Mario Kart Legos that shoot turtle shells are my new obsession

Have you ever had a kid run up to you, tug on your shirt, and say, "Watch this — hey, hey, watch this!"?

I recently had that experience during a play session with my nieces and nephews, and for once, I didn't have to smile and nod my way through a very thorough explanation of Captain Underpants or Roblox. No, what my adorable niece showed me that day would forever change the course of my life.

Mario. Kart. Legos. That. Shoot. Turtle. Shells.

As Mashable's tech editor, I'm tasked with covering the latest gadgets and gear, but sometimes products slip through the cracks, and it takes an adorable 6-year-old to open your eyes. These Mario Kart Legos aren't new by any means, but they're new to me, and I can't stop playing with them.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Legos. My prized possession was a Wild West jailhouse set. When you inserted a dynamite-shaped brick into the cell door, a spring blew it off its hinges. It was awesome, and a similar kind of wizardry is at play here.

These kits are small and simple enough that you can build them quickly with young kids, who will appreciate the turtle shell-firing mechanism as much as I did.

Not only do these Legos make excellent gifts, but you can also pick them up at Amazon starting at just $12.99 (the Yoshi Bike set is pretty much permanently on sale for that price).