Kaijudo Show Review

Recently, I had a few boys over to watch a new show that was sent to me thanks to my relationship with MomSelect and MommyParties.

The show, Kaijudo - Rise of the Duel Masters, airs on the Hub Network.  The overview of the show, from their website, said: 

"Kaijudo is the story of Raiden Pierce-Okamoto, aka Ray, a talented 14-year-old boy, and the two worlds in which he lives. One is the real world much like our own, and the other is a fantastical world of creatures, a parallel world made up of five civilizations, visible only to a chosen few..."

With that brief introduction, my boys were excited and couldn't wait to check out the show.   Even my husband got in on the party, and donned a Kaijudo headband along with the kids!  

My 11yo, Colin, was kind enough to write a review.

Recently my friends and I watched a new show on THE HUB, Kaijudo. We originally had very low expectations for the show. It just seemed like many other shows we have seen in the past, but it soon surpassed our expectations!

We found it to be very cool and interesting. I would definitely recommend this show to other kids ages 7-11.

This was an amazing, well-animated show, especially comparing it to shows like Pokemon. On Pokemon, they don’t really animate fight scenes, but this was fully animated and very exciting to watch.

I’m very excited to see more!

So, you can see -- it was a hit!  New episodes run on the HUB network Saturdays at 8PM EST.  The show is rated for kids 7 and up. We don't currently receive the HUB network from our cable provider, but the boys are able to keep up with the shows via the HUB website.  

Colin, especially, was excited to see that there is a corresponding card game currently available in stores and looks forward to buying some of the cards. 

*Disclosure: I received a party pack from Mom Select and Mommy Parties in exchange for posting my honest review and sharing the information about the new Kaijudo television show.  All opinions expressed are those of my family.*

Ringling Circus in Phoenix - Review!

We just got home from the opening performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents DRAGONS in Phoenix. The show was amazing!

They will be at the US Airways Center until July 2, 2012 -- so if you don't already have tickets, head over to Ticketmaster to get yourself some!

One of the cool things about this circus is that they have an all-access pre-show that starts an hour before the scheduled performance. During this time, everyone can go down to the arena floor and watch performers do short acts. You also have the chance to get a picture with a performer. Most importantly, you are able to get very close and it's great fun for the kids.

Once the show starts, it is all action and excitement until the lights come up at the end. This year, the show's theme was Dragons and there was plenty of magic and excitement around that. One of the first acts was horses and their trick riders -- especially exciting for Lydia and Nate since they started horse riding lessons this summer. I'm afraid they'll be asking their teacher to teach them some tricks next week!

It's hard to choose a favorite act, but Lydia thought the acrobats hanging in large globes from the ceiling was her favorite. Colin couldn't choose a favorite at all. I always love the trapeze artists, and Bo enjoyed the elephant act.

Read more after the jump!

Read more »

Wordless Wednesday - 5 & 11

Tell Me Thursday - Boots

A couple months ago, Lydia and Nate began horse riding lessons.  Nate purchased his boots last summer in Texas; Lydia received hers as a birthday gift from her uncle.  They are both proud of their boots, and love wearing them. They wear them for each lesson, and they came home usually caked with mud and . . . well . . . poop.

So, they sit on the front stoop until they are washed off and ready for another horse riding lesson!

Wordless Wednesday - boots

Tell Me Thursday - Halloween Pumpkins

That huge pumpkin plant that I posted yesterday?  It's growing in my backyard.

Last Halloween, we went to the Desert Botanical Garden, just like we have done for 8 or more years.  They always have a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and the kids all are able to choose a pumpkin.  It's an event we always look forward to in October.

The last couple years, the boys have put their pumpkins out in a planter box to watch them decompose after Halloween.  It's been a great learning experience as they rush out to see what bugs are in it, and how much it has dried out, disappeared, etc.  (I have a black thumb . . . good intentions . . . but rarely successful, so the planter box is usually empty.)

This year, I started again -- planting some sunflowers and a few tomato plants.  And the kids noticed that something that didn't look like a weed was growing in the planter box.  So I began watering it.

And realized after a few weeks that it was a pumpkin plant!  You can see that it has grown very large.  It is also full of blossoms, and the 2nd picture yesterday showed a very tiny pumpkin that was the result of one of the first blossoms.

We're doing our best to water it, and I hope that it survives the worst of the summer so that the kids can choose their pumpkins right in our own backyard this October!

Wordless Wednesday -- Halloween pumpkins

Lately, I haven't thought most of my "Wordless Wednesday" posts needed an explanation. This one has a great story, though, so come back tomorrow and I'll do a "Tell Me Thursday."

"Love Him Through It"

There's no doubt that I love all my children.  Desperately, passionately, loudly at times. They all have their quirks, and they all have their sweetness and sometimes one struggles more than usual with everyday life.

My smart, empathetic, kind eldest child said recently  --

"We just have to love him through it"

How true is that in so many situations we find ourselves in day to day?  "We just have to love him through it."

I loved that he said it, that he thought it, that he is truly trying to live it.  (Nobody's perfect . . . and that's okay . . . the effort is there and some moments it is a monumental effort.)

We should all remember that simple statement.  "We just have to love him through it."  And remember as well, there are plenty of times when those around you are loving you through it and they deserve the same in return.

Wordless Wednesday - surf trash talking

Wendy's Berry Salad is back!

I received an email last week letting me know that the Berry Almond Chicken Salad was back at Wendy's.  

Call me silly, but that was probably the best email I received all day.  I was bummed last year when they discontinued it because berries were out of season (I understood! but I was still bummed, because I wasn't sure if they would bring it back.)

You can see that Lydia also enjoys this salad.  (Ok, Lydia enjoys any salad pretty much -- but she likes this one because of the strawberries and the raspberry vinaigrette.)  I like the combination of strawberries, blueberries, almonds and grilled chicken -- along with a generous supply of field greens.  I like that they are made fresh in the stores, and I like that they're easy to pick up through drive-through when I'm on my way to one of our many activities.

This post is just to let you know that this yummy salad is available again -- in both 1/2 and full sizes -- at your local Wendy's Restaurant.  Enjoy!

*Disclosure: I received information about the return of the salad and decided to share it with you all!*

National Donut Day & Entenmann's Giveaway!

Today is National Donut Day and I have two $6 Entenmanns coupons to give away!

National Donut Day has been celebrated for the last 75 years and was started by the Salvation Army as a way to raise funds for their social service programs.

Entenmann's Bakery has made more than 4 billion donuts since it was founded in 1898.  I think that's pretty amazing!

One of my favorite Entenmann's donuts is the chocolate covered one.  They have been making those since 1972 and it is their #1 best seller.

Entenmann's is currently running a sweepstakes where you could win free donuts for a year!  Check it out through this link!

After you've entered the sweepstakes for a year's worth of donuts, enter my giveaway for a free box of yummy Entenmann's baked goods.  I have two $6 certificates and I'll send one to two of my readers.  Just CLICK HERE to pop over to my giveaway form and answer the simple, mandatory questions.

Name of Giveaway: DONUTS!
Mandatory Question: What's your favorite donut?

I'll choose a winner on June 3, 2012. (UPDATE: Winners have been chosen & notified.  Thanks for reading!)

It's not required for this giveaway, but I would really appreciate it if you would like my blog's page on Facebook.  You'll find me at www.facebook.com/mylittlepatchofsunshine  Thank you!!  And Good Luck!

*Disclosure: I received the adorable donut plush and coupons to give away from Entenmann's.  No additional compensation was provided.*