LegoKidsFest

 LegoKidsFest was everything we thought it would be and more. I couldn't believe how excited everyone was for this event. Here's a short video that gives you an idea of the energy at the Lego event. (I tried to edit out the screaming.)

As soon as we walked through the entrance we were greeted with huge Lego creations like these.

We immediately went and signed up for the Master Builder's Academy, because there were limited spots available. At least that's the way it was presented, my guess is that space is not limited.

I also thought the Master Builder leading the session would teach the kids to build a certain thing, but he didn't. He did an educational thing about building and answered questions. It was interesting and I learned a ton about Lego. After the Master Builder talks he tells the kids to go make a plane and that's pretty much it.

Here are the planes my kiddos made. You'll notice that Jonah has lost a tooth!

 All around the fest was stations. At this station my kids got to shoot things down.

At this station they got to compete with Chima Legos. Afterwards all kids received a Chima. 

 At this station everyone could build whatever they wanted to and add it to a map of the United States. They had tons of tables set up and plenty of legos available for building.

 I'm a die hard Red Raider, since I went to college at Texas Tech, and I built a double T and had them place it in Lubbock, TX.

Needless to say, most were putting their creations up in Oregon and Washington. I still felt pretty good about it.

Oregon/Washington

We spent a lot of time at the Lego Technic station one of the best parts of the show for older kids. It was manned by a company called Play-Well Teknologies. I was super impressed with their staff. They are a nationwide company and hold camps and classes. I'm hopeful they will be offering classes near us. 

I like what they were doing so much that I ask where to get the Legos they were using. They suggested I check out their site where there would be more info. He mentioned that these types of Legos were expensive and to check their site for info on a resale Lego shop. Well, I check it out and it's called Bricklink. It's a phenomenal site where you can literally buy any Lego imaginable. So, instead of having to buy a huge expensive kit to get these parts, I only have to buy the ones we need!

We also stopped buy the Star Wars station, the challenge station where each kid received a Lego car set to make the Bat Mobile, the game station where each kid received an iPad game Life of George (they love this game), and lots of other stations. Overall it was a great time.

How to make a LEGO Lion



Disclosure - I received tickets in exchange for a review.  Opinions are my own.

All Around Disneyland

Disneyland is a huge place.  Much larger then I thought it was going to be.  Here are a few photos from our time in Disneyland.

Everyone is excited to get into the park and we are finally on the monorail.  The monorail is right outside our hotel, Disneyland Hotel.  The kids have been killing time inside the Lego store while I run around like a crazy person trying to figure out what to do with the military ticket I bought.  Check out my article on how to redeem Disneyland military tickets and where to get them over at Travelingmom.com.  It is not the same process they have at Disney World.

Here in this picture you can see the monorail tracks, the Matterhorn ride in the back ground, and a yellow submarine under the tracks in the water.  That yellow submarine is part of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride and the first ride we went on.  Once on the submarine went went under the water in search of Nemo.  Here are a few photos I took on the ride.


No trip to Disney is complete until we have defeated the evil Emperor Zurg.  Everyone was happy when we discovered that the Buzz Light Year Astro Blaster is at Disneyland too.  (I thought it was better than they one at Disney World.)


Autopia was a major hit with my four year old.  He not only was tall enough to ride, he was allowed to drive!  He was an awful driver and I had to control the gas pedal, but he was ecstatic the whole time!



Here is my oldest on the Matterhorn Bobsleds.  This hands down was our favorite ride.  Grandma even loved it!  Best of all was that my 4 year old could ride it.


Oh and here is a picture in front of a waterfall in California Adventure.  What a great picture spot.


New Orleans Square inside Disneyland.

Lego Master Builder Academy

I just discovered a new program from Lego called LEGO Master Builder Academy.

A program that teaches your kids to build and create just like the LEGO Master Builders do. In this dual in-home and online experience, real LEGO Master Builders teach the process of design and LEGO model creation through the advanced techniques of LEGO building.  I am ordering MBA Kit 1
for my son for Christmas.  Each kit contains a 3-in-1 building set, an installment of the LEGO Master Builder Design Handbook full of lessons, enhanced building instructions and inspiration for new building ideas. Every kit also comes with alternating minifigure rewards: exclusive MBA minifigures with buildable minifigure accessories.  This program is more affordable then the Robotics program, only 29.99.

How to build a LEGO Snowman

Free Legos

Did you know that you can get free Legos?  My son loves Legos and the last time we were down in Orlando we made it a point to go to the Lego store at downtown Disney.While we were in there I found about two things they offer both for free!

First, they have a free Lego magazine that your child can get. Lego actually has two magazines one for younger kids and one for older. Both of the Lego magazines are free.

Second, every first Tuesday of the month they offer a free in store mini model build that you keep. For the month of April it was a mini rabbit. I wish we lived closer to a Lego store!

Just go to their website to sign up for the newsletter, play games, or find a store near you!

How to Build a LEGO Snowflake