Pinewood Derby

Yes, you read that right, we had another Pinewood Derby. Two weeks ago the boys hurried into the Relief Society room at the end of church to show me their pinewood derby kits they had just received in Young Mens. They were talking about ideas for their next car, while I stood there silently-trying not to look too vexed.

Last year our ward decided to make the most out of renting the pinewood derby track, by inviting the Achievement Day girls to compete in a Powderpuff Derby- after the scouts held their Pinewood derby competition. We had not expected that after making six pinewood derby cars for the boys we would be making a seventh for Lauren. But, we came up with a cute idea and we all agreed that our FINAL pinewood derby car was a true masterpiece. (look at past posts about Lauren's Powderpuff derby car, I absolutely love it...even if it was the slowest car in all the heats. But it's cute!) The ward was so pleased with their idea, that they invited the YM/YW to compete after the Pinewood Derby this year. So, cars eight and nine were now in the works.

However, the boys really surprised me. Instead of expecting the usual help on the cars from Steve and myself, Nate and Caleb did most of the work on their own. They sanded wheels and axles and greased them. They cut out the shape of their cars. They added weights and putty and sanded the body of the car. And, they did the majority of the painting on their cars.

A couple hours before the competition, both boys asked me for help painting the details on their cars. Unfortunately for Caleb my painting skills leave much to be desired. He wanted his car to look like the WWII airplanes that have a shark's head on the front of the plane. Instead he got something that looked more like a swamp monster. Luckily he liked it(or at least that's what he said), and he seemed pleased with his swamp thing. Nate's car was a chocolate bar donut complete with colorful sprinkles-staying with the theme from his other cars (an ice cream sandwich, a chocolate popsicle, and a wedge of cheese).

I must add that I liked this year's Pinewood Derby better than any other year. Now that the boys are old enough to use power tools and do the work themselves, it makes it very enjoyable to sit back and watch their progress. I'm actually looking forward to the possibility of cars 10 and 11 next year.

Science Fair

Lauren with her science fair display

Science Fair snuck up on us again...I'm surprised at how it does that every year. We struggle every time to come up with a project, and this year was no different. Of course we tried to be organized as we prepared for the science fair exhibition, but even our best efforts weren't enough-as we still stayed up 'til 1:00 a.m. to finish the display and compile the data. But, we survived the late night, enjoyed a quick walk through the other science fair exhibits, and sighed a huge sigh of relief that we were finished and that there are 11 more months before we have another science fair project.

Ashlyn's Antics

Ashlyn's recent rounds of questions have been focused on butlers. I'm not sure where she ever learned about butlers, but she started to ask Steve and I questions that were a little different from her usual inquiries. It went something like this:

Ashlyn: Mom, have you ever had a butler?
Me: No.
Ashlyn: Would you ever want to have a butler?
Me: Why would I need one, I have you?
Ashlyn: Mom! I mean someone who has to do everything you tell them to.
Me: You have to pay butlers lots of money, I can't afford that. That's why I have kids, to do everything I tell them.
Ashlyn: (after rolling her eyes at me and sighing) Dad...do you have a butler at work?
Steve: No, why would a butler be at work?
Ashlyn: I'm talking about someone who has to do what you say, and will get you snacks.
Me: Ashlyn, that's a secretary or personal assistant.
Ashlyn: Well, when I grow up I'm going to have a butler.
Me: You'll have to have lots of money then.
Ashlyn: Oh.

That seemed to be the end of it until two weeks later she brought home a book she'd put together for St. Patrick's Day titled, "How to catch a Leprechaun."

Page 1-First, I would set a trap and put in there a sparkly thing. (this page was very light and didn't scan well)
Page 2- Next, I would get his gold

Page 3-Last, make him my butler. (In the picture Ashlyn is telling the leprachaun/butler, "Go get me a snack."

Needless to say, we got a good laugh over this, but are at the same time concerned about this little glimpse of Diva behavior from her. Quite ingenious though to find a way to become rich and get a butler all at once. Wish I had thought of it!

A Pet Sitting Warning

I've been trying to simplify our lives, by reducing the number of pets we have. I sold our sugar gliders, and gave away our fish (although I'm still looking for a lucky recipient of a free fish tank and accessories). After all of my hard work, I've taken a step in the wrong direction, by adding an additional pet to our family-a chicken named Daisy.

It all started with my agreeing to watch our neighbor's pets while they were gone to Disneyland. We were in charge of their two dogs, a newly hatched group of quail, and a chicken named Winnie. They were gone for only three days, when tragedy hit...during the day while everyone was gone; Winnie was killed by a couple of mangy, half-starved dogs (otherwise known as Butter and Marge). The boys came home from school and went to feed Winnie, only to find her remains. When I arrived home, I found two panicked, teary-eyed boys.

That began a frantic search for a replacement for Winnie, needing to match the breed and approximate age of Winnie proved very challenging. Luckily for us, the day before our neighbor's arrival home, we succeeded in locating a match only twenty miles away! We picked out a new Winnie and a companion for her (after the kids begged, pleaded, and made outrageous promises for getting a new pet). Amazingly, they have been very good so far at keeping those outrageous promises. It has been very fun to watch how excited they are to collect eggs, and turn them into omelets; or let the chickens out for daily exercise and bug hunting (that is the best perk, of not having as many bugs/snails in my yard).

Luckily we have very kind, forgiving neighbors. They took the transition of Winnie I to Winnie II very well, and were good not to berate us for the death of all their quail chicks (that is another long story). They were, however, quite relieved to still have both dogs alive upon their return home.

A quote from Ashlyn

I overheard Ashlyn talking to her friend the other day. I'm not sure what prompted her to be on this topic, but quite clearly I heard her say, "If you are my mother's daughter, you must love chocolate!" Yep, she's absolutely right, I eat so much chocolate when I am pregnant (and when I'm not), that it is mixed into their bloodstream when they are born. I'm afraid they are addicted at birth to chocolate...what kind of a mother am I?

Wax Museum

Last week Lauren's fifth grade class participated in their annual Wax Museum. At the Wax Museum each student picks a famous person, and then they dress up as that person, along with a backdrop and a blurb-explaining the most interesting facts of that person's life. Lauren decided to be Julie Andrews, and we chose the backdrop and the costume to represent one of her most famous roles as Maria from the Sound of Music. (Not pictured is the carpet bag with a cd player hidden inside, playing all the songs Julie Andrew sang on the Sound of Music soundtrack.)

It was a great surprise to see Grandma and Grandpa at the Wax Museum, and we were glad they came all that way to support Lauren!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Last month we sold all our sugar gliders, along with their cages. Then, we moved the office downtstairs and began work on changing the glider room/office into Ashlyn's new bedroom. Lauren and Ashlyn kept a close eye on the painting, making sure we were doing it correctly. (Ashlyn chose a light green paint with a creamy white accent.)