The Conclusion

OK, It has been some time since my last post.
SORRY...Life has been kind of nuts.

I wanted to jump right back in with the conclusion of the Pinewood Derby.

The boys were back in the garage the next morning. They had the body of the car all cut out and the sanding was complete. They weighed it, and they decided that it was time to add some weight.

There are many ways that you can add weight to your car. Some just glue coins to the top of of the car or glue the bar weights to the bottom of the car.Others melt some lead and put it into the center of the car. I was hoping we would go with the gluing the weights on.

Oh know that would be too easy.




I think they just wanted to play with fire of course that is just my opinion.

Once the melted lead (fishing weights)foamed into the solid mold, it was time for the next step.

Painting.




The boys went with a red truculent color and a sliver grill also a # 2 for his racing number. Once the paint dried they added all the details and installed the axles and wheels.





Looking sharp and fast... READY FOR THE RACE.

The weight in was at 8:AM. The emotion were running high.

Pinewood Derby Car Dimensions

The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.
The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.

Derby Car Weight
The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces.


We all held our breath while the official put the car on the race scale and then into the box to check all the dimensions.

WE PASSED !!! We all exhaled with ease.

We received our race # and were put on the table ready for the race to start.



As you can see their are allot of unique race cars on the table.
As the boys walked around the table looking and admiring the other cars. They were already talking about what they could do differently for next year.


It was finally time for the first heat.



All the Scouts lined up. On your makes, get set, GO !
The cars came down quickly. I over head my 29 year old say to another Dad " We are to heavy in the middle" of the car. Then I head my 9 year old say to his buddy "my Dad put to much weigh in the middle of the car"!

The car took second in that heat. Not bad, but they both new that was the best they were going to do all day. As they continued to race heat after heat we watched biting our nails, hoping we would just make it to the next heat. We lasted five heats. Then we were disqualified.



This is our 9 year above (on the left) and one of his buddies after the event was over. Tehy are still smiling, so I think they had a good time !

We did not place this year. However, from the sounds of it we do have a master plan for next years car to take #1.




All in all the Scouts and the Dads had a great time and they look forward to the competition next year.

Pine Wood Derby Project Weekend

In early January my husband & son received a car kit for the Pine Wood Derby.

This will be the second race that our son entered.The first year was fun, he did not win a race but he had the best painted car in the race (Thanks to his uncle Tommy, and the paint booth in his body shop).

This year is going to be a bit different... Let's just say my husband does not have the same passion for motor vehicles of any sort working or not. This is just something that I think is in my family's blood. For my husband not so much. This does not make us love him any less, it just means when it comes to projects like this he seems to struggles a bit more...

He will tell you different, but this gift "I CAN DO ALL WITH KNOW WRONG" must have came from his father...(JUST JOKING, IT IS JUST A GUY THING) !



So my fabulous husband was feeling the pressure...
He polled some colleagues together at work, and some others and gathered ideas for how to build a fast car out of a block of wood.

My son added pressure by saying, "Nathan, can we really do this?"






They started Friday night and worked off and on into this evening. They sanded. And sanded. And sanded. Cut a little here and cut to much their. I heard a voice from the garage "Umm time to go buy a second block just in case". They primed. And primed and primed. And primed. They weighed, drilled more holes, sanded and primed again and again. Two of the three post office locations will be used to weigh the car-in-progress... I just pray that the scales are not off even by one to three-tenths of an ounce.





You see, this is BIG and the rules are out of control!
You have better odds in becoming the next President of the United States.


Race day is January 30Th, 2010, I'm not sure if they can do this...

They will be buffing and buffing the axles with jeweler's rouge until they shine like new money.

They will help set up the race track the night before the race; they will try out the car. I will pray it will be fast, Really fast!

By the 29Th the wheels will be off one last time and buffed again. This time they will be sprayed the axles with silicon and then applied graphite.


As for tonight, they have placed the dremal and the drill on the charges and turned off the body shops lights. My husband said to our son it was time to rest so we can have a fresh look tomorrow.

The next thing I knew ...




Enough said.

I will update you on the progress. I'm sure with all this effort something good will come from it.

Appearance

I was reading an article the other day on a of Reality TV star that spent $30,000 on way to much plastic surgery(my option of course).

It got me thinking in so many different directions. We will go with just one of them thoughts today...

I don't like evening about my appearance but I can change that very easy.... All I have to do is jump on the tread mill a few more times and that will take care of them issues in know time...So in lieu of going out and changing my appearance, I decided that I would go ahead and take advantage of a FREE face lift.

ON MY BLOG THAT IS ....

What do you think ?
Be HONEST I can handle it.

I am still working on it, I will fine tune as I learn more.

Have a great rest of your weekend.

Extraordinary Woman

To an Extraordinary mother, person, wife and a friend.
Today we celebrate her birthday
Which is number fifty-nine.

Hard to believe the years fly by,
This life we dig and delve.
She is so extraordinary...

She is a fabulous wife (right Ralph?)
and raised two great kids.
She even opened her heart an added a few more.
She manages so much more,
She's incredible, no doubt.

She keeps us all together.
Remarkable, in retrospect,
Our thanks? We've said a few.

Now that the kids are grown
with kids all of our own,
We really appreciate with clarity
All the wonders mom has sown.

Some how we all get along,
In fact, we do just fine.

It seems as if the whole thing
Came down to faith in the Lord.

Since "I" have known her
she has always believed !

She is always right here, supporting each if us,
In every way she can.

Her time, her heart, her courage.
Inspiration? She's a thrill.

She taught us how to cook some and knit too,
And function - always strong.
She counseled on the good life,
and taught us right from wrong.

She all about so many things,
Like unconditional love.

On your birthday, mom,
Our love we do avow.
You're just the best in every way,
Forever, then and now.



Love,
Your Family

SNOW DAY! SNOW DAY!

Back to work and school today but yesterday....


It was about 1:00 befor all the kids hit the slopes.
It was time to take our Midwest farm town home and transform it, to look like a very over populated ski resort, like they have back home. The difference is, at this place it is all FREE.
To be quite honest I think it was allot more fun too.

Come on in and enjoy the fun with us.
This snap shot was taken whiles the transformation was under way.



This next shot was one of the tourist trying to pack the snow down. So the jump would go faster and longer.













Needless to say this did not work out so much.
We see this quite often around these parts.
These tourists come on in and think they know it all...
We just say another one bits the snow !




One of the snow boarding hill were finally complete.
The same tourists that tyred out the sledding hill
stepped right up to test this one out.
With a little assistance from one of our very own instructors.



He was off in now time !



















With blistering temperatures,
we always have a cold smile on!






To finish off our day on the slopes,
We all huddle in the shelagh for a
nice warm cup of Hot Coco.



All in all our made up Ski Resort was a blast !
Your more then welcome to come on out and play with us.


GOOD TIMES! GOOD TIMES !

FIRST SNOW DAY OF 2010

IN NORMAL TODAY - Snow continues to fall as hundreds of school children and parents settle in for a the first SNOW DAY OF 2010.

This is of our back yard this morning at about 5:00 AM



We will be off to test out our new snow board, hockey stick and maybe we can make a few snow angles and build a snowman.

We will see if it warms up enough to go and play.

I HOPE SO !

LET IT SNOW !
LET IT SNOW !
LET IT SNOW !

Good bye to 09

Relishing in the peace and quiet in front of the fire, smelling cinnamon rolls in the oven and fresh brewed coffee... so grateful for my life, God, my fabulous husband-my soulmate-best friend, my 2 beautiful children, my parents, Ralph, Char, My brother, Tiffany & Jason all my family and friends. Thank you for the journey of 2009. GOOD TIMES ! GOOD TIMES !

I look forward to sharing a blessed 2010 with each of you !

Have a very HAPPY & SAFE NEW YEARS !