The Toy Review

Last year, the Little People Nativity was my major score. I’d been looking for one for a couple of years, and they were always sold out. A friend let me know they were in stock ot FP, and I snagged one immediately. Finally a nativity my kids could touch! We left it right on the floor for them, too, but this toy belongs to Mama. I made it clear that it was MINE. I;m giving you this link early, because as we get closer to Christmas this will get harder and harder to find. Take my advice, if you want it, click now.

Babies love it! And a happy baby makes for a happy mom, right? The toy uses 3 AA batteries to keep little ones amused for hours, with it’s almost-realistic musical sounds. The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube features the harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin playing some of Mozart’s most familiar pieces.

I know I promised some adult toys eventually, and the time has come. Wait a minute. That just sounds wrong. Let me start over. I told you when I started this blog that there would be toys here that adults as well as kids would enjoy, and this is one of those items. And it’s not even a toy per se, but rather tickets to an event that folks of all ages will like. I’m talking about National Rodeo Finals tickets. The NFR is December 4-13 this year, and you can get tickets in all price ranges.

So, how do I know you will like it? Did you like the stick pony I showed you? And have you ever met a kid who could stay off a rocking horse? When was the last time you saw a child walk by a merry-go-round without asking to get on? Or willingly turn off an old spaghetti western? When have you been able to cut off the radio while Garth was singing Rodeo? Yeah. See? You know you wanna go!

And listen. Sit low so the dust gets on ya. There’s no smell finer than horse flesh and arena dust. You know I am right about that, too.

Here is a toy that is for all ages, and this time I mean all. The ones in the picture are for babies as young as 12 months, and there are Hopping Balls that are rated up to 600 pounds. That’s a whole lotta bounce right there, folks!

Many of the hop balls come with air pumps, but if yours doesn’t, make sure you order one separately, and consider a stand as well, so you can use it for sitting or stationary exercises. I think I’d like to get two or three of these for the yard, because they just look like a good way to burn off energy. We could have bouncing contests, and bouncing races, and we could make up bouncing tricks. We’d be regular little Tiggers!

Bubbles have got to be the funnest thing in the world. From the time a person is 3 or 4 months old until they can no longer see, they will laugh and smile at bubbles. Nothing makes friends faster. Don’t believe me? Go buy a bottle, sit in the park, and blow. Watch how fast the people gather.

There is a cheaper option though. You can make your own bubbles at home for next to nothing. Just mix water with dish detergent. Some brands work better than others, but I’ve had good luck with Joy, Dawn and Palmolive. For extra staying power, add a little glycerin, which you can get from the pharmacy. You can use just about anything for a blow wand, as long as its closed. Squares and ovals make cool bubbles, too! I’ve watched my kids use their circled thumb and forefingers, napkin rings. even regular rings as blow wands.

Want bigger fun? Untwist and re-shape a metal clothes hanger into a circlish shape, and put your bubble solution in a dishpan.