BenSpark Family Adventures

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01064 The fine folks from Playmobil sent me several set of their Dino Rise series for free in a large mystery box so that I could unbox them for you and then provided reviews of each set. This review is of the set Saichania: Invasion of The Robot (70626). I like this set because the dinosaur is cool. I can’t pronounce the name correctly for the life of me because I always thought this was an Ankylosaurs. But I guess they are a bit different than the Saichania. An Ankylosaurs has plates on their back and a heavy wrecking ball tail. This one has spikes all over its back. This Dino Rise series of toys is a lot of fun. Dinosaurs fighting giant robots. Kids friends with Dinosaurs. what could go wrong. Well, since Playmobil is all about imaginative play then anything could happen. Check out my video review below.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01063 Each year Hot Wheels make a set of holiday themed cars. I seem to find them at Stop & Shop and nowhere else. One of the cars that they make each year is a New Year’s car that is also a bottle opener. I think I have gotten this particular set for the past 3 years or so.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01062 Every year our Elf on the Shelf returns on the night of Thanksgiving so that the Christmas season can begin. This year Eva is in on the fun. She’s been playing along for a while and finally revealed to us that she knows that Mom and Dad provide Santa’s magic around the house. So, she gets to help out and move the Elf around the house until Christmas Eve. It still delights Andy and so we are keeping the magic alive for him.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01061 I took Andy to the movies today. I recently took Eva to see a movie and he did not get to go. He had felt left out even though he wouldn’t have enjoyed the movie in the first place. Well, we have had a Thanksgiving tradition in years past to go to a Disney movie the night before Thanksgiving. We were not able to do that this year so instead I took Andy to see Encanto today. Encanto is a musical about a family that has some special magical gifts. Andy really enjoyed the movie, too.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01060 This year we hosted Thanksgiving at our house. My parents came from the Cape and we also hosted Allison’s friend Colleen and her mother. Allison and Colleen prepared a ton of food last night and got ready for everything today. Allison made sure that she made many recipes that were gluten free so that my Mom could eat them including a gluten free green bean casserole. Colleen’s mom brought over a pumpkin bread that we can eat tomorrow morning. We had apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake and chocolate chip cookie pie. So much food. After dinner and everyone headed home we got changed into our Christmas pajamas. This is a yearly tradition. This was the first year that the pajamas fit well for sleeping. As we lounged in the new pajamas we enjoyed watching the movie 8-Bit Christmas. This was a hilarious movie about one kids’ quest to get a Nintendo Entertainment System. It starred Neil Patrick Harris and Steve Zahn. I really enjoyed it and we laughed a lot durin...

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01059 Tonight was a great workout. The night before Thanksgiving Mr. Brochu at America’s Best Defense ran the Pre-Turkey Trauma workout. It was about an hour and 45 minutes and it was tough, but after it was over it was a great feeling. This month has been all about gratitude. I am so grateful to everyone at ABD. Pushing me, holding me accountable and working so hard together. I’m grateful for how all of this training has helped me get into the best shape of my life. Feeling the strongest inside and out. Never more confident either. This is a direct result of being a part of ABD.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #01058 Funko sent me the Donatello and Leonardo figures for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II for free to unbox and review. Opinions are my own. I personally purchased the Michelangelo and Raphael figures. I’ve always been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I wish that I had read the comic books from way back when but I did love the TV show and toys. Donatello is my favorite turtle and I try and pick up most Donatello figures whenever possible. These are pretty nice ones that I added to my collection.