A Perfect Playdate

Brrr! It has gotten so cold outside! Carrie Beth and I planned a fun playdate for the kids today, but with being so cold we decided to move our playdate party inside.

We have tons of toys at our house and lots of space for the kids to play around in, but thought it would be fun to introduce them to something new - the Wii! They are all getting so big, and mine have never really played a video game before that it would be the perfect time to introduce them to it. We quickly rearranged plans, and came up with a fun popcorn and dance party playdate - something we knew they were sure to love!

 

We chose to kick off the playdate with the new Just Dance: Disney Party 2. We let them open it and they were so excited!!

Not only were they thrilled to be playing something new but they were excited to see that it had 20 hit songs from some of their favorite shows - The Descendants, Liv & Maddie, and Teen Beach 2 just to name a few.

As we were setting up their characters, they were already planning what songs they were going to dance to first.

One of the great things about the Wii and video games like Just Dance: Disney Party 2 is that the kids are constantly moving. We love that they are getting exercise and having tons of fun at the same time.

Plus, I'm not going to lie...it provides quite a ton of laughs for moms and dads too! I mean check out these moves...

The kids loved being able to see some of their favorite Disney Channel characters brought to life, and to be able to learn some of their dances and sing along with them made for such a fun experience. We were shocked at how realistic some of the characters were too. The boys aren't able to read yet, but even they were able to recognize the characters they were dancing with right away. 

The popcorn portion of the playdate most definitely came in handy. All that dancing and singing worked up quite an appetite. After even just a few songs the kids were so hungry and thirsty!

Plus it provided a good way to occupy the little ones who weren't playing the game at the time because trust us, it was so fun everyone wanted to play all at once. Especially once they heard the music - everyone wanted to play their favorite songs. 

The boys loved the song "A Billion Hits" by Austin and Ally and played it several times, while the girls locked onto perfecting the moves from the Liv & Maddie hit "Better in Stereo".

The girls were so excited when they surpassed the boys (and their surprisingly great ability to follow the dance moves), and finally come up with the high score. 

This was the perfect way to spend our playdate, and we already can't wait to play Just Dance: Disney Party 2 again with the kids. 

We own the Nintendo Wii system, but know that the game is also available for the Wii U system as well as for Xbox 360 and Xbox One. After seeing how much fun everyone had we would highly recommend Just Dance: Disney Party 2. Not only was it an entertaining and fun way to spend our playdate, it was something active to get those little bodies (and their copious amounts of energy) moving. What more could a parent ask for? 

Now watch out kids, next time the mommies will be taking the stage. We might be mommies, but we have been known to have a few dance moves of our own. That high score won't be yours for long! 

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Friday Favorites: Outdoor Toys

Today we are linking up again with Andrea, Erika and Narci  for Friday Favorites, and today we wanted to share some of our favorite outdoor toys. Warmer weather has arrived and longer brighter days mean more outdoor playtime.

The amount of activities little ones can do outside is endless, but sometimes you hear those dreaded words we as moms can't stand to hear, "I'm bored!". Or even worse during the toddler years, before they can truly convey their feelings, the happy giggles turn into whirling tornadoes of destruction when their little minds and hands are no longer preoccupied to their satisfaction.

This list of favorites are ones that we've noticed our kids both young and old have a ton of fun playing with, and that fun usually lasts for hours.

1. Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Sprinkler - At the first hint of warm weather kids are often begging to go to the pool. Most pools don't open until Memorial Day, or sometimes just getting to the pool just seems like too large of a task with the 6,487 bags you have to bring. A sprinkler and a popsicle will usually do just the trick to keep everyone happy.

2. GBOP - Carrie Beth mentioned this large ball of fun her in-laws gave her children a few weeks ago. Trust us when we say ALL of our children (and maybe an adult or two) have loved playing with this. Even our littlest one hops right inside ready to be rolled around the yard. It has provided hours of entertainment and it is usually one of the first things the kids want to pull out to play with.

3. Splash Table -  Splash tables are a great way for little ones to get some sensory play in without too much fuss. This Little Tykes Spiraling' Seas water table is the perfect size and a few different elements to allow for multiple little hands to enjoy the fun. Another favorite of ours is the Anchors Away Pirate Ship.

4. The Stomp Rocket - Who knew something so simple would provide hours of entertainment? One stomps, one chases, another stomps...its a win all around. This glow version is even fun for late evening playtime.

5. Tornado Bubble Machine - Blowing bubbles never gets old in this house. The littles can chase and pop them forever. A few months ago, I purchased this machine because let's be honest, mama was getting out of breathe. Best money ever spent! This machine produces a TON of bubbles and after months of wear and tear it hasn't even batted and eyelash or tried to low battery me once. It is definitely one of our favorite outdoor toys.

6. Sidewalk Chalk - A classic that always gets young children excited. A driveway or sidewalk is like a large canvas that can turn into anything from a pirate sword fighting scene to a friendly game of old school hopscotch.

7. Inflatable pool/waterslide - We remember loving to play with these as a kid and it hasn't changed much. This one is one of our favorites and easily accommodates a 5-6 year old. It also has some accessories that provide for extra entertainment. You can also go a little crazy with it and get one like this. Not gonna lie...mama might give that one a whirl or two.

8.  Sandbox - Sand is usually a favorite amongst little ones. This Little Tikes Castle sandbox is not only adorable, but it is very functional. We love how the children can play and sit in it, but that it also comes with fun accessories to facilitate additional creative play. A huge plus is it also has built in storage compartments to place the accessories in when they aren't playing. The ramp portion also folds and serves as the top for quick cover and easy clean-up. How awesome is that? For your construction loving little one it comes in this Little Digger version.

Now we want to know...

Do you have some favorite outdoor toys? Anything special items, or any games you've noticed your little one absolutely loves? 

Happy Friday everyone!

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