Pinewood Derby cars

The cars are finished, the race is done and the trophy's are in.  Enjoy!

What started out as a block of wood and an idea like these:

turned into pinewood cars like these:

Then came race day and the wait to sign in.  You can see the track here too

Oh, the excitement of seeing your car getting ready to win

and the fun of watching them come to the finish line

Next is the waiting and the anticipation

of seeing who gets to take one of these home

Looks like we did pretty good!



But the best part was the pride of seeing what they created



Cerah's creativity

I am always amazed at the creativity Cerah shows.  I wish I could say she got her artistic streak from me but I cannot.  However, I still like to show off what she does.  In a proud parent way, not a boastful way.  Right now all the kids are working on their pinecar derby projects because the meet is this Saturday.  I will post pictures of the projects as soon as they are done.  But, I have added Cerah's unfinished one here just because it goes along with my post.

Here's Cerah working on her pinewood car

This is her dolphin car waiting to be painted.  She has picked a bright red color

This is her mosaic art project she did in school.  Can you see what it is?

Does this help?  Can you see it now? 

Try again

Cerah was drawing out her pinewood car design for next year when India decided to help her

Luckily Cerah was able to distract her

India is our new pencil sharpener

Busy days

The kids are off school this week for "mid winter break".  I'm not sure what the point of it is except to drive us parents crazy.  After all, how do you keep 6 kids occupied for a full week when it's cold and snowy outside?  It's not like the middle of summer where you can send them out to run around or play sports or go to the lake.  And although I am already hearing "I'm bored" from a couple of them the others are finding ways to entertain themselves.

Cerah made bagels this morning.  They were pretty good

Then the spent a few hours playing Axis and Allies.  It's a really long game

Hanah finally decided to join in since the others were taking so long. 

Then they went downstairs to play house in Hannah's room

We made Cerah go but she didn't really want to so she claims that she's the dresser and it's her job to just sit there

Even Max tried to join in but they didn't want him chasing Shannon who is playing the part of a cat

I would have joined in but I am still recovering from yesterday.  My back is one unhappy camper

NOOOOOOoooooo!!!

So long Spring.  Welcome back Winter, you cold hearted season. 

Remember those pictures of my trees with beautiful, beautiful grass around them? 

I don't.

And my deck that you could walk on?  No more.  Now there's 7 inches of snow covering it.

And my driveway.  You can't even tell I have a driveway except for the tire tracks can you?

Well,  I do now but when I took this picture you couldn't tell.  I would show you an after picture to go along with the before but I am too tired.  Besides, I have to go to confession now because I'm pretty sure I broke a few of the commandments while I was shoveling all this.  The first was murder, although not literally.  But since, according to the bible, thinking about murder is the same as doing it I am guilty.  See, I was wishing I could go back in time and stop whoever it was that discovered this stupid state.  And yes, I would go to extreme lengths to do so.  After I had been out there for about an hour and a half (which gave me lots of time to think) my neighbor came out with his snowblower and did his driveway and sidewalk in 30 minutes.  Hello coveting and envy.  As if that wasn't bad enough he was so kind as to blow all that snow from the sidewalk onto my driveway.  Apparently he thought the snowplow hadn't pushed enough onto it.  Murder is quickly becoming my favorite fantasy.  All in all, it took 4 hours to do the driveway and the deck.  The boys came out to help about an hour after I started and Tony came out half an hour after that so I did have some help.

That said I am going to let you in on a little secret:  I would give my left testicle for a snow plow or a snow blower right about now.  What's that?  I don't have one?  Well, if I did I would gladly donate it. I wonder if Rob's a deep sleeper.  Hmmm.  But I don't have a plow or snow blower  *sniff, sniff*.  Instead I will just have to keep using this -

At least it works.  Wanna know why I don't look happy?  It's cuz I know what's coming.  Fast forward 4 hours and you should see me now.  On second thought, you probably don't want to.

Spring is teasing

We are starting to see signs of spring.  I know it's too soon for it to be here but for today it is.  What a tease Spring can be.  She gives us just a glimpse of her beauty and then covers it up again, perhaps knowing that once we've had a little taste we will gladly wait for the full show.  As for me, I will enjoy what I can while I can.

GRASS!  Under all that white there was grass.  I'd almost forgotten it was there

This one too.  Just pretend you don't see the little bit of ice left

And a driveway again.  No longer do I have to guess where I'm at when pulling in.  Don't mind the water - it's just melted snow that has nowhere to go.

Yes, I know that this is just a picture of the side of my house but do you see what's on it?

Shadows - caused by sun peeking through the trees.  Oh glorious sun, how I've longed for you.

Why did you take so long to come to me?

The importance of this picture?  Well, my child is outside in the middle of February wearing only a short sleeve shirt and she is not blue from cold nor does she have icicles hanging off of her.  Yay weather.