The holidays are all about family and traditions. Old traditions and new traditions. You take the happy traditions you grew up with and instill them into your own family and make-up new ones as the years go by.

One of the new traditions we started a few years back takes place on Christmas Day. It all started with the little ones going upstairs to watch from the loft. Then the adult family members all simultaneously opened ready-to-go sponge dart guns. The excitement started immediately and it was “Game On”! Before too long the grandkids were caught up in the action and teams were formed. The action lasted hours. A tradition was started.

(HearthSong image)

This year every single family member, from grandparents to the kindergartner, will each be opening a Flying Space Monkey from HearthSong. I know these adorable monkeys will be flying all over within seconds of escaping the confines of thier wrapping paper. We can’t wait to see the different games and competitions the kids and grandkids create with the ultimate goal of their monkey winning.

The Flying Space Monkeys are sold individually or in sets of four. Each monkey has metallic colored silver moon boots, a matching space pack and space helmet. As you look through through the bubble of their space helmet, you’ll get a glimpse into their true characters. Blue has a big toothy grin. Brown has a cute cheeky smile. Pink has red lips and long eyelashes. And Red looks a little (or a lot) apprehensive about flying!

Ready, aim, fly!

It’s as easy as putting your fingers into the monkeys front mitt pockets and pulling back to release for blast off! I think aiming will be the big test. Like … what will the kids and grandkids be aiming at? Hopefully not Grandpa and Gramma!

Are you ready for a traditional game of competition on Christmas Day?

Giveaway!

One lucky Simple Sojourns reader will win a set of four Flying Space Monkeys.1. Required entry – Tell us which Flying Space Monkey is your favorite.

For extra entries:

2. Follow @SimplyCathi on Twitter.

3. Become a fan of Simple Sojourns – Our NEW Facebook page. (We’re undergoing big changes)

4. Subscribe by email to Simple Sojourns (right sidebar).

5. Earn one extra entry for Google + this giveaway.

6. You can earn one extra entry each time you tweet (once a day) about this giveaway:

GIVEAWAY! HearthSong Flying Space Monkey http://bit.ly/thg1oY #giveaway #win @hearthsongtoys @SimplyCathi

7. Earn one extra entry for following HearthSong on Facebook.

8. Earn one extra entry for following HearthSong on Twitter.

* This giveaway will close at midnight Wednesday January 3, 2012.

* The giveaway is open to US residents only.

* One set of entries per household.

* The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 24 hours to respond to the winner notification email.

We did not receive any compensation for this post. We did receive Flying Space Monkeys from HearthSong to facilitate our review.

 

Twenty-five years ago an American Girl doll joined our family. Her name is “Samantha Parkington”. She belonged to our daughter Britt and Britt loved Samantha. The two of them were the best of friends. Britt knew the history of Samantha. She knew that in 1904 Samantha was orphaned and went to live with her wealthy grandmother. She knew that in Samantha’s life the world was bursting with new inventions and exciting notions. The friendship between Britt and Samantha was something quite special. Britt took precious care of Samantha and at the same time learned important historical facts while reading Samantha’s storybooks.This is one of the wonderful things about American Girl dolls. Not only do they provide companionship for little girls, they also educate them with stories from different times and locations in American history.

This year “Kit Kittredge” joined our family. She’ll be the first 18″ American Girl doll for our 6-year old grand daughter. The bond Kennedy and Kit will form is going to be strong. 

With two older brothers, Kennedy will now have “Kit” to play dress-up with and to read storybooks to. And “Kit” will listen to Kennedy’s endless chatter. *wink*Through her personal storybooks, “Kit” will teach Kennedy about her experiences of life during the great depression. A time in our country that kids nowadays may know very little about. Kennedy will learn about the fashions and styles of clothes from Kit’s era.Kennedy will read all about Kit and her family and friends in the storybook that’s included with Kit.  At American Girl we’ll be able to purchase clothes and furniture along with anything that Kit needs OR Kennedy wants.I know Kennedy will love Kit and take good care of her. But … if anything should happen to Kit, she can be admitted to the American Girl Doll Hospital where everything from surgery to ear peircing is performed.There is a wide variety of different American Girl dolls with names and histories to choose from. You can also design your own doll to look just how you’d like. You pick the hair color and style, the skin shade, with or without freckles, and the eye color. How fun is that?Kennedy and “Kit” both have blue eyes with shoulder length blonde hair.We can almost hear Kennedy’s delight as she’ll probably proclaim, “We’re twins!”