Holding a Molting Lizard

KidsFest 2015: The Year of Light

Winter holidays are around the corner, so that means KidsFest has released this year's catalog with heaps of fun, and oftentimes free, activities for kids. Arts,  sports, music, drama, nature and shows are just an idea of what's in store this season. Get with the programme and start booking.

www.kidsfest.co.nz

Photographic Outtakes are Puzzling

Here is a glimpse of what we have been photographing in our real life. We have been commissioned to photograph the vintage collection of a New Zealand native and his family's treasures from over the past 6 decades. Extraordinary stuff and here is our favorite outtake from the session. Life is a puzzle sometimes. 

LUG Lego Brick Show 2014

Here are just a few of our favorite shots from this year's Lego Brick Show. If you are lucky enough to have an event of this magnitude come to your town, we highly encourage you to attend with your friends and family. We chatted with Lego aficionados while we took in all of the Lego intensity. Everywhere we turned there were exciting and creative builds that filled nearly two early Saturday morning hours. We left inspired to create and build like never before.

Scenes From Easter

This was a very special Easter in our house and celebrations included free-range eggs, heaps of Reese's, a midday nap and of course oodles of chocolate. As the youngest in the crew exclaimed, "Ooh that Easter Bunny was good to us this year!:. In years past, we have posted shots just from our point of view but this year, the budding photogs got in on the action by catching glimpses of their liking. Here is our collective gallery of this year's Easter celebration. Happy Easter.

Can you guess who took each photo: kids or adults?

Two Projects in Pics

Toilet Paper Rolls. They were the catalyst for our art projects below. Our first choice is a festive one that we did for St. Patrick's Day so bookmark this page for next year. 

The uses of tissue rolls are endless and are one of the most common trash items in the landfills. Why not get creative with giving back to Mother Earth while reducing, reusing and recycling? They are easily recyclable and most children's care centres, art establishments and the like will happily take a donation. Donate later. For now art...

Project # 1

Four Leaf Clovers

Project #2 

Randimal Rolls
Our artist here created three random animals out of scraps, bits and glue. No extra purchases necessary to create any animal of your choice. A Sharpie always helps.

How gorgeous are these? This will inspire kids with ideas of how creative they can be with their own animal.

Our Top Toy Classics

Monkeys In a Barrel is definitely a classic!

It was this photo that prompted us to share what our favorite classic toys are for children. Monkeys in a barrel has been around for years and still bring kids joy (see this child's face?). We come from large families and have seen many a toy come and go as children grow. What was cool one year is so out the next forcing parents to play keeping up with the toy joneses in order to satiate their children's desire to be entertained. Don't climb an uphill battle. Look at our collection of toys below that you can shop for to keep the children happy and learning every step of the way. Now don't get us wrong, we love iPhones, tablets and PC's as a way for children to learn. There are controversies over the affect that staring at screens for hours on end will have on our children but we must also realize that modern technology and all it's gadgets are quite essential to life for this generation. It is just that our childhoods were not filled with downloading apps and some of the simple, non-electronic games and toys should continue to be fostered.

1. Etch A Sketch: Great for eye hand coordination and artistic endeavors.
2. Brass toys: they last for forever and are literally worth their weight. 
3. Globe: No child's life  is complete without one of these or at least a map. Geography is underrated.
4. Wooden toys: These are fundamental to the growth process and builds manipulative skills. Also, you can never have too many blocks.
5. Barbie: The whole collection is great. I know they argue the proportion size and all but the Barbie world appeals to both boys and girls' imaginative nature.
6. Legos: Enough said.
7. Rubber duck: These come in all colors and sizes so choose a few and let them quack around during bath time.
8. Stackable or matrioshka style toys: Building and putting things together in order is not only fun but teaches shape relations.
9. Play tents: These are awesome for anytime. There is just something about little kids and play tents. They are easy to fold and put away which is a bonus for parents, too!
10. Tea set: Tea time is not only a time honored tradition but it is a life event so better get those manners ready now.
11. Stuffed toys: collect heaps of these and you will be surprised at how many uses children find for these.
12. Trucks: great for both indoor and outdoor play. The rolling wheels and mechanics of some of these will keep children stimulated all day.
13. Toy box: Buying a large and very good quality toy box that will hold all your children's stuff is priceless.