The latest unique offering from Aardman, the makers of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run & Arthur Christmas, arrives on Friday with a fresh dose of dry British Humor, sarcastic wit and a blend of subtle farce and slapstick buffoonery.

The claymation characters are instantly recognizable and enjoyable to watch with their carved hair, gaping mouths, crooked teeth and improvised body parts. The film is a charming distraction with many giggles and a few guffaws. There are plenty of jokes that adults will get, and that will soar over the heads of tweens ...

Recently I was lucky enough to be invited to San Francisco as a guest of Disney for a once in a lifetime trip to tour Pixar Studios!  I was able to attend a sneak peek of the new Disney/Pixar movie Brave, interview some of the amazing talent behind the movie as well as the new short La Luna (which I will warn you, you will love so much and you may cry~don't say I didn't warn you!). And I saw a screening of the new Disney Nature movie Chimpanzee AND got a private tour of the Walt Disney Family Museum.

It was an incredible 3 days!

The tour of Pixar studios was beyond belief. I have been to other Disney events and this one was their equal and then some! There is no detail left out. When we arrived at Pixar we were greeted by a Bagpiper who led us into the studios where we were treated to a day filled with all things Brave and Scottish!

We were able to try our hand at archery (let's just say it's not my forte), we learned more about kilts than you can imagine, and we were treated to bagpipe lessons (I'm as good at bagpiping as I am at archery). The day finished out with a chance to have our pictures taken on a green screen with Merida, the heroine of Brave. Needless to say I can't wait for the film to come out.

The next day we toured Pixar Studios. The place is a dream come true for any Disney or animation fan. To see the studios where films like "Toy Story", "The Incredibles", "Monsters Inc" were made is a treat I will never forget. The campus is beautiful, it looks like a university. Lots of open spaces, a huge pool, communal dining spaces and more. Everyone who works there seems so happy and with good reason! Pixar was designed to give workers the ability to interact with each other all day and not to be tied to their desk. As you would imagine there is also an on site day care (wonder if Buzz and Woody stop by for story time) for employees.

Over the next few weeks I will be writing more about the trip, the films we saw and the talent we interviewed. In the meantime here is a peek of La Luna and Brave which opens in theaters June 22, 2012 (which is not soon enough for me if anyone at Pixar is reading this!)

La Luna


Brave


P.S. Be prepared to be making a Merida costume for your girls for Halloween, I predict this will be the IT costume of 2012! Redheads of the world rejoice! This is your year!

Macaroni Kid Reader Asks:
We got a letter from my youngest son's teacher last night about him not listening to his preschool teachers. He is very stubborn, but we've never had a problem with him not listening to his preschool teachers though it does usually takes 2-3 times for him to listen to us! I would love to know how to get him to listen. Luckily he isn't the only one not listening to his teacher, but he is in the pack that apparently is always pushing ...

When 2-year old Liam Witt was diagnosed with pediatric cancer in 2007, his mother Gretchen was shocked to learn that pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for kids in the United States. And she was equally shocked to learn just how little money was being spent to fund new, more effective treatments for pediatric cancer - treatments that hold the promise of better survival rates.

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Family favorite The Imagination Movers are bringing their tour to back on the road this month. The tour begins after brand-new episodes of The Movers’ Emmy Award-winning show premiere on Disney Jr. during “Movers Week” April 2-6.

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Looking for something fun, free, and fantastic to do with family and friends?  Head out to America's national parks where millions of stars light up the dark night sky, deer and antelope (and a few other critters!) play on the wide open range, and history is an unbelievable experience, not an exam.

And the best news? During National Park Week, April 21-29, ALL 397 of your national parks offer free admission, all week long!

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In honor of Earth Day, Disneynature will release Chimpanzee this Friday, April 20. The latest in the line of Disney’s amazing nature films, Chimpanzee tells the heart-warming story of Oscar and the perils of everyday life for his band of chimpanzees.

The film takes place deep in the forest of Africa where Oscar hasn't a care in the world. We watch as he spends his days playing; napping and wrestling with other young chimps while their parents try to rest (seem familiar?). Oscar and his mother Isha have ...

Kids and moms are definitely the toughest critics to please when it comes to kid-friendly snacks and Stonyfield Farm knows how to please both!  Kids are super duper picky and choosy about what they eat, right?  Moms are picky and choosy about the ingredients they’re feeding their kids (rightly so!)

Let’s get into the mindset of a kid.  Ready?  Ok…what makes a good snack?  Does it taste delicious?  Is there a little somethin’ for my sweet tooth?  Is it fun to eat?  Check, check, check!  Three for ...

If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to hop on over to Macaroni Kid Family Fitness, Macaroni Kid’s sixth National publication!  In addition to the monthly motivation, tips, activities, fun new workouts, recipes, challenges, and more, Macaroni Kid kicked off our 2012 Search for America’s Fittest Family!  YOUR family could win BIG!  The Grand Prize is a family trip to the Four Seasons Scottsdale, and lots of other cool swag just for entering!
 
We're looking for a real family who has made a real ...

If you have kids of your own, are related to kids, have a friend with kids, or live in the same neighborhood as school-aged kids, chances are, you’ve been asked to purchase something for a school fundraiser.  While we can all agree that schools are a great cause to support, after being asked year after year to buy the same gift wrap, chocolates, cookies, candles, etc., you probably start to wonder… how many scented candles or pecan clusters does one really need?

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Since the first months of my marriage I have been in business with my wife.  So Meg Hirshberg’s new book, “For Better or For Work” really resonated. But as I read it I realized the observations and suggestions she makes apply to any relationship. Meg’s motivation in writing the book was to share what she wished she had known as she fought to both build a business and raise a family, and her tips will help most families.

The book was a pleasure to read and is written ...

Looking for an on-the-go breakfast option that is ready in about a minute? Stock up on New! Tyson Breakfast Bread Bowls available at select Sam’s Club locations.

Mornings can be hectic when trying to get your kids ready for school and out the door. As a parent, you don't always have the time to feed your children a nutritious breakfast. Tyson Breakfast Bread Bowls are perfect for mornings on-the-go, and they are now available at select Sam's Club locations. Visit http://tysonbreakfastbreadbowls.com/ to look for store ...

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As expected, many kids I see are nervous when they come and sit in my chair for the first time. That said, often times, it’s actually the parents who are more apprehensive than kids when it comes to seeing their own child undergo orthodontic treatment! Parents come to my office expecting clunky ...

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