The Nut Job review: above average animal nuttiness kids will enjoy

The Nut Job is an animated movie about a squirrel that needs to steal some nuts so that he and his friends can eat for the winter.  There are some plot curve balls, but at its core, that’s what the movie is about.  It’s better than the preview, features the always likable Will Arnet and Liam Neeson among others, and is worth seeing for a couple of reasons.

The Nut Job

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The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Trucks Versus Wild review

We cut cable in 2012.  Because of that there are dozens, if not hundreds of shows I had no idea that exist.  Witness Chuck & Friends, we have the toy and it’s awesome.  But wait they have a TV show too?  We were sent The Adventures of Chuck & Friends:  Trucks Versus Wild on DVD for a test drive and our kids loved it and I found it quite cute too.

chuck-and-friends DVD cover

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Battroborg is great motion controlled robot boxing fun for ages 7 and up

Battroborg is a game that simply looks fun.  It has motion controlled robots and boxing-just add children aged 7 and up for hours of yelling, robot boxing fun.  Battroborg was named one on the Most Wanted Holiday List 2013 for Time To Play Mag, Best Action Toy of the Year in France and Belgium in addition to numerous other accolades.  But, does the toy deserve all of the praise?

Battroborgs 3-in-1 Battle Arena

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Stocking stuffer ideas: Beginning Pearls by Stephan Pastis

Pearls Before Swine is one of only two comics in the daily paper that can make me laugh out loud.  It reminds me of the absurdity of The Far Side, has artwork similar to Dilbert and friend ships that are a more contemporary version of Peanuts. You’re probably heard of Pearls Before Swine, but if not, Beginning Pearls is an excellent jumping off point for this comic strip.

Pearls Before Swine-Beginning Pearls

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Jake and the Never Land Pirates Shipwreck Beach Treasure Hunt Game review

As the dad to a 4 year old we know Jake and the Never Land Pirates.  And by know I mean love, he loves the characters and we don’t even have cable.  He gets all of his Never Land knowledge from friends and his one trip to Walt Disney World.  Jake and the Never Land Pirates Shipwreck Beach Treasure Hunt game is a game that combines matching, a little bit of sleuthing and physical activity.

Jake Never Land

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He’s All Boy alphabet cards, just not the way I want it to be done

Alpha Cards, He’s All Boy, are ABC flash cards for boys, but could also be enjoyed by girls.  They’re a deck of alphabet cards with non-traditional pictures that go with each letter.   There are so many things that I love about the product, but ultimately it’s not something that we could embrace.  If your child is not learning the alphabet and is attracted to mild gross humor then this is for you.  Think the Garbage Pail Kids teach the alphabet and you’re going in the right direction.

He Is All Boy flashcards

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A chat with Mike von Grey, father of indie/alt/folk rock group von Grey

As a dad to two young boys I imagine how difficult it must be to be a dad to teenage girls.  But what if you were the father to four teenagers, all of whom were in a band?  And then that band started getting phone calls from Sarah McLaughlin to open up for her on concert, play SXSW, Conan, Letterman, Rock Center on NBC and have their debut EP land in the top 10 on iTunes?  Which is more difficult, how to handle four teenage girls or how to manage an up and coming folk/rock group with bookings all across the country and interviews with major publications?

Come On von Grey

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A parent’s toy gift guide for Cyber Monday and beyond

With the Christmas holidays just around the corner I wanted to share some of the really cool toys that we’ve either purchased or received.  On Cyber Monday and pretty much all of December you’ll be able to find some nice discounts on most of these.  The toys or entertainment on this gift guide are great for kids from 2 to 10.  While not an ultimate parent’s toy gift guide for children, it’s a good starting point if you want a basic primer on gifts that kids in that age range would like.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

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