5th Brick-Versary @ LEGOLAND Malaysia!

Happy 5th Birthday, LEGOLAND Malaysia!

It has been 5 years.  I remembered the first time we stepped foot in September 2012, with E in stroller and the many rides that the 2 of them couldn't take.  5 years later, we are back here again, with many rides done and dusted.  But pending their opening of a new exhibit!

This 5th Brick-Versary, there are many many activities going on.  Before the celebrations end on 30 September 2017, make a trip down!  If not, I am sure October will bring the Halloween events and activities.

First up, let's take a photo with the giant birthday cake and at the same time, contribute to the "making" of it.

You get a memorabilia once you completed a part of the "cake".  :)

You know how sometimes we have certain Lego Minifigures that we do not really fancy?  Well, have it traded here at selected timings!  There are many different kinds!

Apart from the existing rides, mascots appearances, one must try ride is the pretty new Ninjago Ride.  The first ever cutting edge 4D indoor ride in Asia, the children love it!  We adults thought it was very cool too.

That's not all!  Every visitor gets a goodie coupon and guess what?!  Scratch it and you could be the lucky guest to win an all-expense paid trip to LEGOLAND Japan for your family.  There are also others like discounts or free merchandise with a certain amount of purchase.  A good time and place to get your Lego collections!

Disclosure: We were invited to the event at LEGOLAND Malaysia.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own unless otherwise stated.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens at VivoCity

{Media Invite}

Excited, we are.

Especially when it involves Lego and Star Wars.  From now till 20 December 2015, catch a glimpse of the Ultimate Millennium Falcon crafted by six adult fans of Lego from Titan Creations, the 6.2 by 2.4 metres mural made of Lego bricks and of course, the ten life-sized Stormtroopers at VivoCity Atrium.  Entrance is free!

Let the photos do the "talking"!

Each of us manage to help complete a tiny weeny part of the largest wall mural made of Lego bricks. This wall mural sets a new record in the Singapore Book of Records!  Come, take a photo with it!

Ever ready to take a photo with us.  Happy, we were.

Lots of exhibits and photo opportunities.

A Lego x Star Wars fan should not and must not miss this!  Larger than the Lego-produced UCS Millennium Falcon, this "My Own Creation" measures 110cm by 85cm.  Also, spot and guess why Han Solo is seated on the right side of the cockpit, instead of the usual left.  We know.  Do you?

The Electronic Arts Star Wars Battlefront will be a hit with children and teenagers.  Adults too, I'm sure!  

Looking at these makes me feel like collecting all of them!  Haha!

Lots of Star Wars merchandise available for everyone to purchase.  You know where to go if you are buying a Christmas present for a Star Wars fan.

Apart from this 360 square metre exhibition, VivoCity also brings you the 107 ft Christmas tree at the Sky Park on Level 3.  From now till 25 Dec 15 at 7.30pm, 8.30pm (except 24 Dec 15) and 9.30pm, be enchanted by the pulsing light show choreographed to a medley of thematic songs.  

And this, will probably be why you are spending that much in VivoCity.  :)  May the Force be with you!

Photo Credit : VivoCity

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May the 4th Be With You….

After an almost 2 weeks hiatus due to me travelling… I'm back!  Vacationing without kids and the hubs is a sweet-bitter event but that's not the topic today.

It's Star Wars Day today!  

Fans all around the world will be celebrating this day and there are lots of events surrounding it.  We were at Legoland Malaysia Resort on Sunday (3 May 2015) where they had special activities lined up just for 3 and 4 May 2015.  All details are available on Legoland Malaysia Resort's website here.

Although it was drizzling, it did not deter the Star Wars enthusiasts from joining the parade.  All dressed up as Star Wars characters, you will be blown away by this Star Wars phenomenon.

Phototaking opportunities with the characters are aplenty.  That is, as long as the kids aren't scared.  But hey, these people are a friendly bunch.

Watch a Jedi duel and kids can join the Jedi Academy after that for a chance to learn to be a young Jedi, which means, handling a lightsaber!!

The boys engrossed watching the rehearsals of the Jedi duel

With his self-created lighsaber, May the Force Be With You.

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Why We Love Lego & A Giveaway!

I'm not too sure if you realise that my family likes Lego.  Maybe like is an understatement... it got to be LOVE!  :)

When I was young, I had a few Lego sets.  Lego sets then were expensive toys (they are no cheaper now).  I remember after building them according to the instructions, we (sister, cousins and I) will tear them apart and build what we like, most well-remembered will be open-roof houses with rooms and furniture, something like the interior views of showflats... those were the days...

We reacquainted with Lego in 2012 when they had a collaboration with Shell.  D, 2+ years old then, got into fixing the cars and since then, he got hooked!  And so did B!

Slowly, we began to understand why there are many Lego fans, both kids and adults, as we list down some of the reasons why it has to be one of the best toy ever... (but we do not only play with Lego bricks... we do play with other toys too!)

1. Durable

In a bid to find an assortment of loose bricks, I went to ask my Mummy where our old Lego sets were.  We found them with my cousins.  How lucky!  Collected them and gave them a good wash... Though no longer feeling as good, these bricks are still playable!

2. Educational

We like how D and E will look at the Lego boxes, front and back and ask questions about them.  Through Lego, they learn things like the different types of vehicles, occupations etc. (the different Lego City sets).  They imagine the Arctic to be cold, how a swamp is like and that fireman do not only operate fire trucks but there are things like aerial firefighting using fire helicopters. 

3. Development

Physical development in terms of gross motor skills, the need to hold the bricks and fix them together with the tiny hands and fingers.  Brain development in trying to decipher the instructions and fitting each brick correctly - D does not need to place the setup in the same direction / angle as the instruction as he goes through each step.

4. Creativity

It definitely encourages creativity!  The boys have so much fun making new things with Lego.  From a house to a vehicle, from an imaginary monster to a futuristic robot, they spend many hours making and breaking them.

As long as you are not "the Man Upstairs" from The Lego Movie, there is endless enjoyment and excitement with Lego bricks (Do not understand what I'm saying?  Please watch The Lego Movie!).

5. Great bonding toy

Since Lego appeals to both young and old, girl or boy, it is a toy that brings the family together.  From discussing which set to buy, to building it and then playing with it, the whole process is like a family activity.  Like what D says, it is "Ultra Agents Night" tonight and the whole family crowds round and role plays with the Ultra Agents series we have.  Laughter, some shouts and comments, maybe some cries (because the good lost or the bad lost) but it all ended with great fun and moments to remember.

This was a birthday present from B in 2013.  It may look simple but it isn't!  The flowers and trees, a fountain and a couple sitting on a bench - doesn't it look like parktor-ing (dating) times? :)  Kept in a display, my sitting-on-a-bench-whispering-sweet-nothing times are now frozen... *LOL*

To celebrate my birthday soooooooooon, and to welcome Spring because I love to see flowers blooming everywhere, B is generously sponsoring a Lego Springtime Scene set for a lucky winner!

 SPECIAL GIVEAWAY!

Thank you for joining the giveaway.

To qualify for the giveaway, please:

1. Like ilovedefamily Facebook page

2. Like and Share the corresponding Facebook post.  Please ensure the privacy is set to PUBLIC for verification purposes.

3. Leave a comment on that same Facebook post to let me know you have completed the above-mentioned steps.  Please tag 3 friends too!

Giveaway ends 27 March 2015, 8pm.

Please note:
- Winner will be chosen at random.

 - Item is not exchangeable for cash.

- The giveaway is open to Singapore residents only.

- Winner will be announced on blog, Facebook and notified by email.  Please respond within 48 hours, failing which, a new winner will be chosen.

 Good Luck! 

E's Own Lego Creation

At less than 3 years old, this fellow creates what he calls a two-storey jail for the crook.  Will you be pleased?  I am, of course!

What to do with Duplo Bricks

We started the boys with Lego Duplo when they were young (read: put things in the mouth), for them to explore and create what they like with those tiny hands and fingers.  These Duplo bricks were big, colorful and fit perfectly in their small hands.

As they grow older, they started to play with the regular Lego bricks.  So here I have with some excess Duplo bricks which I have used them for some fantastic "projects" which a friend once showed me.

Thanks to Lisa on her blog which I got the idea, I came up with my own set of Duplo bricks for English.

I printed alphabets on paper and pasted them on all 4 sides of the bricks, with the vowels (a, e, i, o, u) on blue bricks.  The alphabets were pasted using craft glue so that should one day they are no longer in use, the papers can be removed easily and not leave any marks.

With the alphabet bricks, we could form words, rhyming words, sight words and even short sentences.  I use it with my younger boy on recognition of alphabets - he is not one who will sit still and listen to teachings, thus this makes a great tool in incorporating learning while playing :)

Words that rhyme

What's Up the Last Few Weeks

What we have been doing the past 2 weeks.

Going Legoland!  We are annual pass holders to this theme park across the border.  One of the must do - watch the 4D show.  The newest Legend of Chima is our favourite and what is better than being able to take a photo with Laval.

Without fail, B will always try one of the games to get a Angry Bird.  The boys like Angry Bird, but  more of such soft toys and it's game.  E can even imitate the "eeeeeeee...... poof" sound you hear while playing the game.

Another favourite of D's, not much delight to us though, as it requires us to put in effort to move the vehicle.

Getting ready to "compete" against others.  Sometimes, if 1 gets too slow, the staff will help by pushing the vehicle from behind.  Hehehe

Pretending to be a fireman by spraying water on the building on fire.

I think almost all kids like this.  The aeroplane that goes up and down, round and round.  

Being in Malaysia, it is just as hot as in Singapore.  Though there are shelters (more now compared to the months when they just started), there were not alot of shades from trees as they were mostly young trees that aren't huge.  Sunscreen, cap and water are a must.  And, be prepared to see two-toned skin  when home.  :P

On other days, I have been baking quite a fair bit.  We got a new oven and I should not let it go to a waste, right?  :)

My nephew's birthday is in July.  His mummy - my sister - requested for a Super Heroes cupcake from me!  The only time I did cupcakes with some decoration with fondant is D's 3rd birthday.  The Sesame Street trio - Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird.

The best that I came up with.  For a second-timer, it was not too horrible.  My favourite Captain America that most kids want.

Spot the "error"!   Yeah... Batman logo should be black but I did not have any black fondant and so, it is brown.  Haha!

Happy Birthday Z!!!!

The cupcakes recipe -

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
(from Nigella Lawson)

I did them in cupcakes instead and it yields 18 cupcakes

Ingredients 

for the cake

• 200 grams plain flour
• 200 grams caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 40 grams best-quality cocoa powder
• 175 grams soft unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 150 ml sour cream

for the icing

• 75 grams unsalted butter
• 175 grams best quality dark chocolate (broken into small pieces)
• 300 grams icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 125 ml sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• sugar flowers (optional)

Method

1. Take everything out of the fridge so that all the ingredients can come to room temperature.
   
2. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C/350ºF and line and butter two 20cm / 8 inch sandwich tins with removable bases.
   
3. Now all you have to do is put all the cake ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarb, cocoa, butter, eggs, vanilla and sour cream - into a food processor and process until you have a smooth, thick batter. If you want to go the long way around, just mix the flour, sugar and leavening agents in a large bowl and beat in the soft butter until you have a combined and creamy mixture. Now whisk together the cocoa, sour cream, vanilla and eggs and beat this into your bowl of mixture.
   
4. Divide this batter, using a rubber spatula to help you scrape and spread, into the prepared tins and bake until a cake tester, or a thin skewer, comes out clean, which should be about 35 minutes, but it is wise to start checking at 25. Also, it might make sense to switch the two cakes around in the oven halfway through cooking time.
   
5. Remove the cakes, in their tins, to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before turning out of their tins. Don't worry about any cracks as they will easily be covered by the icing later.
   
6. To make this icing, melt the butter and chocolate in a good-sized bowl either in the microwave or suspended over a pan of simmering water. Go slowly either way: you don't want any burning or seizing.
   
7. While the chocolate and butter are cooling a little, sieve the icing sugar into another bowl. Or, easier still, put the icing sugar into the food processor and blitz. This is by far and away the least teedious way of removing lumps.
   
8. Add the golden syrup to the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the sour cream and vanilla and then when all this is combined whisk in the sieved icing sugar. Or just pour this mixture down the funnel of the food processor on to the icing sugar, with the motor running.
   
9. When you've done, you may need to add a little boiling water - say a teaspoon or so - or indeed some more icing sugar: it depends on whether you need the icing to be runnier or thicker; or indeed it may be right as it is. It should be liquid enough to coat easily, but thick enough not to drip off.
   
10. Choose your cake stand or plate and cut out four strips of baking parchment to form a square outline on it (this stops the icing running on to the plate). Then sit one of the cakes, uppermost (ie slightly domed) side down.
    
11. Spoon about a third of the icing on to the centre of the cake half and spread with a knife or spatula until you cover the top of it evenly. Sit the other cake on top, normal way up, pressing gently to sandwich the two together.
    
12. Spoon another third of the icing on to the top of the cake and spread it in a swirly, textured way (though you can go for a smooth finish if you prefer, and have the patience). Spread the sides of the cake with the remaining icing and leave a few minutes till set, then carefully pull away the paper strips.
    
13. I love to dot the top of this with sugar pansies - and you must admit, they do look enchanting - but there really is no need to make a shopping expedition out of it. Anything, or indeed nothing, will do.