Ella's First LEGO Build!

The last time I took the kids to the Free LEGO Mini Build I didn't sign Ella up. I thought for some reason you needed to be 7, but you can actually participate once you are 6 years old. So for this months LEGO build I signed Ella up. She was nervous because she doesn't really know how to put them together, but I assured her that I would help her along. 

This months build was a cute little hedgehog! Ella had so much fun and she really felt included since it's been something only the bigger boys have gotten to do. She's part of the LEGO club now! 

Owen wanted to pretend to eat his hedgehog! Jackson was still working on his hedgehog and I was trying to keep track of kids in the mist of chaos! The kids were each hoping to buy one of the Disney Mystery Mini Figures, but they were sold out. So the 3 older ones decided to pool their money and they each got one mini figure....you have to buy them in a 3 pack. The fun part is you get to choose all the part to your figure. Owen made a constable and his accessory he chose was this fun tech piece that he could add to one of his many ships with blasters and such. Jackson made a cool guy with awesome looking blond surfer hair and his accessory was an ax. Ella made a cute girl with Wyld Styles hair and her accessory was a cat! 

We've really had lots of fun going each month...thankfully Kim reminds me on the 15th of every month to sign up for the next months mini build or I'd probably miss it every time! :)  

LEGO Club Finale!

For three weeks in December and 3 weeks in January the boys got to attend LEGO club after school on Thursdays. Each week they were challenged to do something different. Sometimes working as a team and sometimes working individually. They did a free build, they worked together to build infrastructure, they learned about buoyancy by building a boat and seeing if it could float, they worked as a team building animals from a - z and one other thing that escapes me at the moment. 

The last day of LEGO club was a challenge to build the tallest tower. Whoever build the tallest tower that could stand on it's own without anyone holding it would win a small LEGO set. 

At first the kids started out on the tables but they get pretty wobbly with people bumping into them and then a few of the kids towers got too tall and had to be moved to the floor. Owen really loved this challenge and even though his tower collapsed a couple times he didn't get frustrated he just built it back up again. 

Jackson didn't have as much luck with making a very high tower, but he still enjoyed himself.

The kid that ended up winning somehow made a tower that was actually taller than me! I was sure it was going to come crashing down at any moment, but it didn't. The funny thing is that the two kids that were neck and neck at the end were actually twin brothers! 

LEGO club was so much fun and the kids and I are looking forward to Mr. Heintz having it again next year! 

LEGO Mini Build & LEGO Club!

Back on November 15th Kim texted me and let me know about signing up for the free LEGO mini build at the LEGO store in December. We've tried to sign up before, but the classes were all full. This time around we were able to get signed up at the same time as Andrew was signed up. We showed up at the mall a little early so first we stopped at Kay Jewelers to get my rings cleaned and then it was off to the LEGO store.  

I had never been to a mini build so I really didn't know what to expect. I thought that it might be where we had to wait for all the other kids that were signed up at that time to show up and then they would show everyone what to do as once, but nope! We walked in gave the lady our name and the boys went to a table and started building. It was super laid back! 

I only signed up Owen and Jack since you have to be 7 years old to participate. The guy that was at the table told me I could definitely sign up Ella next time even though she's not even 6 yet. He said that they have the age range just so parents don't drop their 2 year olds off and expect them to put it together on their own. Sheesh...who would do that! 

My boys love LEGO's and I will say since going to the mini build they have gotten even more interested in them. Now Andrew.....he's an absolute pro! This kid needs to work for LEGO as a Master Builder someday. He amazes me! He could probably put LEGO's together faster than I could! 

All the kids got one kit and built the same thing. It's hard to tell what Andrew built, but it was an underwater submersible....think the remote controlled camera ship they sent down to take pictures of the Titanic. It's super cute.  

During pretty much the whole time we were in the LEGO store Zeke was being a total pill. He was super tired since we had a busy day and he was just not having it. When we went to the LEGO store on opening day he cried as well...in fact he was the first kid to cry in that store ever! Then of course Ella needed to go to the bathroom...thankfully Kim was there was she watched Owen and Jack while I took Ella and Zeke. Jack had "grown" so much money from his teeth that he decided to spend $10 on 3 mini figures. It so fun because you get to pick out everything for your custom mini figures...legs, body, head, hair or hat and then one accessory.

Here are the mini figures Jack built. The football player has a #12 jersey...love it. Kai and Jai from Ninjago each had an accessory...one had a fish and the other had a scorpion. Jack just didn't gather those up for the picture. 

The very next day at school was the boys first LEGO Club. Jack's teacher from last year Mr. Heintz is heading this up. It worked out perfectly since I volunteer all day at the school on Thursdays so I just stay after and volunteer for LEGO club as well. The K-2 graders are really supposed to have LEGO club on Tuesdays, but Jackson is involved in ELO...Extended Learning Opportunity on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays so he wasn't going to be able to go to LEGO Club. Thankfully Mr. Heintz is just awesome and he lets Jack and a few other 1st and 2nd graders that are also in ELO come to the 3rd - 5th grader LEGO club on Thursdays. 

The first day of LEGO club was a bit crazy....over 60 kids in the school library is a bit much. It got super hot in there as well. Mr Heintz laid out the rules...my favorite being for each LEGO he found on the floor after LEGO club was over would count for 1 minute that the kids would have to sit on the floor doing nothing at the next LEGO club! He didn't find one LEGO...genius! 

After laying out the rules the kids got to free build for about a half and hour. The next week they got to build marble mazes. It's so fun to see what the kids come up with and also to see them working together. Plus they aren't sitting in front of a TV or computer screen! I know for a fact that my boys are definitely more into LEGO's now than they were before!