New LEGOs - The Best of The Bricks

CHRISTMAS '09

New LEGOs - The Best of The Bricks

Published July 9th, 2009 in sets, this!, TaunTaun, Creator, Mindstorm, 2.0, Parenting, Room, Mindstorms, LEGO, New, Play, Family, Toys

New LEGO sets are arriving everyday here in Amazon-land. I really enjoy this time of year as all the new toys come in and we get to do a little playing and investigating what is going to be really hot for the holidays. A perennial favorite, of course, is LEGO. This is the time of year we get all the new sets, so without further ado- here are some of my favorites for The Best of the Bricks:

1. First and foremost this year, is the new Mindstorms NXT 2.0. Your favorite robot/computer programing toy is back and better than ever. The new version features a 32-bit microprocessor, a large matrix display, four input and three output ports, and a Bluetooth and USB communication link. Also:

Three interactive servo motors; four sensors (Ultrasonic Sensor, 2 Touch Sensors and the all-new Color Sensor)
Color Sensor has triple functionality: Distinguishes colors and light settings, and functions as a lamp
Easy-to-use software (PC and Mac) with icon-based drag-and-drop programming and 16 fun building and programming challenges; building instructions for 4 new amazing robots
612 pieces

2. Can you say LEGO Tauntaun? Yes indeed! The LEGO Star Wars Echo Base included the first ever LEGO tauntaun. So sweet- check him out:

Very adorable in a very manly Star Wars way don't you think?

3. The LEGO Creator Family House looks like a fun activity to do in your family house. At over 900 pieces, it also sounds like it could take you awhile. The best thing about this house it that you can move it to any neighborhood you like.

4. I have a two year old at home and there is nothing better for him then when he gets to see a fire truck rushing by. He loves the noise, the speed, and the red color of the big trucks. You can bring the fun home with the LEGO Duplo Legoville Fire Chief. And check out his snazzy car!

5. For older kids, I really love the new LEGO Castle Trolls' Dark Fortress. Trolls make good fortress guards. I'd like to have a few guarding my house, but for now our terrier will have to do. This set has 844 pieces, including 10 minfigures (Good King, 3 knights, 2 giant trolls, Troll King, troll sorceress and 2 troll warriors).

6. When we went to LEGOland California recently, one of my favorite sights was the huge Taj Mahal.

Here it is in LEGOland:

And here's the new set you can build yourself:

pretty awesome.