And now for the main event!

This weekend we did the Pinewood Derby for Audie's Scout troop at church. Because there were only 10 boys, they competed against each other. They had some circular bracket system that provided each scout 2 races in each of the three lanes of the track. First place of each race was awarded 3 points, second received 2 points, and third received 1. At the end, scores were totaled and the top 3 raced against each other in 3 races to allow them a full rotation through the lanes.

Audie was a little disappointed that he didn't win, but he did receive a certificate naming his car the Car-ma Chameleon (after the song) and a participation medal. Ashton was our first place winner, and as a special treat, we raced his car against mine from the cake.

I started with a piece of green floral Styrofoam the same size as a pinewood derby blank and carved it into this shape. Then I covered it in fondant and had Dougie pick the colors and design the paint job. I used real pinewood derby wheels.The whole thing was 1.2 ounces under the max of 5 ounces, so Ashton's car already had a clear advantage. As his car was crossing the finish line and mine was 3 feet behind it, the front 2 wheels flew off and the car skidded to a halt. It wasn't meant to be a serious race, more for entertainment, and everyone loved it.
This last shot was on the table at the derby. I was also asked to coordinate food for the event, so in addition to cake we had chips and dip, a veggie tray with ranch dip (that I totally rocked, BTW), and taco bites.
After the race was over and clean-up complete, we headed down to Winchester to see my newest nephew, Matthew Vinh. I got to hold him, so tiny, and snuggle, look at him, look at Tim, look at him, look at Tim and smile, and hear, "No, we already have 3!"

Tim even held him... and I have PROOF!!!

All you see is a little fuzzy head and then Tim's ARM!
I want one! OK, reality check. I'm satisfied to snuggle and coo at this little guy. In the mean time, I was the first on the Whitcomb side that got to hold him... Nanny, Nanny, Boo, Boo!

When enough isn't enough

I've been working on a blanket for a young couple at church expecting their first baby (a boy). Two 6oz skeins of Caron Simply Soft Collection yarn in "pistachio" later, I'm only 2/3 complete. I need to get another skein to finish the blanket, but neither wally-world nor Michael's in Martinsburg have it in stock.

Monkey!

I'm waiting until after the AC Moore in Hagerstown opens before I call to see if they have any. Lucky for me this particular color is a no dye lot, so the yarn shouldn't be any different. If I can't find it at AC Moore, I might be forced to order it online... for $4 a skein with $5 in shipping. Grrr! My hope is that it doesn't come to that. As soon as I get it done, I'll post pics of the blanket here. Hopefully it won't take long to locate that last skein.

"I am a dalek... EXTERMINATE!!!"

My parents and sister showed me a video last night that my sister had captured on her camera. Somewhere after a TV show that had a model or picture of a dalek from Doctor Who, Dougie began walking around in a stiff robotic manner with his hands out in front of him, moving in choppy up and down arcs, saying, "I am a dalek... EXTERMINATE!!!"He "attacked" my father who played along and screamed as Dougie the dalek touched him. Then Dougie went after my mother in the kitchen with a similar response from her.

I love that my kiddos are as kooky as I am sometimes!

So much for Groundhog Day

What's this? Ice on the front of my Trailblazer Monday night? An inch of ice and then 2 more of snow?

What happened to no shadow?

I thought that meant spring! And so it begins. Right after I took the unused snow boots back to wally-world, it gives us this. Fun. Tim worked overnight and said the roads were a mess, so I stayed home with the kiddos (with no school). We watched movies, cleaned the house, had sausage gravy and biscuits for dinner. (yum)

I did start working on the cake for the pinewood derby this Saturday. I'll give you a hint...

There is a car... that is all. :)