Father Of The Blog

Dawn of the Dinosaurs Poster

Ice Age Three: Dawn of the Dinosaurs picks up where Meltdown leaves off.  Main character Manny, the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano) and love interest Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expecting their first child. While melodramatic Manny is mammoth-baby proofing  nature, his buddies Diego (Denis Leary) the saber tooth goes  searching for an exciting change of scenery and Sid (John Leguizamo) stumbles upon a secret underground chamber finding then adopting three baby dinosaur eggs.

Momma dinosaur comes looking for babies, finds them with Sid and takes them all back to the reptilian dominated underground cavern. Manny, Ellie, Crash and Eddie (the two opossums), set off to rescue Sid. Diego also catches up to the rest of the heard in search of Sid. On the inside, they are befriended by a deranged resident weasel named Buck who agrees to guide them through the dangerously terrifying cave and track the mommy dinosaur leading to Sid. That’s the setup.

The lackluster plot is predictable, the only surprise in this movie is the sub plot of Scrat the prehistoric squirrel finding more than a nut in excessively sexy love interest Scrattle (pre historic flying squirrel), but the fighting and flirting squirrels are over used and become tiresome.

There were a few age appropriate gags. The kiddos (Hailey, Olivia and friend Maya), did like the movie. One note; sensory sensitive four year old Hailey became nauseated at the end of the film and hurled on the ride home, I think the frequent roller coaster ride action sequences may have had an adverse effect on her.

Rewriting history is a convenience for this film and with the absence of any intriguing plot this movie should have been frozen in production.  Even the name of this movie is agitating, it is not the “Dawn of the Dinosaurs” people, unless the mother dinosaur’s name is Dawn, which according to Wikipedia it is not. Although, naming the momma dino “Dawn” may have been too much creative energy spent for this group of uninteresting writers. Hey, how about “Yawn of the Dinosaurs?” and while I’m at it, for the second installment, “The Letdown.”

Everyone likes a party and it is time to P.A.R.T.Y with Life Starring the Kids & Me, The Poshprenur, Blessings Abound Mommy, Cool Baby Kid, The Divine Miss Mommy and Father of the Blog. What are we partying for? BABIES! That’s right, Victoria, Clarissa, Jacqueline, and Aaron’s (from Father of the Blog) wife are all preggo. Wait…so why are Stacie and Cecelia in it? Cause they love babies too.
So what can you expect from this Baby Shower Extravoganza? Well some great reviews from companies like CSN (check out their selection of cribs and toddler beds!) and you can expect to see great review and giveaways from companies like Cloud b, Ergobaby, Hotslings, Bravado, and MORE! That’s right, we are compiling everything and anything a new baby or new mom needs!
When: Oct 2009 (exact dates TBA)
Where: Life Starring the Kids & Me, The Poshprenur, Blessings Abound Mommy, Cool Baby Kid, The Divine Miss Mommy and Father of the Blog (that’s right, drool at all those chances to win!!!)
Stay tuned for more info and updates on what you could win!

Kim! Do not read any further!
Clothes Pin Picture Frames. This craft is easy for all ages especially dads.

List of necessities: These items should be available at any craft store, or Wal-Mart, or Home Depot, or Lowe’s, any of these places will have all this stuff.

a. Several Clothes Pins (the spring kind), these will hold the pictures. Ok one quick side tip; these make great chip bag clips.
b. 1’-2’ x 4”-6” Balsa Wood, (one per child) or bass wood or you could recycle paint stirs, the 5 gallon variety work good.
c. Stick On Magnets, I prefer a big roll.
d. Glue, wood glue will work, I use hot glue gun for speed.
e. Kids washable paint, or glitter glue, or foamy sticker shapes
f. Pictures of kiddos.

Figure (a.)

Figure (b.)

Figure (c.)

Figure (d.)

Figure (e.)

First, have kiddo(s) paint, stamp, marker, sticker, glitter glue, bug shape, google eye’s, whatever’s in the craft bin on the (b.) balsa wood and several (.a) clothes pins. For our project, we have foamy dress up people, (found at craft store), that the kiddos will make portraitures from and those will be adhered to the clothes pins.

Elizabeth Painting for Mommy

Second, (if applicable) take kiddos outside to play or do Mario Kart on the Wii while the paint dries.

Third, stick the (c.) magnets on the bottom of the (b.) balsa wood (hit the corners with magnets).

Forth, (d.) glue the decorated (a.) clothes pins (at least 6” apart) to (b.) balsa wood.

Fifth, more Wii or playing whatever while glue dries.

Six, open clothes pins and insert (e.) pictures.

Seven, give to baby’s momma on the special day that honors all the mommies.

Clothes Pin Picture Frame - Test Run

Congratulations Melissa winner of the Tag Reading System Giveaway. Wanting to know a little bit about Melissa I requested she write something about her and her family and this is what she wrote:
I’m a SAHM [stay at home mom] to 2 little girls (3 & 4) that are both the light of my life and the reason for all my gray hairs. They are kind, generous, thoughtful and quiet (in public) and a test of my patience at home. Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. They are amazing at home too as long as they aren’t fighting. The girls love to help me cook, fold laundry (socks and washcloths are their specialty), wash windows, set the table, and anything else I ask them to do. I only hope it lasts into their teen years! ) Before becoming a SAHM, I was a high school teacher. I must admit that taking care of other people’s kids is much less stressful than taking care of my own. I am neurotic about wanting the best for them . . . to a fault! That is pretty much my life right now in a nutshell – trying to become a better mom than I am each and every day so that they will grow up to be the best that they can be (no matter what they choose to do).
That was awesome, thanks so much Melissa and your kiddos are going to love the Tag Reading System.

Win a Tag Reading System

Leapfrog is raising awareness about NEA’s National Reading Month with their brand new 1 Million Reading Hours program.
LeapFrog’s 1 Million Reading Hours program aims to bring attention to literacy and to encourage families to make time to read together.
LeapFrog encourages parents to pledge to set aside at least 10 minutes a day to read to your child, contribute to the national goal of 1 million reading hours committed.
As you strive toward this worthy goal, you will also reinforce the importance of shared reading time in your own family.
All participants will receive special rewards and offers!
LeapFrog is sponsoring a generous giveaway for Father Of The Blog readers.
One winner will receive one Tag reader + 5 books for personal use, as well as an expanded-memory LeapFrog School Tag reader + 10 books to donate to their local library.

To enter the giveaway, visit the 1 Million Reading Hours Campaign website and make a pledge in the LeapFrog 1 Million Reading Hours Campaign. Leave a comment here letting us know how much time you pledged to read to your child each day!
This giveaway is open to US residents.

This contest will close at 11:59 pm CST, March 31, 2009.

To make additional drawing entries:
*Please leave a separate comment on Father Of The Blog for each:
-Blog about this giveaway, linking to this post and http://www.leapfrog.com/readingmonth/
-Twitter about this giveaway (including a link to this page and @aaroncrall) and comment here with your Twitter name.