SOCIAL MEDIA

April 15, 2015

Connecting Families with HomeTeam™ & A Giveaway!


Growing up, my grandmother lived just upstairs from me, in the same house as my family.  I have such wonderful memories of the time spent with my grandma.  Whether we were playing card games, board games or reading a story together, it seemed that my grandma always had time for me.  I am positive that I wouldn't be the avid reader I am today if it weren't for her.  But times have changed.  Even though my kids' grandparents live a little over an hour away, I want them to have the same sort of relationship that I had with my grandma.  Thanks to the wonderful technology available today, my kids keep in touch with their grandparents mainly through texting.  Which is why I am so excited about Panasonic's new app, called HomeTeam™.

HomeTeam™ provides a way for loved ones to connect, no matter how far apart in miles - or age!  Different generations can find common ground though playing games and reading stories, all while chatting through the app.  I think, as parents and grandparents, we all learn that we truly get to know our kids by sharing in a common activity and the natural conversation that happens during that time. Rarely do I get a thoughtful answer when I ask my boys, "how was school?", but they do open up much more when we, say, cook dinner together.  Just asking cold questions doesn't really provide the same sort of connection.  With HomeTeam, grandkids and grandparents have something to do together and the connections happen more naturally.  In the picture below, you can see what the screen looks like while my 9-year-old son is playing a game of Mad Libs (his favorite!) with his grandmother.
With HomeTeam, you can read books together, just as I did with my grandma all those years ago.  For emerging readers, you can each take turns reading a page.  For younger kids, the grandparent can read the story to the child.  With more than 100 titles to choose from, the app has many great books and will also help you choose age appropriate books.  There are classics, like Curious George, as well as the latest popular book series.  As a former teacher, I know any opportunity to engage in reading is a great one.  I love how this app allows grandparents to help a child be more successful in school and build healthy reading habits from a young age, all while building lasting memories.
You can also team up to play games together.  From classic games like Checkers and Tic-Tac-Toe to exclusive HomeTeam games, there are lots of family-friendly options. The kids will have fun while learning basic math skills, vocabulary, science, logic and more.  And the very best part is the connections that will happen even when you are far apart, bridging distance and generations.

This is a sponsored post, but I would be sharing this fantastic app even if it weren't.  I believe connections with our loved ones are the most valuable assets we can ever hope to acquire, more valuable than pretty houses or fancy cars.
HomeTeam™ is available in the App Store and Google Play 3/24/15.
Which feature of HomeTeam are you most excited to use?  Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.
Entry Instructions: 
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 4/15/2015 – 5/17/2015
Be sure to visit the Panasonic HomeTeam brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

150 comments :

  1. We would like the interactive games feature.

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  2. my tweet https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/588376069733949440

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  3. I like that the Panasonic HomeTeam app lets me stay in touch with far away Grandparents and other family members and interact and play games with Grandma and Dad or Mom! Also the reading and playing games app is cool and the best features!
    my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Tweet Entry
    https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/588384697232703488
    my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. I am excited to use the game feature, so my kids can play games with relatives they don't get to see much.

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  6. tweet
    https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/588390357500465153

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

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  7. I am excited to use the game feature

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  8. https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/588412393635450880

    elena150980@yahoo.com

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  9. I am excited to use the game feature

    freebiel0ve@yahoo.com

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  10. tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/588419358734548992

    freebiel0ve@yahoo.com

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  11. Most excited for the interactive gaming feature.

    groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com

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  12. tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/588426568533286912

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  13. My daughter would enjoy the Curious George matching game.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

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  14. tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/588444383260708864

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  15. I like that I could read stories to my grand kids.

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  16. https://twitter.com/dawnmonroe83/status/588642793356165122

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  17. This would be a great way for me to stay connected with my son who is away at school.

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  18. I would love this to connect with my beautiful grandchildren. :)

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  19. I love that you can read books together just like you would in person. That is my favorite feature! My nephew would love the interactive games feature. yarbr012@gmail.com

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  20. https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/588714999192932355 yarbr012@gmail.com

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  21. I like the interactive games, they'd be a big hit in my home.

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  22. https://twitter.com/jennad289/status/588798235780624384

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  23. Every feature would be great for my kids when my husband is gone with the military.
    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I like the feature where you read stories together. Playing games is always fun, but I'd prefer to do that in person. Reading stories is so important for little ones though, so any extra time you spend doing this with your children or grandchildren is just wonderful and educational.
    madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

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  25. Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/589610640941195264
    madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com

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  26. The interactive games feature sounds very exciting to try, I could see my family team up and enjoy some classic fun games.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

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  27. -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/589982095872692224

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  28. I like that you can pick a book from their library and read it aloud and have storytime over the computer as if you were face to face. I am most excited to try that feature out.

    prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com

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  29. Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/590191554595332098

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  30. that you can share memorable moments

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  31. https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/590528105170735104

    dlatany at gmail dot com

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  32. I would love my parents to be able to read to my son from their home!
    onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  33. https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/590537247021211648
    onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com

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  34. I like the books and games for kids.

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  35. I am most excited to use the games, like Checkers and Tic-Tac-Toe for starters.

    nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com

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  36. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/590698592697987072

    nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com

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  37. https://twitter.com/leighanne000/status/590706330580684802

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  38. My family would love to connect with the interactive games.

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  39. i like the Unlimited video chat.
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  40. https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/591039055149793281
    tina19820115@gmail.com

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  41. We would love the popular children’s books for my daughter.

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  42. we would love using the video chat with our family in other states pryfamily5@gmail.com

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  43. connecting,reading and playing games with my grand kids overseas would be amazing!

    cdm65atcox.net

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  44. tweeted - https://twitter.com/cdmtx65/status/592363844162424833

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  45. I like the unlimited video chat.
    MCantu1019 at aol dot com

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  46. I like how they're connecting families in this beautiful way, especially the games and reading feauture.

    poetryinleaves(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  48. I am most excited to use the games feature with my grandparents who are far away from the kids. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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  49. https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/593937396787359744 truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com

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  50. I am looking most forward to the video chat feature and the ability to play games with the people I am chatting with. My family all lives across the country from me so this feature would add a lot to our average weekly phone calls.
    Samantha (samdaleo)
    jamesmadison1974@gmail.com

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  51. TWEET!
    https://twitter.com/samdaleo/status/594853864563695617

    Samantha (samdaleo)
    jamesmadison1974@gmail.com

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  52. I love that it allows users to read stories together! How cool for grandkids and grandparents that live far away from each other!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

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  53. tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/595173649407148032

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

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  54. My daughter would love to play the tic tac toe game with me! How fun!
    aleksnearing gmail com

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  55. I am most excited about the book portion. I love to read and I want my kids to enjoy that as well! my4boysand1@gmail.com

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  56. I tweeted https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/595826898506280960
    my4boysand1@gmail.com

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  57. Id love to use the video chat so my daughter can keep in touch with her grandparents neyabenz(at)gmail(dot)com

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  58. I am most excited about the interactive gaming feature!

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

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  59. tweeted -


    https://mobile.twitter.com/saverang/status/596540610883911681

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

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  60. 2nd entry tweet! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/597297961802936320 afjackly@oakland.edu

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  61. LOVE HOW FAMILIES CAN INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH CHAT, GAMES, AND BOOKS! LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF IT! afjackly@oakland.edu

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  62. how sweet! I am most excited to try the live chat feature. I would love to have my kids stay connected with their cousins overseas.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

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  63. tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/597647264698355713

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

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  64. I'm excited to be able to read together.

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  65. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/597698653201960960

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  66. I love the video chat function, my son would be able to talk to her Grandparents and see them. We don't live near them so this would be a great way to stay in touch.
    s2s2 at cox dot net

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  67. https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/597754268125437952
    s2s2 at cox dot net

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  68. I think my kids would like the game aspect the best. They love playing online games with people they know!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  69. https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/598598342621450240

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  70. I am excited for the game feature.

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  71. I am most excited to use the games feature with my kids and their grandparents ♥
    redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  72. My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/599147184681005056
    redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  73. I would love to read stories to my great-niece. She loves books.

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  74. Tweet
    https://twitter.com/clc408/status/599148701316214784

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  75. I love that you can use it play games and read books no matter where you are. My DH and I both travel some for work and it would be great to be able to interact with the kids when one of is us gone!
    Ashley C
    addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com

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  76. i posted a tweet:

    https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/599183738128338945

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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  77. i would enjoy interacting with my nieces and nephew who live out of state- we could play a game or chat

    debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com

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  78. the interactive games feature sounds interesting, I'd like to give it a try
    iamdadtastic@gmail.com

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  79. tweeted https://twitter.com/iamdadtastic/status/599188376957235200
    iamdadtastic@gmail.com

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  80. I am most excited to use the interactive games feature

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  81. https://twitter.com/Attea2d/status/599227140152938497

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  82. I am most excited to try the video chat option!

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  83. It would be great to be able to Read your children's favorite books

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  84. https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/599255082992070656

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  85. We would like the interactive games feature.

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  86. I'm excited about the video chat. Having family that lives out of state, this would be great for my kids to keep in touch with their Grandparents. Thanks so much. rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

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  87. I think playing games with my mom again would be super fun and funny! When I was growing up, we always had game nights. :-D
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  88. I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/599264323148587008
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

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  89. fun and engaging multiplayer games looks wonderful! video chat too!
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

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  90. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/599267732291452929 Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

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  91. I am excited about using the video chat feature of the Home Team app.

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  92. My tweet https://twitter.com/sparkedcat/status/599289136047124480

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  93. The book reading feature is most exciting to me.

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  94. I'm most excited about the HomeTeam’s Real Time Video Chat feature.
    So much fun with the grand kids!
    thank you

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  95. Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/599365719667650561

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  96. I’m most excited about the interactive reading feature.

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  97. I tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/599396991798349824

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  98. My grands are 3 and 1...and 3.5 hours away. They love books, I love to read. Sounds like a perfect fit.

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  99. I am most excited about the real time chat and am able to help with my granddaughter's learning experiences.

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  100. I love the video chat feature! All of my family lives overseas so this would help my kids stay connected in a fun way.

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  101. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/MRSMEIER5627/status/599428357558640640

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  102. I would love the chat feature.

    brat52101 at yahoo dot com

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  103. I like that the video chat lets you be a part of it as well! Thanks for this giveaway!

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  104. My favorite feature is the gaming feature to play with fmaily

    joe gersc
    JOEBISSY@MAIL.com

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  105. I'm most excited to video chat!
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

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  106. https://twitter.com/aes529/status/599557703426531328
    POKERGRL8 at gmail.com

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  107. I’m most excited about the video chat. My girls have grandparents that live far away, so this would be a great way for them to connect, keep in touch, and have fun together.

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  108. https://twitter.com/Stephanie64030/status/599605114375049216

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  109. I love that you can connect with your family to play games! What a fun, easy way for the younger kids to keep in touch with the distant relatives. I love that!

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  110. Tweeted :) - https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/599617565954945024

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  111. I’m most excited about the video chat. My little grandson is very attached to me. This would allow him to see and speak to me when he starts missing me.

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  112. I like the reading stories together aspect.

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  113. tweeted

    https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/599619287146373120

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  114. I like that you can stay close to family that is away by chatting with them while playing games or even reading together. It's a great way for a family to sta connected. Thank you!
    crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com

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  115. I am most excited about relatives being able to play games and read books to my daughter from another location.

    kport207 at gmail dot com

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  116. I am most excited to use the interactive games feature!

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  117. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/599662929324150785

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

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  118. I'm excited about the interactive games.

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  119. Interactive gaming for sure. discriminating_diva@yahoo.com

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  120. Tweet https://twitter.com/dddiva/status/599668100552794112

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  121. I love that you can read/ share a book online and talk/see another person at the same time online!

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  122. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  123. I am most excited about the games

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  124. https://twitter.com/Hotsnotty2/status/599681608480849923

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  125. I like the interactive gaming feature.
    austma7@aol.com

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  126. I really love the interactive game feature.

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  127. Tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/birdiebee52/status/599811913610956800

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  128. I am most excited to use the game feature with the grandkids.

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  129. My grandson would like beating me playing games

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  130. I would be most excited for the unlimited video chat, since my family lives far away.

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  131. My children would like to play games with their long-distance cousins and read books with their grandparents.

    Quinlan726 (at) aol (dot) com

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  132. tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/599980871664406530
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

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  133. I'm most excited about the video chat feature! My daughter misses her Aunt so much and it would be so fun for her to be able to see and talk to her whenever she wants!

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  134. The video chat feature is really awesome.

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  135. https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/600009359528042496

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  136. The feature of the HomeTeam app I am most excited to try is that I would be able to have constant contact with the whole family.

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  137. I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/600009916900708352

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  138. I like being able to play games but still be able to see/talk to the other person.

    motioncitycutie(at)aol(dot)com

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  139. I'm most excited about the video chat. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  140. I like the ability to read books together while looking at the other person. And the games would be fun.
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

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  141. https://twitter.com/slehan/status/600052124894892033

    slehan at juno dot com

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  142. Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/600078386350858240

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  143. I'm excited for my son to read books to his grandparents using the app.
    dmarie824 at aol dot com

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  144. tweeted https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/600131571186675712

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