Consider yourself warned the bugs have been unleashed!  Our family received a copy of ATARI’s new game Centipede  Infestation a few weeks ago much to my children’s delight!

Boy2001 is the most interested in the game and has a clear grasp of what he needs to do while I sit there cluelessly getting attacked relentlessly!  I’m still working on gaming on more than one dimension and quickening my reflexes but it’s still fun to participate!

We all freak out (girls included) when the Centipede starts charging and splitting up and coming down faster!  I tried to tell the kids about going to the movie theater to play Centipede the old fashioned way but there was no time, the wasps and beetles would not leave me alone!  I found myself screaming out loud as this game is very fast and unpredictable and somehow scary – I guess the thought of all those bugs!

Boy2001 is the perfect age as this game is rated E for Everyone 10+ and he is thoroughly enjoying the game play.  There are 40 stages and seven environments to explore and rid of those pesky bugs.  Here’s a link that will open in a new window: Centipede Infestation on Amazon.  If you have a Nintendo Wii or Nintendo 3DS  be sure to check out this game ASAP!

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The first thing you’ll notice when you open the box is the hand grip piece, it’s got 4 primary colored buttons and is quite unusual looking.  It fits in the Gameboy portal of you DS Lite, it also come with an attatchment for those of you that have an older DS.  It’s very comfortable to hold onto and very easy to

The very good thing is that it’s plug and play!  At first it’s a little overwhelming to know what to play, as there are a lot of options.

What to do first? 

The tutorials are very good, but if you’re like me, you like to get right in there and play!  Learn by doing I always say.  That’s where the ‘training’ section was really good for the kids and I.   The training will let you get through the song no matter how many mistakes you make!

Another alternative for those that want to get started right away will be to do the “quickplay” option.  The only problem boy2001 had was that he didn’t like that it said “song failed”.  A little disheartening when you’ve been pouring your heart out you know, so that’s why I would suggest ‘training’ for kids until they are a little more familiar with the game.  After he got a few of those messages he lost his heart for playing a little but he’s back into it now that I got him into ‘training’.

Playing against eachother!

Choose the multi-player mode.  Decide who is going to be the host and who is going to join.  Both people need grips and games in.  We haven’t gotton up to the more devilish aspects of the multi-player mode as we keep it on easy – medium but there are ways to sabotage your opponent. 

And the winner is…

At the end of the round, the winner is declared, it doesn’t show percentages to know by how much so you better bring your A game if you want to be THE Guitar Hero on Tour! 

A nice aspect is that you get access to the other persons Guitar Hero.  So if you’ve got nearby friends, be sure you’re buying different versions of Guitar Hero for the DS and you can share the songs.  The only thing is the person may have an advantage of knowing the songs better than you because they’re practicing on them!

Guitar Hero is very fun and great for all ages once someone knows what to do that is!  Enjoy your new game and let me know what you think! 

Mom Central co-ordinated this review and sent us two games to test, great thanks.

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You may remember we reviewed Zoobies a while back.  I was very happy to see the  latest offering, Lilly the Ladybug.  Zoobies are great for travel and play, an all in one blanket, pillow or fuzzy friend. 

Check out the Zoobies website some time soon.

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I received a kit via the FRN and am thrilled with it.  I put up the circles in a passageway between the kitchen and family room.  It’s great because I can keep tabs on the kids while I’m cleaning, cooking, doing laundry without them really feeling watched.  This is especially important with the girls since they’re often up to something naughty!

We got the chalk circles - a very interactive, fun product for the kids… they’ve been a lifesaver for me on a couple of occasions when I want to talk on the phone I point to the chalk and tissue.  Girl2004 works on her spelling and girl2006 produces wonderful works of scribble but both have a great time!

I placed the chalk circles uncentered onto the colored circles, I like things a bit off. I’ve also tested peeling them off the wall and was able to without incident!  I can’t guarantee that for everyone though and our paint has been on for a year and is glossy for reference.

Bright Star Kids is in Australia so shipping can take 2 -3 weeks.  What I like about their site is you can change the price to dollars no problem.  The chalkboard products are great for the summer time when the kids start getting cabin fever.  Check out Bright Star Kids’ photo gallery for more ideas.

Bright Star Kids has made it into 3 categories… Home & Garden, Children AND toys!

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DSi is compatible with most DS-format games!

$169 Walmart

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I am so impressed with Girl 2004.  She’s being really careful with it and she looves playing the mini games against Boy 2001 which has become an unexpected gift for all of us!
Petz Dogz Fashion is pretty good, this is VERY reading intensive and you have to go through these weird dialogues with “Mr. Bear”.   He enters the girls home and asks if her parents are home, it’s a bit creepy to me but I don’t want to make a big thing about it, just my opinion.  Girl2004 is ok with the mini games but it’s not a favorite – at least not yet.

 Cooking Mama is a delightful hostess!  Boy2001 has downloaded this several times but we haven’t figured out if we can play against eachother.  He can download it and play independently though.  Girl2004 really loves it, she’s very good at chopping and flipping things but there’s a little hold up with the games that you need to read for.  I’m going to create flashcards for the words she’ll need to know… low, med, high, blow, etc…

Care Bears Hide & Seek Secret Bear is a new Care Bear Family member.  She’s been a sweetheart so far.  Very pleasant but the kids are more into the DS still.  She’s patiently waiting with the others on Girl 2004′s bed. 

Care Bears Heart of Gold *Brown Bear* with DVD is a sweetie.  I’m not sure what episode is on the DVD (I fell asleep) but I know they like it.  This little guy is too cute, Girl2004′s been sure to hug him goodnight because he’s new.  It was so cute when she brought him to her room, she introduced each one to Heart of Gold, awww…

That wraps up Girl2004′s Christmas Gift Memories.  Make sure to check out Girl 2006′s and Boy 2001′s presents.

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Toobeez are a wonderful addition to your household this season.  It’s that time of year when we spend more time indoors and ponder how to keep the kids physically and mentally active.  With this set around there won’t be enough hours in the day to make all the things kids will want to make!

Toobeez click together, NO magnets to worry about losing or kids swallowing!  I thought it would be too hard for girl2006 but she even understands how to put in the tube and twist to assemble.  For boy2001 and girl2004 it’s a great lesson in construction!  a couple of things they made couldn’t stand up or weren’t big enough to hold all of them.

Another thing that required some forethought was that the tubes slip into the fabric inserts which I love, no clips to contend with! There are enough Toobeez in the set to make one big project at a time so I was interested in how well all three of my kids would work together.

I always have to watch boy2001 and girl2004 so that they’re not imposing on girl2006!  I’m happy to report that she’s holding her own and has gotten the set out on her own when brother and sister are at school to make things.

With families trying to do more with less, Toobeez is a great family gift.  Especially good as a gift for homes with more than one kid because all ages will enjoy building and imagining new creations.  Currently we’re using these inside but I can totally see us this summer making running hurdles on the lawn and mazes.

A very nice set from an American company!  Thanks to FRN for making this review possible.  There are a couple of sites that will be giving away a 15 piece set, I’ll make sure to let you know where YOU can win your own set of Toobeez!

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Zoobies are adorable plush pals the child in your life will snuggle up to immediately.  A multi-functional three in one favorite.  A plush animal, a pillow and when unfolded, a blanket.  Zoobies are a wonderful travel item, take it aboard a plane, train or automobile for all around comfort.

Baby Zoobies blankets are a great size for infants (23″ x 29.5″).  There are two zoo collections, safari and zoo and you’re sure to find one that will please you.  We totally fell for the limited edition Mashaka the Monkey, too cute! 

Enjoy years of joy with Zoobies.  I’ve finally understood why this has received so many prestigious awards!

Pajama Mom recommends:

• Hada the Hippo for the child who loves pink.

• Zulu the Zebra for the child who sees things in black and white.

• Taj the Tiger for the child who adores the king of beasts.

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Much to my delight, my kids recently received Counting Bunnies from Imagiplay.  Just like counting sheep but you don’t have to be sleepy! Counting Bunnies are a wonderful number-practicing edutoy, the kids LOVEd this, even boy2001 wanted to play without it because it’s so vibrant and pretty.

As a mom, I like that it’s a wood toy, and although it’s vibrant it’s not LOUD in two ways.  First off the colors, primary – great for both boys and girls.  Second, no batteries or complicated rules.

One side of the bunnies has the numbers and the other side is blank so it’s great for decorating when they’re not playing.  The nesting of the bunnies is so adorable, mom is first and all the kids line up in front of her to get a nibble of carrot - too cute!  All kids love bunnies and these are a great thematic element to any bunny story.  Try reading Pat the Bunny, The Runaway Bunny, Goodnight Moon or the hundreds of other bunny stories!

Check out www.Imagiplay.com  for other great toys for your little loved ones.  ImagiPLAY makes Toys with Integrity!

Founder and President Barbera Aimes: “Producing toys using only materials and processes that show respect for the planet and all the people and creatures upon it has remained ImagiPLAY’s promise and challenge.”

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Hasbro has just come out with a new line of games to get kids to learn more about being attentive, sharing and getting on with others while having fun!

The Pizza Palace Learning to Listen game is a group activity that is non-competitve and holds kids’ interest for a looooong time.  Please, don’t start playing this game if you want to catch a movie or something.  My kids loved playing this for HOURS on end.  

About the game: kids get “pizzas”, a cardboard pizza box and a bunch of toppings.  The customer (usually me or hubby) places an order.  The order can be placed verbally or by showing the cards provided for younger children. 

For fun, we would change our voices and dialects to trip the kids up a bit.  The kids fill the order, put it in the appropriate box and deliver, tips were requested with a hand-out gesture but unfortunately we could tip via credit card which appeases the kids (for now!)

It was wonderful to see the kids really concentrate and try to remember the toppings.  The only thing that could improve this game would be real life pictures on the toppings instead of drawings.  Other than that it is PERFECT and keeps the kids entertained for so long, I’m giving it the highest recommendation.

Let me know if you get this game for your kids.  Mom Central is giving away 200 Noodleboro games, sign up to enter ASAP!

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