camps at Sea World.  This is a 1st. class program.  If there is ever a time in which you can take part in this camp, do it. Just remember to take blankets. (:

Take a look at the fun time we had: Fun times.  Thank you Sea World and Fox Studios for my wonderful weekend. Remember- Get Mr. Popper’s Penguins today!

Created for 3-6 year olds, Dinosaur Train features a world of dinosaurs and prehistoric lands, all connected by a colorful train line known as the Dinosaur Train. Each episode is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive family of Pteranodons who go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to discover and visit with all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras while learning the basic concepts of natural science, natural history and paleontology.

If you have seen the TV series at least once, you know that this show is fun, upbeat and full of many adventure for your kids to enjoy.  Take a look at what PBS has for one of you:

The Dinosaur Train gift pack includes the following:

•  1-Mega Bloks Dinosaur Train Playset – All Aboard the Dinosaur Train from Mega Brands
•  1-Dinosaur Train Keepsake Ornament from Hallmark
•  1-NEW DVD Title: DINOSAUR TRAIN™: T.REX TALES
•  1- Dinosaur Train Time Tunnel Mountain Set from Learning Curve

Wow!  Can you imagine that? Super fun for any boy or girl. Want to enter the giveaway?  This is what you have to do to enter… (MANDATORY)

• Answer this question in a comment: Who is for favorite Dinosaur Train character?
  

Here is your (DAILY) extra entry. Tweet this once every 24 hours.

Tweet this: Enter to win a Dinosaur Train Gift pack with @thoughtsofamomy and @pbskids!  http://ow.ly/7MZ0S   #Giveaway #Holidays

Remember to leave a comment every time you do an extra entry.  Also check out the “Holiday Giveaways Extra Entries” page on the nav bar, for more chances to win!

Español

Llamando a todos los amantes de dinosaurios y los trenes! Si tus hijos son fanaticos de en uno o los dos, entonces estoy segura de que  tus nenes conocen Dinosaur Train.

Creado por niños de 3-6 años de edad, Dinosaur Train cuenta con el mundo de los dinosaurios y las tierras prehistóricas, todos conectados por una línea de tren de colores conocido como el Tren de los Dinosaurios. Cada episodio se ve a través de los ojos de Buddy, un Tiranosaurio Rex en edad preescolar, y su familia adoptiva de Pteranodons que van de aventuras en el tren de dinosaurio para descubrir y visitar con toda clase de dinosaurios en diferentes épocas al mismo tiempo aprender los conceptos básicos de los recursos naturales ciencia, historia natural y paleontología.

Si has visto la serie de televisión al menos una vez, sabes que este show es muy divertido, alegre y lleno de aventura para disfrutar. Echa un vistazo a lo que PBS tiene para uno de ustedes:

Picture Books

• 10 Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Lois Ehlert (Simon & Schuster)
• Can You See What I See? Toyland Express written and illustrated by Walter Wick (Scholastic)
• If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond (HarperCollins)
• The Man in the Moon written and illustrated by William Joyce (Simon & Schuster)
• Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Treasury written and illustrated by Victoria Kann (HarperCollins)

 Click here for full list

Transitional Readers and Chapter Books

• Clementine and The Family Meeting by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Disney Hyperion Books)
• Fly Guy: Fly Guy vs. The Flyswatter! by Tedd Arnold (Scholastic)
• Magic Tree House: Dogs in the Dead of Night by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Salvatore Murdocca (Random House)
• Rainbow Magic: Magical Holiday Boxed Set by Daisy Meadows (Scholastic)
• Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers by Dav Pilkey, George Beard, and Harold Hutchins (Scholastic)

 Click here for full list

Middle Grade Fiction 

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney (Abrams)
• The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (Disney Hyperion Books)
• The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Book 2: A King’s Ransom by Jude Watson (Scholastic)
• War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Scholastic)
• Wonderstruck written and illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)

 Click here for full list

Young Adult Fiction

• Crossed by Ally Condie (Penguin)
• Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (Random House)
• Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books)
• The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic)

Click here for full list

Nonfiction

• How Cool Is This: An Up-close, Inside Look at How Things Work  (DK Publishing)
• The Hugo Movie Companion: A Behind the Scenes Look at How a Beloved Book Became a Major Motion Picture by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)
• Lego Harry Potter: Building The Magical World (DK Publishing)
• Lego Star Wars Character Encyclopedia (DK Publishing)
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: Special Edition 2012 (Scholastic)

Click here for full list

This is not a paid post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is a certain “tablet” that we have that, although it really is a blessing to have, it’s become the start of many, many, M A N Y fights, crying sessions and screaming matches.  If you know what I’m talking about… say “hey!”  lol!  That “pad” is mine.  And to be honest, I get to “play” with my toy when the power is down to 12%.  Lucky me. Then- I have to search through the bagillion of gaming apps to find my apps.

LeapFrog is here to save the day!  Literally.  The LeapPad Explorer is a mini tablet for your kids.  It’s made for the little ones in your life.  It’s small, versatile and easy to use.

Does it have a touch-screen feature like the other tablets? Yes!

Can you use a stylus? You sure can!

Can you turn, twist and shake it for exciting motion-based gameplay? Absolutely!

Does it have a camera?  It sure does!  You can take pictures and video with the LeapPad!

What kind of apps can you download/buy?  Keep reading and I’ll tell you all about it.

Your kids can explore with more than  100 cartridge games, apps, digital books, videos and much more- full of the characters they love. Check out who they can learn, create and share with:

• Cars/Cars 2
• Disney Fairies
• Disney Princesses
• Dora the Explorer
• Madagascar
• Ni Hao Kai-lan
• Scooby-Doo
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Star Wars
• Tangled
• Toy Story
• Up
• X-Men and SO much more!

I was given the opportunity to host a LeapFrog Party with various LeapFrog products last night.   My kids have been exploring with the LeapPad and now it was their chance to share what they have mastered.  We had 5 kids between the ages of 4-6.

LeapFrog Tag System-

2 of the kids are in first grade.  I let them start the party with the LeapFrog Tag System.  The Tag System is a sort of pen that the kids hold to special LeapFrpg books and it helps them learn to read.  This was a little hard to explain to the kids who already know how to read.  My son and his friend (both in 1st grade) already know how to read, so they used this more as a read-along.

The 4yo’s- the ones who are in preschool, were more into the Tag.  They were able to repeat what the Tag was saying and that is how they read the book.  This was perfect for them.  They not only get to hear the word but they are able to repeat it will soon be able to recognize the word.   One thing that I noticed when my daughter uses it is that she gets what to do with the Tag but uses it more as a “I want to hear a story” setting.  I have to sit with her or at least have her at ears length to make sure that she repeats what she is hearing.

Tag Interactive Map-

Again, I think this is more for the older kids than the younger ones.  The map takes you on an around-the-world adventure that will help kids learn fun facts and play games with the two-sided Tag World map. Check out the cool features:

• Teaches map skills, world geography and world languages.
• Meet kid characters from around the world and learn how to say “hello” in their languages.
• More than ten interactive games bring fun characters and map facts to life.

If your kids have a special interest in geography, this is great for them.  If you want to expose little ones to geography or lets say that you are moving cross county and want to your kids to be more involved in the move- this is the best way to help them keep up with where they are going!

We had a great time at the party.  The kids are super happy with all the cool gadgets they got to play with.  My kids are happy that they were able to bring all the LeapFrog “toys” back home.  If you have a preschooler or elementary school age kids on your holiday shopping list, this is a must!  And to be honest, I think you are really looking into getting a LeapPad, you are going to have to shop for it early.  This will be one of the hottest gadgets for kids for the holidays!

Oh, and stock up on AA and AAA batteries!  (:

This is not a paid post.  I received free LeapFrog products in order to host a Learn, Create, and Share party. LeapFrog did not influence my opinions expressed here as a result. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was fortunate enough to be selected as a #LeapFrogParty host and received all the products mentioned above for free to facilitate this review and to host the party with friends  through MomSelect and LeapFrog.  Gracias!