New in Toys! Review of SMITHSONIAN, WUBBLE, and ALL PRO PASSER brands.

Hello blog readers. I hope you are well and enjoying the Summer Season.

Our Summer has been busy with a beach trip with the Airstream, a camping trip, and visiting local attractions.

On the days we are home and inside due to a much-needed rest day, I like to have a stash of new things the kids can enjoy.

We reviewed a bunch of new toys this Summer, starting with a science kit from Smithsonian. I like anything Smithsonian. My parents used to load up the family station wagon with my sister, brother, and I and head to the Smithsonian for breakfast, yep breakfast. It was a member perk. We rarely stayed to wander about the Institute because my mom was on a shopping mission to the greater Washington D.C. area best in clothing shopping, so now I can kind of re-live my childhood.

The Smithsonian Mars Dig Science Kit we opened up on one of those days the humidity was high, and the temperature was way over my comfort zone.

I give the Smithsonian Mars Dig Science Kit an A+ for the contents of the kit, the science lesson, ease of set up, clean up, and interest. I'm liking it for gift giving as well.

Here's what comes in the kit as well as instructions to assemble the model of the Mars Rover, digging for the rocks, and a poster on the reverse side of instructions.

That fancy red bowl is not included in the kit, it's just a plain old kitchen bowl I used to hold water to rinse the rocks off.

the first dig

after a few digs we discover rocks!

Set up is quick and easy, just be sure to put newspaper, an old towel or the like under the sand block for easy clean up. Even though I liked it for and inside activity, it can be used outside at the picnic table or a flat surface. A bowel of water on hand is nice for rinsing sand off the rocks.

Our rocks made a bubbly kind of noise when we put them in the water which adds another sense to the activity.

WUBBLE GROOVY GLOW 2 Pack and TINY GROVY GLOW

I am glad to see Wubble Bubble Ball still going strong since it came to the toy market years ago. I think it has improved and of course the nighttime fun of glow in the dark is perfect for Summer.

The two pack contains: two Wubble Grovy Glow, petroleum jelly packet, inflator straw and instructions. The most important thing to know is the instructions. Maybe read them ahead of time to know how to properly inflate the ball.

At first, I thought what is the petroleum jelly packet for? Well, that's what instructions are for, which I'm not one to read instructions on most anything. I had to go back and read them for my second try at inflation. Once I understood how to inflate the ball, we were ready set play. And the petroleum jelly is used on the inflator straw. I'm stressing read the directions again I know, but that gives you the best outcome for blowing up the Wubble Bubble Ball.

2 pack out of the box

read the instructions!

petroleum jelly and inflator

the colors will stretch with inflation

Tiny Grovy Glow Wubble

Both sets of Wubble Bubble Balls we reviewed glow in the dark. The balls need to be placed under a bright light for some time before the glow effect can take place. I like the toys for backyard play - day or night, individual play time or with a group of friends, and a great gift. Look for both Wubble Groovy Glow and Tiny Groovy Glow at Target. Add it to your cart!

ALL-PRO PASSER Robotic Quarterback

Football season is upon us. With the All-Pro Passer kids can play solo or with a group of friends. It's easy to move the passer around the yard or football field. Select your play and push the button for play. Then run to catch the pass!

Look for the All-Pro Passer at Target.

You'll need 4 C batteries for the passer to work, so add those to your cart as well.