Pinewood Derby Race...

Pinewood Derby Race... the Silver Streak is complete and ready to compete!
Great turnout! I guess these boys just needed a little competition to get out of their recliners.

First the wives do the judging...
Coolest and Dorkiest


The racing begins...

And we race....

And Race...

Hey that car doesn't have any wheels on it.... The silver streak took second place twice in the same lane, against the same three cars. So they picked the no. one car and he moved up. Not normally how that is done... but it's all just for fun, right?

The first place car... "All American"

The Coolest Car... "BYU Blue"

The Dorkiest Car... "Kit" (still in the box, didn't quit get finished)

The boys were good, everyone had a fun time, no tears were shed...

But my Strong Silent Mysterious Man had a thought... (he's always thinking this one) he hadn't brought out the "graphite" yet (that's the stuff that turns everything black, but makes the wheels go faster or something like that). The race was over, the winner claimed his prize...

But after some fine tuning, he was able to "con" the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place cars to race against him after his final pit stop.... they agreed and were confident with their wins.

He actually told me to be sure and announce that he BLEW THEM ALL AWAY ~ 3 times each!! So everyone in our house will sleep good tonight knowing that the #3 car "The Silver Streak" was really #1 when all was said and done!

Boys and their toys! GOOD GRIEF!!

He may not be a winner on the record books, but he is #1 in my book!!

Pre-Pinewood Derby Race...

Anyone who has known a cub scout in their lifetime, is probably familiar with the famous "Pine Wood Derby" races. The boys (mind you... 8-11 years old) get a kit with a block of pine and some wheels in it... and with some strickt rules about weight etc. they build a car to roll down a track and race against other cars (supposedly) built by cub scouts. And depending on the troop, this cherrished event can have many long heats, lots of tears, dropped cars, wobbly wheel repairs, black hands and uniforms covered in some powder that is supposed to make them go faster, track repair, a very late school night, and for one proud father... I mean cub with the coveted 1st place trophy.


In the past the men's quarom in our church would get together for a dinner or a picnic with their wives for a social of some kind. Apparently, in our ward they are not very well attended, so they decided to change up the social and give these men a chance to build and race their own pine wood derby cars.


I guess the only good news, is it gives these poor mothers a break from having to protect their small cub scouts from the dangers of competitive natured fathers, since these Dad's don't have to pretend their cub scout built the car.


And maybe we will have a few laughs on the side lines sharing our stories with each other while these silly men race their cars. Yes, my strong silent mysterious man is building his own car to race Friday night at this most dreaded social event.



It starts with the block of wood, fine tune sanding comes after the secret design process of which I was not allowed to take pictures.


All parts must be carefully weighed....


A fraction of an ounce can mean the difference between a win, and disqualification...



Precision drilling to add the desired weights to even out the car's center of balance...


High gloss metalic paint, carefully applied, no streaks, no finger prints... this is most important (cause if you lose the race, there is still a chance for the second most coveted prize "Best in Show").


The secret weapon... 14 intake valvues (whatever that means)
ready for the next step... the wheels. If memory serves me correct... this is a process I can go to bed and miss out on, lots of cracked wood, missing parts, smashed fingers and swearing.



Tonight... the Race ~ To be continued...

Youth Night at the Church...

Wednesday night is when the youth at our church have activities. Last night I heard they were playing co-ed kickball, so I figured if they were outside I would wander over and take some pictures. By the time I got there, most of the kids had gone inside the church and were socializing waiting on some special treats the older girls brought to share. Just a few die-hards still outside playing! Of course my boys were among them.

And my Strong Silent Mysterious Man is the Scout Master over the 12 and 13 year olds. So 2J's is not in his group anymore, but still enjoys going on the camp outs with his Dad and the younger kids... he seems to enjoy their fun nature, and they are not afraid to get dirty.

We always tease my husbands co-leader, he blends right in with the boys because he looks soooo young (in the stripes). We send him into the youth dances (he still has some pretty cool moves) and he can be our adult spy on the kids to find out if they are planning any mutinies against us.

The 14-15 year old boys are just too cool for themselves (they are hard to live with too), and they will eat you out of house and home.

But mostly they flirt with these silly girls.

I love the Youth! They keep me on my toes, and help me remember to laugh

when I am too serious!

9/11

Yesterday was such a busy day for me... meetings at the local college at 8am, then out to the country for another meeting at 10am, then downtown in the City for another meeting at 1pm... it was "meeting day". Who knew I was so popular!
I've mentioned I detest meetings right!

As I left the building and realized I was across the street from the Capital Bldg and I saw the flags at half mast and realized the date. It was just a very somber feeling that came over me there. I remember being at home getting ready for work when my Mom called me on that morning 6 years ago to turn on the news. She was on the East Coast and couldn't get home for a week after it happened due to all the crazy flight changes. I watched as the second plane hit, and the rest of the events unfolded. I couldn't even wrap my mind around what they were reporting. I remember wanting to go pick up my kid from school and just have him with me. I was a single Mom at the time. It brought back home to me that in times of trials... it really all comes down to family. That is what I wanted with me most during times of sorrow and pain, is my family and friends close by and safe. It was easy to let go of petty things that tend to take up my time.

I made sure I would take some time after my crazy day yesterday when I got home, that I would watch some of the tributes to those whose lost their lives and what it meant, and means to now. There were some great stories shared, and beautiful tributes and memories of those more closely affected by that tragic event 6 years ago.


Apparently I should have spent more time at home with my dogs... Morgan needed me yesterday and almost never never get's in trouble, but had some issues yesterday.

Someone left a paper towel on the side table, no doubt covered in some remnance of yummy food, probably with sugar... (was it really her fault?) she knew it was wrong, but it was so tempting! Like any child, she hates to dissapoint us, and can't stand to be in trouble.

Also, Like any kid, she get's over it pretty quickly and forgets her troubles.
A lesson I should learn about "Forgive and Forget", "Don't Worry, Be Happy", "Sing a Little Song, Do a Little Dance". "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff". Yep, I learn allot of lessons from my four legged little friends! They know way more than I give them credit.

Fun times at the Ranch...

We have some friends that live out on a Ranch and raise beef cattle for a living. It's pretty common here, but me being a "city girl", it is so fascinating to me to go hang out and hear about how they live, and day in and out happenings on the Ranch.
We call their place "the compound" because Mom and Dad live in the big house, and one brother and his family live in another house on the property, and then another brother and his family have another house on the property... all one big happy family out there, and they seem to look out for each other.
What is that saying "the family that sweats together stays together"... yep when it's harvest time, they are all out working the fields and gathering hay, kids and all, early mornings before school, and late nights until the work is done. It takes a whole different breed, I tell you.

So we have them hooked on our newest hobby, Archery!
They are loving it now too... and have a target set up out in the field... so we went over to play for a while, shooting.
Yeah, we let Dad think he is a good shot, sometimes we have to let him win so he doesn't pout or lock us out (he he he, just kidding, kind of).

Their kids LOVE 2J's!! He adores children... and they all sleep good after getting together, because he plays hard with them.


Of course there is always dogs to be loved on out there, and he has a super soft heart for puppies (who doesn't... AWWWWWW!!).

I guess he takes after his Dad, his soft spot is for the babies!
This little guys name is Colt, but they call him Tater, somehow it fits now... I just hope he grows up to be a cowboy like his Dad, I'm not sure how Tater would fly on Wall Street in Armani.

Papa and Nene's Visit

Tuesday Night when they got here, we got to go to Papa's Favorite Ice Cream place... Sonic. I never believed him that their Coconut Cream Pie Shake was the best, but now I am convinced. It's my new favorite! Now, I have something else I have to stay clear of. Ugggg!
Thursday Morning after the Court of Honor they left and went to Cody Wyoming. They had always wanted to go to the Cowboy Museum there.

Last night they made it back into town, so we went over to their room and heard all about the trip to Wyoming. The museum, Yellowstone, Mom even went to the LDS Chapel to see the Cody Mural that is so famous there, and loved every minute they were there. It totally sounds like a place my "strong silent mysterious man" would love to visit, maybe I can talk him into it next summer for a family vacation trip, since it isn't too far. She brought me back some neat literature so I could see what we were missing.



So this morning they were headed back home...

Pretty sad moment, I cried as they drove off into the sunrise.
I think Mom could have stayed for a few more days to visit, but there is no slowing down my Dad when he get's on the road... a true trucker at heart, he can put some miles behind him pretty quick!
It was a very fast visit, but one we will never forget... it was great to have them here for 2J's special day.