In years past, we've loved visiting The Henry Ford for their Day Out With Thomas event and this year is no exception. {You can read about our first trip and our second trip by visiting the links.} Alex is such a huge fan of Thomas & Friends and I think my daughter is following right in his footsteps so I know we're all going to have a blast this year when we head out to The Henry Ford.

We'll be attending the Railroader's Breakfast again this year which is such a special treat. To arrive at the village before anyone else, eat breakfast while watching Thomas "wake up" on the tracks, listening to stories about Thomas and his friends and wonderful music is well worth getting up a little early.

I could just go on and on but I'll leave that to the photos we take and the memories we make this year at The Henry Ford.

I don't want you to miss out, though. I've attached a press release to answer your questions about when, where, and pricing. Please let me know if you have any questions that aren't addressed in the release.

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS^™: LEADER OF THE TRACK TOUR 2011

PULLING INTO GREENFIELD VILLAGE,

APRIL 30 - MAY 1 and MAY 7 - 8 and 14 - 15, 2011 

FANS INVITED TO CHEER ON FAVORITE STORYBOOK ENGINE, THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE™, AS HE PULLS INTO THE STATION

 (Dearborn, Mich., March 25, 2011) – It’s “Steamies” versus “Diesels” and our favorite No.1 engine is right on track! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is set to roll into Greenfield Village for theDay Out With Thomas™: Leader of the Track Tour 2011. All little engineers are invited to cheer him on and take a ride with Thomas. The event, which takes place April 30-May 1 and May 7-8 and 14-15, 2011, will be hosted by The Henry Ford and presented by HIT Entertainment and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company.

For 66 years, children have been captivated by the courageous adventures of Thomas and his engine friends. Pulling out of the station for its 16th consecutive ride on the rails, the Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 will visit more than 45 cities in the United States and Canada. Day Out With Thomas is the only place for families to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of everybody’s favorite No. 1 engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including stamps, temporary tattoos and hands-on activities. Each year the tour grows, traveling to new destinations, adding new activities and welcoming new visitors.  

Thomas the Tank Engine, star of Thomas & Friends™, on PBS KIDS^® and Sprout^® kicks off his Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 in March and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers through November. During the Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011, children will ride with Thomas up steep hills, around deep, blue lakes, and help him win the race against the diesel engines—if only in their imaginations.  Day Out with Thomas 2011 activities include: 

• A 20-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway 
• A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on activities and coloring sheets.
• Commemorative activities, merchandise and giveaways to celebrate the 2011 Thomas & Friends DVD movie “Day of the Diesels” (Sept. 2011, Lionsgate), including:
• A video viewing area that shows how steam engines work differently from diesel engines
• Thomas and Friends tattoos
• A special giveaway character wheel showcasing Steamie and Diesel engines from the world of Thomas & Friends
• Storytelling, magic shows and live music by Picks & Sticks Stringband and Guitar Guy Barry

The approximately 20-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 30 minutes, rain or shine, with departure times at 9:30 am through 5:00 pm daily. Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 for members are $11.75 per person, age 1 year and older and includes free admission to Greenfield Village. Non-member ticket prices include admission to Greenfield Village and train ride. For non-member children 1-4 years is $11.75, youth age 5-12 is $27.75, adults age 13-61 is $33.75 and Seniors age 62 and up is $32.75.  

Tickets are on sale now by calling The Henry Ford at 313-982-6001 or visiting www.thehenryford.org.  

For general information or to find a Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 event near you, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt.  

About The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, in Dearborn, Michigan, is the world’s premier history destination and a National Historic Landmark that celebrates American history and innovation. Its mission is to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Its purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future. Five distinct attractions at The Henry Ford captivate more than 1.5 million visitors annually: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates 485 students a year on the institution’s campus and was founded in partnership with The Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company and Wayne County Public Schools. For more information please visit our website thehenryford.org.

About Thomas & Friends™

Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son over 65 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages. The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.  Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®, PBS KIDS Sprout^SM and with downloadable episodes available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com. 

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™,Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment’s Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.  HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS Sprout^SM. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com. 

About MEGA Brands

MEGA Brands is a trusted family of leading global brands in construction toys, games & puzzles, arts & crafts and stationery. They offer engaging creative experiences for children and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable and high-quality products. Visit http://www.megabrands.com for more information.

**My family received complimentary admission (for 4) to the Railroader's Breakfast and Day Out With Thomas from The Henry Ford for the purpose of review and sharing our experience with you. This is a press release post with a review to follow our actual, scheduled day at The Henry Ford. Stay Tuned!

Eye Spy ~ Day Out With Thomas Is Coming to Detroit! {press release}

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My family has been a big fan of Thomas & Friends ever since Alex was just under 2 years old. He loves to learn about the characters and hear story after story.

This love of Thomas & Friends led us to love other shows created by Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment as we would see the previews at the beginning of our DVD's. Now, it seems we know of and have seen a bit of everything and we haven't been disappointed yet. 

Recently, these fun Play Date Pack sets were released and we were sent a couple for review. Each set has 3 DVD's in it and the packaging is very fun. I can't even tell you how excited Alex was to see these arrive and the packaging was a huge contributor to that. 

The Thomas & Friends Play Date Pack set includes:

• Thomas and the Really Brave Engine
• Thomas and the Jet Engine
• On-Site with Thomas

Bonus Features include:

• 4 Sing-Along Songs
• Bonus DVD Game "Fun with Numbers"
• Thomas Character Gallery
• 7 Bonus DVD Games
• 2 Read-Alongs
• 2 DVD-Rom Games

Alex prefers to watch Thomas and the Really Brave Engines {I think he just likes the name} but it's fun to watch him carefully consider which show he wants to watch when he's given the opportunity to pick one. 

This set is perfect for children ages 2 to 5-ish. 

We were also sent the Barney Play Date Pack to review. Eliana loves the songs on these DVD's and Alex likes the preschool learning concepts that are shared {i.e. problem solving, shapes, colors, numbers, etc}. Barney is also great for supporting a child's imagination and I think that's a wonderful thing.

This DVD set includes:

• Let's Pretend With Barney
• Can You Sing That Song?
• Come On Over To Barney's House

Bonus Features include:

• Barney's Jukebox
• Barney's "Loop De Loop" Counting Game
• 2 Read-Alongs
• Barney's Game Show "Can You Sing That Song?"
• Behind the Scenes with the Dinos and the Cast
• Barney's Gumdrop Games
• Barney's Bonus Episode "Who's Your Neighbor"
• Music Video - "The Barney Boogie"
• Bonus Episode - Bob the Builder "Muck Gets Stuck"
• DVD-Rom Fun

This set is perfect for children ages 1 to 5 years and I've watched both of my kiddos enjoy these. Of the 3 DVD's, Alex seems to prefer Come On Over To Barney's House but I think it's because he's interested about where Barney lives and what his life is like at home. {giggle} Eliana is not picky at all about which Alex chooses. She just wants to hear the music so she can dance.

We love having these in our home and I like the fact that they're both wonderful, age appropriate options for my little ones.

BUY IT: You can buy your own Play Date Pack for a suggested retail value of $19.98

**I received DVD Combo Packs for this review from a PR firm in relation to Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Beyond the review items, I received no compensation for this post. This is my opinion and other opinions may vary.

New From Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment: Play Date Packs {review}

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I don't think I can put into words how much Alex loves Thomas & Friends (as I'm sure you've heard me talk about before). In our home, watching a "Thomas show", as he calls them, is a treat that he really looks forward to when he has his TV time.

Naturally, Alex even enjoys watching the previews on his Thomas & Friend (not to mention other Lionsgate/ Hit Entertainment shows) DVD's. All summer long, he's watched the preview for "Misty Island Rescue" and has asked about it every single time. He was so excited for a new movie to be coming out.

Finally, the day came when I was able to tell him that we were offered a review of the new movie and it was on its way to our home. Can you picture the excitement on his little, 3 year old face? It was priceless.

When Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue arrived, we had a special, family "movie night" so we could watch it together. Alex laughed and laughed as he watched. When new characters were introduced, he was very curious about them but thought they were the funniest trains he had ever seen. 

What did I like about the movie? Thomas & Friends movies are packed with practical lessons that little ones can easily understand and take away from it. I was happy to see Alex learning about things like not judging others just because they're different and making good choices. Thomas is always a good example to watch no matter what pickle he gets himself into. 

Here's the synopsis as it can be found in the movie's press release.

The engines are hard at work to build a new Search and Rescue Center. When Thomas helps a friend in need, he is rewarded with an exciting trip to the mainland.  Along the way, he gets lost at sea and finds himself on the mysteriousMisty Island, where he meets new friends Bash, Dash and Ferdinand. Together they discover the secrets of Misty Islandand help Thomas find his way home.  Will Sir Topham Hatt's search party ever find Thomas? Find out in this action-packed movie adventure the whole family will enjoy!!         

Just for fun, I thought I would interview Alex after the movie was over to see his opinion on it. Please know before you watch, he had just been very scared by a suprise visit of Diesel 10 after the credits of the movie ran. He loved the movie and wants to watch it all the time. This video is just being shared because it makes me giggle.

Do you have a Thomas lover at your house? 

BUY IT: Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue - The Movie is available on DVD and Blu-Ray in stores everywhere beginning Sep. 6th.

Would you like to win the new movie on DVD? 

THE GIVEAWAY!!(NOW CLOSED)

One winner will receive the new Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue - The Movie on DVD!!

To enter:

• Tell me which Thomas & Friends character is a favorite in your home and why. (don't forget to include your e-mail address!)

Want some extra entries? Good! (These are optional)

• -Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.
• -Become a fan of Coffee With The Mrs. on Facebook.
• -Grab my button for your sidebar. (Click "Grab a button" on my sidebar or top menu)
• -Subscribe to my blog by e-mail through feedburner(at the top of the right sidebar. comment     with the e-mail address you subscribed with)
• -Subscribe to my feed (at the top of the right sidebar)
• -Follow my blog *For 2 Extra Entries* (right beneath the Giveaways listing on sidebar. Comment with 2 separate comments for credit)
• -Follow me on Twitter @TheMrsC (comment with your twitter name)
• -Tweet about this giveaway.  If you want, you can say “Win the new DVD, Misty Island Rescue on coffeewiththemrs.com!! @TheMrsC.” Just make sure to @TheMrsC and link to my blog (or the giveaway).  (comment with a link to your tweet)
• TWICE daily retweets are available for extra entries. Leave a comment with a link to your daily tweet(s)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. This giveaway will run until September 28th at 11:59pm ET. The winner will be selected by using random.org and will be contacted and announced on or around September 29th. If the prize is not claimed within 48 hours of initial contact, I will randomly select another winner. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. only.

*Thanks to the PR firm who, on behalf of Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment, sent the DVD to review and supplied an additional copy for giveaway.*

**This review is based strictly on my experience with and opinion of Misty Island Rescue. I received a DVD for review and was not compensated in any way otherwise for the review itself or to influence my choice of words. Others may not agree with my opinion.**

Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue - The Movie (Review)

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Did you know that Learning Curve has a line of Thomas & Friends wooden track set made just for little hands? If you browse the shelves at your local toy store, you may see one or two of these new sets for sale. 

Learning Curve recently contacted me and asked if I would like to check this out with my son and, of course, I said "Yes!". 

Alex is a huge fan of Thomas & Friends. He knows every train's name and he has a small collection of wooden trains and track. This new line of Early Engineers is made with both younger and older children in mind, though. It's specifically created for little hands (18 months of age and up) but is eager to grow right with your child. 

I have some photos to illustrate what I mean. It truly is amazing. 

Here is the Thomas Wooden Railway Early Engineers Roundabout Station set. It's perfect to purchase as a starter set or in addition to the other sets as well. As you can see, it's made with wooden track. This is the same sized track as the sets made for older children. The trains are made bigger so little hands can get a better grip on them and the other pieces are made to easily be added, subtracted, or changed to suit your child's interest in play.

The set includes the roundabout, Maithwaite station, a tree, spinning cargo, and a ticket booth/gate. Each piece has a circular bottom that fits into the shapes on the roundabout grass. The cargo and tree can be switched as well as the station and ticket booth. This offers a child independence in play which is great for his/her imagination and self esteem.

Alex loved that he could successfully set everything up and move it around on his own. He quickly began a dialog with his new Thomas the tank engine train and then decided he wanted to add others of his in as well.

It's wonderful that Learning Curve knew that children want to build on their play experience and added in a way to easily do that.

The set comes with 2 connecting pieces that fit to the end of the Early Engineers track and connect to the standard wooden track. Alex ran off to get some track and a few trains. In no time, Alex had a track designed and assembled.

Even Percy and Sir Topham Hatt stopped by for a visit. 

Watch the video to see some of these new sets in action!

http://media.learningcurve.com/products/SKU/TWR_EE/index.html?xcid=701

My overall opinion of the Thomas Wooden Railway Early Engineers Roundabout Station is that it's a wonderful gift for a Thomas lover. I wish these had been made when Alex was younger. If, at 3 years old, he gets excited to play with it, I can only imagine what he would have thought of it when he was younger. The set is easy to use and durable. I can see it lasting for years and years in this house. 

BUY IT:  You can purchase this set for around $25 from Learning Curve.

** The opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.Others may have a different experience and may not agree with my opinion.Thanks to Learning Curve for the product to review. I was able to keep the item at no cost to me.**

Learning Curve: Early Engineers (review)

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On May 18th, this new DVD from Lionsgate and Hit Entertainment hit store shelves and a little later, it came to my home. Being A Friend is a DVD that gives little lessons from some of Alex's favorite characters on how to be a good friend. Ideas like working together, and thinking of others are taught through the different episodes.

Alex was particularly happy to see Fireman Sam. We were introduced to this show as a bonus episode on another DVD we own and Alex has been crazy about him ever since. Now, Alex likes to run around and pretend to be a fireman all the time. It's cute to watch.

There are 4 episodes on this DVD. One from each of the characters you see pictured above. Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Barney, and Thomas & Friends are names that my son knows and loves dearly.

Can I tell you my favorite part of the DVD (Beside the nice content)? My favorite part is that you can either watch all four episodes at one time or you can select one episode at a time. This works great in my house since Alex is only allowed so much TV time per day. We allow him to select one or two episodes (about 15 minutes each) and then we turn it off. In the end, he feels great about being able to make his own choice and I feel great about him not sitting and watching TV for a long time.

If you know a little guy or girl who likes these characters, I definitely recommend you pick it up for him/her. 

I give it two thumbs up!

*Thank you to Andrea Blain PR who sent a copy of this DVD for review. I received no other compensation for the writeup. The thoughts and opinions shared are mine and mine alone. Other opinions may differ than my own.

"Being A Friend" Now on DVD (review)

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