LEGO Star Wars: Empire Strikes Out on DVD

Two favorite subjects in our house are LEGO and Star Wars, so the combination is a huge hit. My daughter is currently obsessed with reading the LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia and she enjoys playing Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Wii.

A couple of months ago my husband spotted Star Wars Lego: The Empire Strikes Out a 30 minute special airing on the Cartoon Network. It had started a few minutes prior and he started recording it. I have searched the guide for the episode on television a number of times and have not found another airing. My daughter loves this episode and has watched it numerous times but is restricted to our bedroom where he recorded the episode.

LEGO Star Wars: Empire Strikes Out follows LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace. Padawan Menace is set during the prequel trilogy. Yoda takes Jedi younglings on a field trip with the help of R2-D2 and C3-PO. Empire Strikes Out focuses on the original trilogy storyline, but with quite a bit of humorous and story-telling license- Luke is chased by fans as a celebrity for blowing up the Death Star and Darth Maul rivals Darth Vader for the Emperor's attention. My daughter loves the humor of Empire Strikes Out. The video run-time is 22 minutes for both Padawan Menace and The Empire Strikes Out. I do wish the episodes were a bit longer.

We already have LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace (with young Han-Solo mini-figure). I have looked for Empire Strikes Out on DVD a few times and it was not yet available. However, this week, I discovered that a release date of March 26, 2013 for Star Wars Lego: The Empire Strikes Out on DVD on has been announced. The episode is not available on BluRay. The list price for the DVD is $14.98, but Amazon is currently offering the DVD for $7.48. The DVD also comes with a LEGO mini-figure (it appears to be Darth Vader). A March 26 release date would make this a great option for an Easter basket.

Other LEGO movies/television available on DVD or BluRay include:

• LEGO Batman: The Movie Dc Superheroes Unite (May 21, 2013 release) - 71 minutes
• LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers - 82 minutes
• LEGO Hero Factory: Savage Planet - 45 minutes
• LEGO Hero Factory: Rise of the Rookies - 88 minutes
• LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu - Season 1
• LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season Two - March 5, 2013 release date

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Spelling Word Trick

Last week's spelling words

My daughter's reading group recently started receiving spelling words. Typically they receive their words on Wednesdays and have the test the following Tuesday. In my daughter's class most of the words are the same based on either a concept they are working on in class (her first set had to do with motion which they were studying in science) or based on a spelling combination (-ie, -ound, etc) plus a few custom words for each child based on their own writings. During the week they work with the words at school so that they gain familiarity with them.

On the day that they get the words, they copy them from their spelling sheet and bring the half-sheet home. The second week of spelling words, my daughter did not have her list in her backpack, so I used my phone to take a quick picture of the list. Then her teacher came in and helped us find the list. Having the list on my phone made it so easy to quiz my daughter on spelling anywhere. Last week the first thing I did with her spelling list was take a picture of it. I could also type the list into my phone, but a picture is much faster.

So here's my tip: Put the spelling list on your phone 

Valentine's Day Sale on Princess Apps

Disney is having a special Valentine's Day Sale on Disney Princess Apps for the iPad. The apps are up to 60% off.

The included apps are:

• Cinderella: Storybook Deluxe - $1.99 (regularly $3.99) - for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
• Princess Dress-Up: My Sticker Book - $1.99 (regularly $3.99) - for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
• The Princess and the Frog Read-Along - $1.99 (regularly $3.99) - iPad only
• Disney Princess - Royal Party - $1.99 (regularly $4.99) - iPad only
• Beauty and the Beast $1.99 - iPad only

My daughter loves the Disney Princesses, so any of these would make a great Valentine's Day gift for her to download to our iPad or her iPod Touch.


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LEGO City Club Meeting

My daughter and my husband both love LEGO including the LEGO City sets. We have a shelf above the TV in our built-in entertainment center that has several LEGO City sets on display. If we had a LEGO Store close, they would want to attend the LEGO City Club Meeting on Saturday, February 23, 2013. The meeting will be held one hour before the store opens.

At the LEGO City Club meeting, attendees will receive an Exclusive LEGO Club t-shirt. Kids will be able to build a super crook-catching car for Chase McCain. Each LEGO Store has a limit of 20 children per meeting, so pre-registration is required. The cost for a LEGO Club meeting is $25/child.

Kids can get ready for the LEGO City Club Meeting by reading the book LEGO CITY: Detective Chase McCain: Stop that Heist!. You can also pre-order the Wii U game Lego City: Undercover . In the Wii U game being released on March 18, 2013, your child can play as Chase McCain trying to catch Rex Fury.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through my blog. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

LEGO Friends Club Meeting

My daughter loves LEGO Friends (and all other LEGOs). If we had a LEGO Store close, she would definitely want to attend the LEGO Friends Club Meeting on Saturday, February 16, 2013. The meeting will be held one hour before the store opens.

At the LEGO Friends Club meeting, attendees will receive an Exclusive LEGO Friends Club t-shirt. Kids will be able to build a model that reflects their favorite hobby. Each LEGO Store has a limit of 20 children per meeting, so pre-registration is required. The cost for a LEGO Club meeting is $25/child.

I love that they are letting each girl (or boy) build something based on her hobby. When the 2013 sets came out, my daughter liked the Emma Karate Class set, but was extremely excited to see the Stephanie Soccer Practice set in December. Since she played soccer this fall, she was intrigued that her activity was represented.

Unfortunately our nearest LEGO Store is over an hour away. We would still consider this event since my daughter has a box to fill before March 31 from our Black Friday purchase. However, she is already signed up for an event near home at 10a so we cannot attend both.

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February Kids Club Events at Michaels

Michaels is having several Kids Club events on Saturdays in February. The events run from 10-11:30a with half hour sessions that each cost $2. You can drop your child off at the Kids Club event while you shop. Session attendance can be setup through a store associate.

A Valentine's Party Heart Love Bug Bag is the craft on Saturday, February 9 from 10-11:30a.

On February 16, the craft will be Pets & Animals.

The final February Kids Club Event is Love Others on Saturday, February 23.

We have attended many Michael craft events over the years. The 30 minute drop-off Kids Club sessions are a new format, that we have not yet attended.

February FREE Family Crafts at Michaels Stores

Michaels has a series of Family Valentines Day events in the next two weeks. The Family Craft Time events are FREE.

On Sunday, February 10 they have a Wood Heart Frame Craft from 1-3p.

On Monday, February 11 they will have a Painted Heart Frame project from 5-7p.

The final Valentine's Day project is an Origami Bookmark on Tuesday, February 12 from 5-7p.

We have attended many Michaels craft events over the years and have had mixed experiences. Some events have been lots of fun and inspired us to purchase the materials to make the project at home. Other projects have been too difficult with us having trouble completing the project. These projects look like they should be fairly easy.

In addition to the FREE Family Events, they also offer Kids Club events where you can drop the kids off while you shop.

FREE Pancakes for National Pancake Day!

Today, February 5, 2013 is National Pancake Day.

IHOP is giving away a FREE Short Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes to celebrate. In return, guests are asked to leave a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals or other designated charities.

I noticed that my daughter's school district has blueberry pancakes on the lunch menu for today. Sadly, my daughter doesn't like their blueberry pancakes. I would celebrate with pancakes for dinner tonight, but the rest of my family doesn't like breakfast for dinner.

So, will you be headed to IHOP for National Pancake Day?

LEGO Legends of Chima Challenge

According to my daughter many of the boys in her class have been talking about the new LEGO Chima sets. If your child is similarly enthralled, you may want to check out the LEGO Chima Challenge at LEGO Stores.

The LEGO Legends of Chima Challenge began on January 26. A new Chima Challenge will be introduced on February 11.

Does your child receive the LEGO Catalog? My daughter loves when it comes in the mail. You can request a catalog on-line.

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FREE February Model Build at LEGO

Each month LEGO Stores around the country hold a FREE Model Build on the first Tuesday of the month beginning at 5p and lasting while supplies last.

The February model build will be on Tuesday, February 5 at 5p. They will be building a cabin. The model build is for children ages 6 to 14.

I have seen these build advertised every time I visit a LEGO Store and would love to take my daughter. Unfortunately our nearest LEGO store is over an hour away especially at commuter time. That just is not practical for a school night.

Our next trip to Walt Disney World includes a first Tuesday, so maybe I should schedule dinner at Downtown Disney near the LEGO Store.

Who Does This?

Last week I opened a "new" LEGO set that Santa brought my daughter only to discover that the box had previously been opened and the set repackaged in Ziploc bags. Upon closer inspection I was able to see where the box had been previously opened. Fortunately my daughter was showered with LEGO sets between Christmas and a birthday the following week that she had another new set to build.

Seriously, who returns a LEGO set that their kid has already built complete with stickers applied? I understand that they are expensive, but do you really think someone else wants to pay retail for your used set? Is that fair to them?

My husband had purchased the set in question on clearance several months ago and put it away as a Christmas present. Fortunately the store still had the set and we were able to replace our used set.

I did inventory the set and discovered that there are two small pieces missing. One I am sure that we have in our LEGO stock and we might have the other as well.

Now that are two reasons I may not blame the returner.

1. They returned the set because it was missing pieces and told the store that. The store failed to mark the merchandise as defective and placed it back on the shell. FYI - if this happens to you, LEGO is very good about replacing missing pieces from a set.
2. They returned a gift not realizing it was not a new set.

If we had not been able to get a new set, I would have contacted LEGO for the missing pieces. Next time we will be sure to check LEGO sets as we purchase them.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.