My Chicago kids not only love Legos, but they love playing with all of their Lego minifigures. They create different scenes with Legos and then tell different stories by adding Lego minifigures to their Lego creations.

My kids are too young to see Marvel’s The Avengers, but they are sure to love the new Avengers toys from Lego.

Marvel’s The Avengers minifigures from Lego include the Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye. New Avenger Legos also include the Avenging Cycle, the Cosmic Cube, the Helicarrier, and the supersonic Quinjet!

First Look: Avengers Toys from Lego

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MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS hits theaters everywhere on May 4^th!

Disclosure: I’m a Disney blogger. Information and pictures are from Disney.com.

Although life is often busy and my family’s schedule sometimes get too hectic, my husband and I each find time to spend special alone time with both of our children. It helps us stay connected individually with our boys and brings us closer together as a family.

When the Chicago Children’s Theatre asked me to attend the premiere of The Houdini Box, a children’s play based on the book by Brian “Hugo” Selznick, I knew it would be the perfect next date with my 8 year old son. We got dresses up, pick up dinner on the way, and had a fabulous night at the Mercury Theater.

We Loved It!

It was such a joy to be at the theater with my son.

The Houdini Box is musical adventure about Harry Houdini and a young boy named Victor. Victor is huge Houdini fan and rigorously practices magic by locking himself in closets, holding his breath under water and walking into walls.  After a chance encounter with Houdini, Victor receives a special box that just might contain the secrets of Houdini’s great success. The show includes a creative set and hilarious puppets.

Chicago Children's Theatre Houdini Box

See the Houdini Box!

The Houdini Box will be at the Mercury Theater until March 4 and will then move to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie from March 14 – 25, 2012. For tickets and information, go to chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Disclosure Level 1: Tickets for the Houdini Box were provided to us free of charge.

My boys and I have been invited to a media open house at the Rock & Roll Arts Academy in Highland Park, where they will be showcasing their non-traditional music class offerings and jam sessions.

You and Your Kids Are Invited to Join in the Fun!

This open house is open to the public on the following days…

• Thursday, 1/19, from 5 pm- 7pm
• Friday, 1/20, from 3-7pm
• Saturday, 1/21, from 11am-4pm

Families are invited to bring their little ‘rock star’ (or stars) to the Rock & Roll Arts Academy, located in the lower level of the Highland Park Community House at 1991 Sheridan Road, to make music videos on-site (for free) to see if they can take home the title of Coolest Kids on the North Shore.

The videos will be uploaded (via YouTube) to the Rock & Roll Arts Academy Facebook Page, where the video with the most ‘LIKES’ by January 27th at 5pm, will win a free Birthday Party that Rocks, complete with private live concert ($400 value), and the title of January’s “Coolest Kid on the North Shore!”

There will also be a hands-on instrument petting zoo, signing sessions, raffle prizes, dance contests, and food and refreshments and more.

Did You Know?

I had no idea the Rock & Roll Arts Academy even existed before I received this invitation.

It’s the North Shore’s hippest rock clubhouse for kids ages four months to 13 years offering classes where kids and their parents can learn origins of Beatles’ songs, dance to the psychedelic sounds of The Grateful Dead and say “Hey Now!” to the songs of Bob Marley! It’s the opposite of “Baby Mozart” and we’re hosting an Open House event to showcase jam sessions, instruments and more.

Did they know I was a huge Grateful Dead fan?

Fun!

My boys just finished reviewing the 2011 Nickelodeon Gift Guide, which highlights more than 125 brand-new products, with characters from top Nickelodeon shows including Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Victorious and Fanboy and Chum Chum.

Here are their favorites:

Team Umizoomi Preschool Math Kits

Fanboy and Chum Chum DVD

SpongeBob Walkie Talkies by Sakar International

SpongeBob SquarePants: Heroic Heroes of the Deep by LEGO

Disclosure: Level 1 – One of the products mentioned were provided to us free of charge. Opinions are 100% our own.

We are so excited to be partnering with TJ & Pals, one of my son’s favorite educational websites for kids. TJ & Pals is an interactive, safe play, creative oasis. It’s hands-on digital playground where kids can play, learn and grow at their own pace, and that parents can trust.

Free Six Month Membership to TJ & Pals!

We only have 50 free Six Month Subscriptions to TJ & Pals to give away…so HURRY!

To receive your free 6 month subscription, simply enter your email address in the form below (your email address will not be used for any other purpose).

We will email you within 24 hours after you fill you out the form below…

It is better to Give than Receive During the Holidays

Give your children a chance to giveback this season by having them donate a new pair of PJs for Chicago kids in need when you bring them to the over-the-moon show Goodnight Moon the Musical.

Goodnight Moon Pajama Parties: Fridays Nov 11, Dec 9 & 16 at 7:00pm

Families are encouraged to kick off the weekend and wear their pajamas to the theater for two more Friday evening “Pajama Party” performances of Goodnight Moon on December 9 and December 16 at 7 pm. Both performances will be followed by milk and cookie receptions. What a great start to the perfect slumber party!

Goodnight Moon Far Exceeded Our Expectations

I took my boys, 5 & 8 years old, a few weeks ago and we were all laughing and engaging in the show from beginning to end. I had high expectations to begin with, but the stage, the colors, the humor, and the actors FAR EXCEEDED my expectations. I knew I would enjoy the show, but a little nervous that it would be too young for my boys. I was 100% wrong.

Goodnight Moon the Musical is perfect for early elementary age children. They are old enough to appreciate all of the humor and special effects and young enough to still remember the book.

As Chicago Children’s Theatre enters the final weeks of Goodnight Moon the Musical, we HIGHLY encourage you to see the show and participate in the Goodnight Moon Pajama Drive. Just bring a new pair of PJs when you bring your family to the show and place them in The Pajama Program donation box stationed in the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater lobby.

Tickets to Goodnight Moon the Musical are $26 children; $36 adults. Purchase tickets online at chicagochildrenstheatre.org, or via the Victory Gardens box office, 773.871.3000. For group discounts, call GroupTix at (773) 327-3778 or visit GroupTix.net.

Disclosure: Level 1 – We were provided tickets to Goodnight Moon the Musical free of charge. Opinions are 100% my own.

Heading to Navy Pier for the Chicago Toy & Game (ChiTAG) Fair is one of the most exciting experiences for any child. ChiTAG is better than a candy store for kids! Enjoy two days of hands-on fun, previewing toys, playing new games, and meeting the inventors behind the toys!

Kids of all ages can jump, run, play, and bounce during this two day toy extravaganza! You’ll enjoy life-sized toys & games, contests, stage events, Young Inventor Challenge, and more!

The cost is $10 per adult, $5 per child, but here’s a coupon to save you $2 off admission!

WONDER!

I was invited to an exclusive mom blogger event at a new store called WONDER! in Deerfield. I was amazed at the size and interior design of this contemporary store.

WONDER! offers unique items for age’s birth to four years old and combines shopping with engaging play and (soon to be) dining options. It’s like Sam’s Club for little ones – they have baby gear, furniture, bedding, apparel, unique toys, and more.

In addition to shopping, WONDER! also has a membership play space that allows little ones to run, jump, and be creative.

Bean Sprouts Cafe!

I’m really excited about their soon to be in-store Bean Sprouts Cafe that will have healthy organic snack and meals for all ages. When I was at WONDER! I received Bean Sprout’s cookbook, Bean Appetit: Hip & Healthy ways to Have Fun with Food.

My 5 year and I have already made the Pear Penguins from this cookbook.

We first created a Pear Penguin by cutting slices on both sides of a pear (to form wings). Then we peeled the pear skin off the front of the pear to create the penguin’s white tummy. Using a brush, my son then painted chocolate onto the rest of penguin’s body.

Considering I am not a foodie, I think we did a pretty good job. You can see for yourself how our pear penguin compares with the penguin in the cookbook!

Love, love, love this cookbook!

If you want to experience a new and unexpected way to shop for all things for babies and toddlers, I recommend visiting WONDER! in Deerfield. If you don’t live near Deerfield, you can also check out over 5,000 of WONDER! products online at www.shopwonder.com.

Disclosure: Level 1 – Some or all of the products mentioned were provided to us free of charge. Opinions are 100% my own.

We Love LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

My kids love LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago year around, but their favorite time to visit is when they have special events. That’s why I know they are going to do back flips when I tell them about LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Holly Jolly Holidays.

Even though we’re Jewish, I know they are going to love and fully appreciate all the festive decorations, seasonal games, group builds, and LEGO-tastic holiday fun!

Holly Jolly Holiday Activities Include:

• The chance to build an exclusive LEGO Eskimo designed by LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Master Model Builder (while supplies last)
• Build your own LEGO holiday ornament (available for sale)
• A group build where visitors can help build and decorate a LEGO holiday tree that stands 10 feet tall
• Photo opportunities with the life-size Santa and Snowman LEGO models
• And much more!

Join the Fun!

Holly Jolly Holidays at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago starts on December 9 and ends on January 1. Doors open at 12pm Monday – Friday and at 1oam on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday hours begin December 17 with doors opening at 10am seven days a week.

For directions, prices, and everything you need to know about LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, go to http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/chicago.

Last weekend we hosted a Learn, Create, and Share LeapFrog Party. To prepare for the party, I had my boys experiment with the LeapPad learning tablet, the Tag Reading System, and the interactive World Map that we received from LeapFrog and Mommy Parties.

The LeapPad Learning Tablet

My kids, especially my 5-year-old, fell in love with the LeapPad. Since he already uses my iPad, he intuitively knew how to use the LeapPad, navigate the menus, use the camera, and play the games.

The best thing we have discovered so far about the LeapPad is the “All About Me Story” app where kids get to star in their very own digital books. The kids loved taking pictures, placing them on different pages, and then adding their own voice over. Allowing the kids to add their voice to their books is simply brilliant. My boys were engages, extremely creative, and absolutely cracking themselves up!

LeapPad is a tablet just for kids with a built-in camera and video recorder. We haven’t explored the video camera too much but all the kids loved this kid-friendly easy-access camera.

LeapFrog now has a library of over 100 interactive learning games and activities. According the LeapFrog, LeapPad apps focus on reading, mathematics, science, geography, art, music, language, culture, health, creativity, and more.

The Tag Reader System

After exploring the LeapPad, they used the interactive Tag Reader to read one of the Spiderman stories. And again, the 5-year-old boys were fully engaged with the interactive sounds, words, and stories.

Click here to see how the Tag Reader System works.

Here’s what LeapFrog has to say about their Tag Reading System:

“Tag Reading System brings stories to life with each touch of the interactive Reader to the pages of specially printed storybooks. Words talk, pictures come to life and stories live out loud, engaging children’s senses to make reading a rich, fulfilling experience. Children can use Tag as they begin their own personal learn-to-read journeys, then continue to enjoy it as their skills grow, from hearing an entire story read aloud to seeking help with individual words. With a library of 40+ books, maps and more, children can also take the fun beyond reading with fun play patterns that broaden curriculum experiences such as exploring other cultures, building skills in life science or even learning how to write!”

The World Map

The kids also loved the Tag World Map, which I think is so much better than a globe for young kids. The kids had a lot of ah-ha moments about the world since this map was interactive and truly brought countries to life. They clicked on almost every country to learn fun facts and were super excited to share what they were learning with the adults.

Thank you LeapFrog and Mommy Parties for this fun and educational experience!

Disclosure: Level 1 – Some or all of the products mentioned were provided to us free of charge.