The LEGO^® company is hitting it out of the ballpark this January.

Not only did they launch the new LEGO Friends line for girls, on January 1st (which I have since purchased and is a HUGE hit with my girls), but also, this past Wednesday night, The Cartoon Network™ launched the first ever fully animated cartoon series of LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu!

To celebrate the launch of the toy company’s action/comedy animated TV series, LEGOLAND^® California will be playing the first three episodes in rotation in the LEGO Showplace on Saturdays and Sundays in January (January 14-15, January 21-22, January 28-29).

Here are show times and details:

2:30pm Episode 1 – Rise of the Snakes
3:30pm Episode 2 - Home
4:30pm Episode 3 - Snakebit
 
Each episode is twenty-two minutes long. Schedule is subject to change without notice so please check the signage outside the theatre on the day of your visit. Also, please note that the MPAA Rating system rated the film PG for some Fantasy Violence, Crude Humor and some scary and disturbing images.

Enjoy the show!
Model Mom Mary

I am happy to see various movements across the country that are promoting health and fitness with our youth. Obesity amongst young people is at staggering percentages and one of the best ways to curb and reverse those numbers is to introduce them to various sports and get them moving. So on January 21, throw some sneakers on your kiddos and get them movin’ in the annual Kids Marathon Mile that take place at LEGOLAND^® California.

This Kids Marathon Mile is in conjunction with the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Full & Half Marathon that takes place on Sunday, January 22nd. LEGOLAND California is the venue sponsor for this kids race and though the race is intended for kids 12 and under, anyone can participate.

All registered race participants receive an event T-shirt, free Child ticket to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium, 50% off admission to LEGOLAND for two guests, a shiny finisher’s medal plus a free child UltraStar Cinemas movie pass. Parents can either be registered participants, or can sign up to be companions for a lower fee.

Entry rates go up in price in a few days so check active.com for details on how to register.

There is also an option to do a “run for your school” fundraiser if you have ten or more students, parents and/or teachers, so check out the CarlsbadMarathon.com website for details.

The race is just for fun and therefore not timed, so I won’t say, “I’ll race ya!” But, I am really looking forward to doing this race with my family and I hope to see you out there!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

Yesterday I took the kids for a play date at the beach (yes, it’s the beginning of January, and we had a picnic at the beach). On the way there, I had to explain to them that we would not be going in the water, not only because the water was cold, but also because there had been a recent sewage spill in the waters just South of us and I wasn’t sure if the water was still contaminated or not. Of course their five and three year old brains started firing questions at me and I was wishing that I had one of the experts from SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium in my back pocket there to help me answer the questions.

I answered to the best of my ability, but then got side-tracked trying to parallel park along the coast highway, so I’m sure I left them with unanswered questions. Which is why I’m excited that SEA LIFE is celebrating Underwater Parks Day on January 21. At this fourth annual special event, celebrated by all the aquariums in Southern California, kids and parents can learn about Marine Protected Areas, aka Underwater Parks, which replenish fish populations and restore the health of coastal waters. My kids can ask all the questions they want, while I sit back, checking out the coral.

At the event, kids will get to create a special “sand globe” craft in a bottle with seaweed, creatures and sand, as well as participate in games, giveaways and hands-on exhibits. Of course, they can also ride the slide forty times in a row, if they love it as much as my kids do.

Hope you can join us at SEA LIFE for this special event!

Price of admission for the special: Kids (3–12) $15; Adults $20. Parking $5. Admission is FREE for Pass Members and also included with LEGOLAND Hopper tickets.

Happy New Year, friends of LEGOLAND^® California! I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season!

One of the things I am most excited for this new year is the introduction of the new LEGO^® friend line geared for girls, that is now available for sale at LEGOLAND® California. Though my daughters are already big fans of building with LEGO bricks, I know that they are going to go crazy for these new pastel-colored, girl-centric minifigures.

For years, LEGO has been one of the most successful and trusted brands by parents around the world, however, a majority of their toy products have been predominantly aimed at little boys. Now, with pink and purple hued toy sets like Andrea’s Stage and Emma’s Splash Pool, little girls will have relatable play sets more fitting of their interests (generally speaking of course).

Though our credit cards took a beating over the holidays, l cannot wait to purchase a few of these sets for my girls. Check out the new website at http://friends.LEGO.com!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

If you’re headed to LEGOLAND^® California with a baby in a sling or car seat then this is the post for you. There are several things that little ones under two years old can do (and/or under 34”) that are all listed on the “What To Do When You’re Two Page” but for your quick reference I wanted to list my top six favorite activities that the entire family can do together with a little one in tow.

1) Fairy Tale Brook – My kids adore this ride, even now that they are older and can ride some of the faster rides. This fanciful boat ride will take you down memory lane with animate LEGO^® brick versions of the classic fairy tales like The Three Little Pigs, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood.

2) DUPLO^® Village – This area of the Park is all about the little ones. It’s made up of musical jumping pads and spray guns at DUPLO Water Works, a LEGO playground called DUPLO Playtown, and a little train called LEGOLAND Express that my kids’ still insist on riding at every visit.

3) Coast Cruise – Some of the best LEGO models in the entire Park are viewable on this slow-movin’ cruise through the LEGOLAND lagoon, including the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and Mt. Rushmore. You’ll also get some laughs via the clever narration of your cruise director.

4) Big Test Fire Show – I’m a little partial to this show since my job at LEGOLAND used to be supervising all the entertainment, but being as unbiased as I can be, I will tell you that the Big Test, playing at the Fun Town Stage, is great fun for the whole family. With fun comedy, upbeat music and “oooh-and-aaah” worthy stunts, even a little baby in a Bjorn will be giggling.

5) Miniland USA – Miniland is made up of miniature versions of all the big USA cities made entirely of LEGO bricks. The detail is incredible and not to be missed. Adults, this will be the highlight of your trip to LEGOLAND, for sure.

And from now until January 2, don’t miss the Holiday Snow Days up in Fun Town which includes rockin’ holiday entertainment and a real snow play area that is fun for the whole family!

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary

Just got word of the line-up for the annual Kids’ New Years Eve concert at LEGOLAND^® California and I am beyond excited. If you have never been to this epic event, take a minute to read my post about the unique time zone just for kids, then, come back here to see the awesomeness they have in store for this year.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

Okay, so here is the amazing line-up for this year’s KNYE celebration:

•    Lyndsey Cannon: In a time when young, age-appropriate role models for our little girls are hard to find, this rising star is a gem. She’s a singer, model and actress who claims her music to be a cross between Katy Perry and Disney.  She’s darling.

•    Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – With their Hip Hop for kids, or as they call it, “Kid Hop,” they are sure to rock the Park with such kid-friendly jams as Gotta Be Me and Family Tree. If you’re like me, and can sing every word to Parents Just Don’t Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, then you’ll love this band, maybe even more than your kids! Word.

•    Aaron Nigel Smith—This children’s entertainer is on a mission to “get kids movin’” and that is exactly what he’s gonna do on New Years Eve. With songs like Animal Song and Everybody’s Jumping your kids will get enough exercise for all of 2012. Aaron performs around the country with the PBS Kids Between the Lions Live tour and is always a big hit.

•    Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band—Not only do I love the name of this band, but they were also named “Best New Kids Artist 2011” by USA Today. Lucky is what your kids will be feeling when they are jamming out to this band.

•    Justin Roberts and the Not Ready For Naptime Players—Oh my, how I love Justin Roberts! I have a been a HUGE fan of JR (that’s what I like to call him) since a friend gave me his CD on the occasion of my little girl’s first birthday. I even had the opportunity to interview him last year about his Emmy nomination. They are by far my favorite children’s band and I can’t think of a better way to ring in 2012 than with them at LEGOLAND California.

CLICK HERE to read my interview with Justin Roberts.

Not only are all these bands going to play on the concert stage in Miniland, but they will also all play mini-sets up in Fun Town earlier in the day, so you’ll have more than one opportunity to check them out.  LEGOLAND California is the place to be on December 31st this year.

Ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of professional skateboarder, Tony Hawk? Well now, thanks to LEGOLAND California, you can. Not on the skateboard however, but rather by way of the World’s Largest LEGO Christmas Tree. On November 28th, Ambassador pass member Tony Hawk and his two sons, Spencer and Keegan, had the honor of lighting the LEGO tree and from now until Christmas Eve, park guests will be chosen via a Facebook contest to flip the switch on the world’s largest LEGO tree. Check out the Facebook page for details on the contest and your child just might be chosen to join the LEGOLAND Snow Patrol of Elves to flip that switch at 4:30pm one night between now and Christmas Eve.  Selected guests will also receive a souvenir hat and T-shirt to commemorate the special occasion.

Visit our Facebook page to enter!

When I was a young girl, the phrase “Give a hoot, don’t pollute,” was drilled into my brain via the lovable “Woodsy Owl.” The message was simple. Keep our forests, our earth, and our planet clean and free of pollution. It is messaging that has stuck with me for the past 30+ years, a little voice in the back of my head that reminds me to not litter and to pick up other people’s trash if I see it lying around.

Now, our kiddos will get to learn a similar lesson thanks to the darling new puppet show at SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium, only instead of the lessons coming from an owl in the forest, it’s a sea star in a tide pool. In this entertaining and educational show, Sunny the Sea Star, Hermi the Hermit Crab, and Jay Octo demonstrate to the kiddos how easy and important it is to pick up trash to keep our environment clean. I am also going to put these lessons into practice tonight, in my own living room, with picking up LEGO bricks. Hope it works!

Enjoy the show!

With our turkey-stuffed bellies, my family rolled over to LEGOLAND® California this past weekend to work off the apple pie and extra helpings of stuffing. We were overjoyed to find the Holiday Season in full swing. Not only is the Park pumping with holiday music through it’s ambient speakers in the Beginning and in Fun Town, but the entire Fun Town area has been taken over by carolers, candy canes and SNOW! 

Here are only a few of the reasons to experience the fun at the LEGOLAND California Holiday Snow Days . . .

1) HOLIDAY PHOTO OPS:
Not only is there a perfect photo op LEGO® brick Santa, complete with LEGO reindeer in the Beginning, but this year there is also a roaming LEGO Santa costume character who actually got both my kids to smile in a photo. In the center of Fun Town stands the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree that takes my breath away year after year.

2) HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT:
The Park is full of holiday entertainment this year, but the two standouts for me are The Jingle Jammers, a quartet of contemporary carolers who reminded me of the GLEE cast; and The Brickettes, a trio of talented tween performers who will wow you (be sure to catch them during your visit so you can say you “saw them when” before they become pop stars or X Factor contestants).

3) HOLIDAY TREATS:
There are a ton of seasonal treats being sold at The Market and in the Fun Town restaurants like warm apple cider and marshmallow skewers, but my favorite is the warm bread pudding in Fun Town Market. In three words: Don’t. Miss. It.

4) HOLIDAY SNOW MAGIC:
Thanks to magic of modern technology, there is an entire area in Fun Town covered in SNOW! What a wonderful treat, especially for SoCal natives who don’t otherwise get to experience snow. Thanks to LEGOLAND, my kids are becoming experts at throwing snowballs, whereas I didn’t throw my first ball of snow until I was eighteen years old.

5) HOLIDAY FIREWORKS:
For the last week of December, Holiday Snow Days will be lighting up the night with nightly fireworks set to holiday music. December 26-31 at Park close.

Also, as a gift to Park goers, you can turn in your one-day Park ticket in for a second day return ticket for FREE. Score!

Happy Holidays!

Being a So Cal native, I have not had the joy of frolicking in the snow during the holidays very often, however, thanks to the elves at LEGOLAND® California, my kids will get to experience a winter wonderland complete with snow.

Beginning on November 19th, families will be able to enjoy holiday magic at the Park, via holiday décor, a darling musical called “Let it Snow,” and an entire area filled with REAL SNOW, where kids can make snowmen, throw snow balls and ride in sleds (if they’re under 32” - something special for the littlest tots!).

Most of the holiday magic will take place in Fun Town, giving even more meaning to the name Fun Town. In addition to the snow, Holiday Snow Days will feature roaming entertainment, a LEGO® holiday tree lighting, and a nightly display of fireworks at the end of December.

I am also getting excited for Kids New Years Eve, so stay tuned next week when I will provide a run down on all the awesome acts that will be performing that night.

Let It Snow at Play Town Theater: November 19 - January 2
Holiday Snow Days: November 19 – January 2
Official Tree Lighting: November 28
Nightly Tree Lighting: December 1 – 24
Holiday Fireworks: December 26 - 30
Kids' New Year’s Eve: December 31

For a full overview of Holiday Snow Days and information on a complimentary second-day return ticket to the Park, visit www.LEGOLAND.com/holidaysnowdays

Brick regards,
Model Mom Mary