Overwhelming Response to the Writing Contest

I'm so blown away right now. I've got One Thousand and Twenty-Four (that's 1,024) entries to our 5th Annual Writing Contest! That's over 350 more than we've ever had before.
Over 50 teachers entered their classes including all 27 classes at Garden Springs Elementary. We also had dozens of kids who entered on their own.
The biggest surprise were the entries from homeschoolers in 12 states outside of Kentucky!
Now comes the fun part - reading all the entries! You would not believe how funny some of these kids are, like the little guy who wanted to ask Abraham Lincoln how heavy his cannon balls are or the girl who things President Obama is incredible because it takes incredibility to be a President.
The contest is closed now, but rest assured we will hold the 6th annual Writing Contest next year! I am looking for suggestions for a topic for next year. If you have an idea for me, please drop me a line: events@lexingtonfamily.com or leave a comment here.

Writing Contest Goes Nationwide!!

The entries to Lexington Family Magazine's Writing Contest are starting to flow in. We're up to 93 entries now, with another 350 promised from local classrooms that I've visited. That's not counting the classes I haven't heard from. I'm thinking we'll beat our record high of 657 entries from 2007.
One thing that has surprised me is the entries from outside of Kentucky. We've had an entry from a school in Louisiana, 2 from South Carolina, and 3 from Pennsylvania. How are these people hearing about us? On-line, of course. Perhaps they read about the contest here on our blog, or maybe on our website (www.lexingtonfamily.com) or maybe they've found us on Facebook.
Wherever they found us, we welcome them to the Writing Contest.
There's still time for your kids to enter. Just find all the info here (just scroll down) or on the website. Write 100 words by March 27 and your child could win!

BEDTIME STORIES!!!!!! We've got 'em!!!!

I am so excited!!!! We just heard from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment that "Bedtime Stories" will be coming out on DVD and Blu-Ray on April 5, 2009. And even more exciting - Disney is giving us 25 Three-Disc Combo Packs of "Bedtime Stories" to give away to the first 25 families at our Camp Fair on April 11!!!!!

This includes the DVD, the blu-ray disc and a digital copy to play on your mobile devices. There are all sorts of special features included too, like a behind-the-scenes look at the special effects and of course, the bloopers and deleted scenes.

The Fair open at 10 a.m. on April 11 and we'll hand these out to the first 25 folks in line (one per family, please). So get there early, these will go fast!

Lookee At My New Car!

I've got the coolest new ride! Its a sweet baby blue sedan, one-seater with the comfiest seats you ever sat on. Yes, its a little small for my "seat," but its just right for anyone under the age of 8.

It's the Sit Upon Car from Manhattan Toy, the newest in their line of giant, room-decorating, toddler-seating, imagination-inspiring, fall-asleep-while-cuddling plush toys.

We'll be giving this slick ride away at the Summer Camp & Acitivities Fair on April 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Lexington Christian Academy.

Keep checking here for more details on great giveaways, children's performances and FUN. Don't forget, its all FREE!

The Entries Are Rolling In.....

Our Writing Contest entries have begun to arrive, several by e-mail, some by snail mail and two in large envelopes with a whole class worth of entries. So far we have 39 entries and I've had calls and e-mails from several other schools promising another 300! And its only the first week of March.

Entries are due on March 27 so there is still plenty of time to enter. Go to http://www.lexingtonfamily.com/ for all the details on how to enter.

I visited a kindergarten class this morning at Rosa Park Elementary this morning to talk about writing and the writing contest. What a bunch of cuties! And they had such good, thoughtful questions (and answers).

We'll be giving away American Girl dolls, Cranium games and Breyer horses to the winners to get your kids busy writing!

Find us on Facebook!

Lexington Family Magazine is now on Facebook! You can become of a fan of the magazine (we know you already are!), and get updates on our upcoming events including the Camp Fair and the Writing Contest. We've uploaded photos of some of the great prizes we'll be giving away and we'll let you know about cool things that will be happening in the future.

If you already are a Facebook member just do a search for Lexington Family Magazine. If you aren't a member, BECOME ONE! It's free, takes almost no time at all, and believe me, you will find loads of your friends are already there. It's a great way to stay connected.

ITS THE WRITING CONTEST!!!

Sharpen up those pencils and warm up the keyboards, kids! It’s time for Lexington Family Magazine’s 5th annual Writing Contest. We’ve heard from over 1,200 kids in the past. We want to hear from YOU this year!

This year’s theme is “The Person I Would Most Like to Meet Is…” We want kids in grades K-5 to tell us in 100 words or less about someone they really want to meet. It could be an athlete like LeBron James or volleyball Olympian Misty May-Treanor or an inspirational figure such as Anne Frank or Abraham Lincoln? Or how about someone from your own past such as a grandparent you never knew or an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower?

We’ve got an exciting lineup of prizes this year, too. Our talented winners will take home either Chrissa, the newest American Girl doll, a beautiful collection of Breyer Model Horses, including the new Wind Dancer line of books and horses, or a huge package of award-winning games from Cranium!

Entries will be judged in three age categories: K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, and 4th-5th grade. We’ll pick one girl and one boy from each age group as winners. Stories may be hand-written, typed or narrated to a parent to type. Please include your name, gender, grade and school on your entry. You may illustrate your story, but it will not influence the judging.

To enter, kids should mail their stories to Lexington Family Magazine, 138 E. Reynolds Rd, Suite 201, Lexington, KY 405017 or e-mail it to Events@LexingtonFamily.com by Friday, March 27. Winners will be notified by phone and prizes will be awarded at our Summer Camps & Activities Fair on April 11, at 1 p.m.

Info: 223-1765 or http://www.lexingtonfamily.com/