Hexbug Mania!! 9/17/10

My friend Sarah Jehnzen, the one that runs Sarah's Deals, had another product testing party. This time it was aimed at boys ages 7-9. Since Marc is just 2 months shy of 7 she invited Marc. It was for a new nano technology toy called Hexbugs. Very interesting, cute, weird little toys. ;-)
When we got there Marc got to pick out the 3 Hexbugs he wanted to take home (they were different colors).Sarah had a whole track course set up in her living room. All the boys got to get down on the floor and play!
A couple of the younger sibling girls got in on the action.....more like they were an obstacle. Both of the little girls kept picking up the Hexbugs and holding them or putting them off the track so they wandered the floor instead.
The girls got bored off and on, so we pulled out Ainsley's My Little Pony collection to keep the girls entertained, for awhile anyway.
One of the boys made a comment that they were getting kinda tired of watching the bugs walk around the track. One of the parents suggested that they rearrange the track to make a new path for the bugs. The boys had a blast dismantling and reassembling the track.
The Hexbugs have little soft plastic bristles and a small motor that makes them vibrate. Daddy decided to put one on the palm of Samantha's hand for her to feel.....
and bot did it tickle her. She squealed with pleasure!
After some playing at Sarah's house, it was time to go home. When we left Marc got some of the track pieces t brig home. So, we came home with 4 Hexbugs, 2 arenas, and 3 track pieces!! After the kids got ready for bed we let them play one more time. Even Samantha got her very own pink Hexbug!
These are what the Hexbugs look like. With Samantha's foot in the picture you can kinda get an idea of the size of them. they are cute little things. i told Marc that I was glad we got an enclosed arena for them because if I saw one of them crawling around on the floor in the house I would think it was a bug and swat it and probably break it! ;-)
It was another fun night of testing new products. Thanks Sarah for inviting us and giving us ideas for Marc's Birthday/Christmas list! ;-)

Terrific Tuesdsays!! 9/14/10

I signed Samantha up for a Tumble Bugs gymnastics class at the YMCA. She was very excited to start. All she could talk about all morning was "Tumble Bugs". We got there a little early. Samantha kept asking to play on the equipment while we waited. I told her that she couldn't, that we didn't want to mess it up before class started. This is the face she gave me. ;-)
The first things we do are a hello song and some stretches. The teacher set up a circle of 5 things to do. The kids go in the circle and do each activity and then move onto the next. They do this until the 20 minutes are up.

She got to jump on the trampoline.

and spin on the sit-n-spin.

She had to crawl up the wedge, grab the ball, and roll it down the other wedge.....

and then she had to slide down the wedge and get the ball.

Samantha got to do the commando crawl under the bar and down the mat.

The last thing in the rotation was the balance beam. She liked to do her airplane arms.

After the stations, we came back together and did some cool down activities.

After Tumble Bugs, we headed to library time. This is the first time she has been. 2 years ago she was too young and last year I couldn't take her due to the time Marc got home from school. When we got there, each child got a new book.
When she first sat down, Samantha was very subdued, quite, and kept to herself.
She finally got into it when they sang "Open Shut Them". :-)
She LOVED listening to the stories!
Think she had fun?! ;-)
Each week, the librarian read 3 books, does some songs and such, and then we do a craft that all have to do with the same theme. This weeks theme was about the alphabet. The kids made alphabet bead bracelets.
It was very fun taking Samantha to these things. It made me feel like she was SO grown up! Tuesdays are going to be our fun day!