Spring Break 2011--The Adventure Continues

Tuesday--Pinewood Derby Day!

The original title for today was going to be Road Rally Day but the coughing and asmtha started to take over the house so I decided to keep the kids inside for most of the day instead. This was not an easy choice because who wants to be cooped up during Spring Break? So for most of the day I would not have been in the running for Mom of the Year--or even the Hour. But after Scott came home and we got the Pinewood Derby activity going things started looking up!


Scott brought home new Pinewood Derby cars for all the boys but Bradley and Bryson wanted to use ones they already had. So we quickly put Blake and Brock's together and let them color them. It was waaaay faster and cleaner than paint! Brock kept saying "I ready to race!" He was one excited racer!


Brock and Blake with their finished cars and BIG smiles!


Bryson and Bradley (and Scott snuck in at the last second) chill with their "professional" Pinewood Derby Cars from past races.


We inherited a practice track which came from a very famous 4th of July Celebration in Utah several years ago when Mom and Dad brought derby cars for all the little kids and we had our own Pinewood Derby. The kids still talk about that 4th! Anyway, Bradley set up the practice track so it inclined on a patio chair and we couldn't keep Brock from waiting for an official "On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!" He was just GONE!


They had so much fun and got a little creative in how high they could hold the track and how that would effect how far the car would continue to go after it ran out of track at the end. I just watched and let them race all the sadness of the day away!


Here Blake and Brock watch as Brock's car zooms down the track!


Brock was totally captivated by the whole process. They all had a blast but I think his blast went even higher than the other boys!


I loved watching them all race their car, run after it and wait to race again. We raced into the night even after it got dark and didn't call it quits until a couple of cars took major spills and lost wheels. Not to worry, we recovered all the nails and wheels and I'm sure the cars will live to race another day!

Spring Break 2011--The Adventure Continues

Monday--Wacky Olympics Day

So this afternoon we held the Wacky Olympics. We talked a little about the Olympics before we began and then each boy made a flag for his "country." Like The Country of Blake etc.

Here are Brock and Bryson working on their flags. Brocks had golf balls and a golf club in the middle of a square. Bryson's was blue and yellow with a picture of himself holding the American Flag in the corner.


Blake's flag was a similar design to the American flag but instead of stars he drew "dots" and of course the whole thing was outlined in green. On the back he drew everyone in the family, including Baby Rockstar--the soon to be Grover Boy #5 who still has no name. Bradley was concentrating very hard on his flag so the camera didn't disturb his creative process.


I put on John Williams Olympic Fanfare on my iPod and speakers and we had our Opening Ceremonies with the Parade of Nations through the backyard.


Here they are as they continue along the Parade Route with flags displayed.


The Country of Brock's delegate took a wrong turn but eventually caught up with the rest of the Olympians.


Here is the finish to the Opening Ceremonies with all the flags displayed proudly from our 4 represented countries.


The first event of the afternoon was the Egg-on-Spoon Race. Quite a challenge for some of our athletes and some had to have the rules re-stated due to a slight tendency to cheat. Fortunately, it was only good clean fun in the end thanks to last year's plastic easter eggs.



The second event was the Tight Lip Race. Each athlete had to hold the straw between their nose and lips and run down the backyard and back. Bryson was the champion of this race. This is one guy with some tough lip muscles!


Next, the Balloon Challenge. Runners kept the balloon between their legs and ran down and back. We added a variation called the Balloon Hugger Race where you put one balloon between two people tummy to tummy--like a hug. You have to hold on tight and coordinate all 4 feet or your balloon will drop! There were world records broken in the latter event. Way to pop to the top boys!


4th was the Jumping contest. Not as popular by this crowd but Blake got in 23 jumps in one minute and Bryson got in 70+ before having an asthma attack. The dedication these boys had to these Wacky Olympic games was astounding!


The fifth and final event was the discuss throw. On a best two out of three, Bradley was the consistent winner, although Bryson's distance greatly improved by the third throw. If any two boys know how to throw a paper plate--it's these two!


Closing Ceremonies were simple with all being dubbed Winners for their country.


And the creativity just never stops! Way to balance the Olympic Rings on your leg Brock!

Blakers Turns 6!

Blake had been counting the months and days to his birthday for a long time. He is old enough to get that his birthday is also the same day as Valentine's Day so there was much sugar spread around at school in his honor. At home he wanted a Batman Birthday party which was funny because as I was trying to concoct a Bat Signal, he got into some Batman fruit snacks and kept asking who the characters were in the package. He really hasn't watched Batman so I'm not sure where the fascination came from but throw a Batman Party we did!


My boys are not big cake people so we attempted a Rice Krispy Cake that sounded like a great idea to me. Unfortunately, we've discovered my kitchen or mixing bowls carry a hex on RKT's and even though I double wrapped each layer of the cake as soon as it was in the pan, my Gotham City building was a little dried out when I went to assemble it. Blake helped me make Bat shaped RKT's and those came out ok. So with the Bat RKT's, ice cream, M&M's and Batman Fruit Snacks no one went home NOT on a sugar high.


Blake and his Batman Loot!


New Toy Story 3 Action Links! We almost have the whole Toy Story 3 World at our fingertips!


One request Blake had was for a racetrack for the Bathtub. Never underestimate the power of Hot Wheels! This is the best bath toy for boys I've seen! The race track has suction cups that stick to the side of the tub and you just race the waterproof car to your hearts content!


A new Bridge for our Kung Zhu Hamster Training Camp! Go motorized pets that don't make a mess!


After all the presents were opened we jabbed candles into our RKT brick and let Blake blow away! The Bat Signal is the round-ish thing on the stick. I covered the front with melted chocolate chips and stuck a paper bat signal to it and put battery operated lights all around. We also put lights in the clear container with the black packaged Batman snacks--very foreboding! This was not my best birthday dessert day but absolutely my best "high tech with the use of lights" birthday! Thankfully, Blake had a great day and that was what really mattered!

Bryson's First Pinewood Derby

We have calculated that Scott will participate in 15 Pinewood Derby races over the next decade plus. Each boy gets to race 3 years in Cub Scouts as a Wolf, Bear and Weblos. Bradley's official racing days are over but this year was Bryson's first. I'm not sure who was more excited--Bryson or Scott! They didn't get started on the car as early as others but in one week they built one fast race car! If you have boys and haven't seen "Down and Derby" you need to see it. My house didn't get quite that chaotic--but a close second. They did take the car wrapped in towels in a box on Racing Day. It was heard to be said that they should give the awards out during Priesthood Meeting the next day since some of the dads went a little crazy.



Here is Bryson and car Pre-Race time. It turns out there is a whole Pinewood Derby Market of tricks and secrets to make your car perform the very best. A little scary and hilarious to watch the whole event unfold!


Bryson's car ended up racing great! He won 1st in his Den so I guess that means all the trade secrets and insanity paid off. Can't wait until next year. . .

Brock and the 3rd Birthday Nap!

For Brock's 3rd Birthday I thought a Toy Story theme would be fun. He had just gotten Toy Story Lego for Christmas so we used those plus some Thomas the Tank Engine train tracks to build a cool center piece. (Special engineers for the job were Bradley and Grandma).


Close up of the poor Alien on the cupcake who is about to be run over unless Woody can stop the train in time!


Since Toy Story is all about the toys I decided to put a twist on the build a Mr. Potato Head idea and let the kids build cupcake people out of different candies.


The glich was the Birthday Boy was really tired and grumpy and pretty much refused to open any presents. Never saw that one coming! A nap was the end result while the rest of the party goers enjoyed the party without him.


We took pictures of everyone's creations. Megan build a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting and yellow M&M's. Totally Megan!


Adam just had an enjoyable feast of candy and chocolate cupcake!


Katelyn used the toothpicks to give her cupcake guy or gal a leg to stand on! I think she built/ate 3 cupcakes in all! You Go Girl!


Ali used some pretty high-end decorating skills on her creations.


Regan decided to go for a very 3D look with Airheads standing up out of the tops of her cupcakes.


Love this picture of Jake ready to devour the whole table!


Blake showing off his green vanilla cupcake with blue M&M's from the inside out! Makes a mom proud!


Bradley's cupcake weighed the heaviest I'm sure. No hesitation on his part to utilize the candy layering option.


Bryson pulled a double decker vanilla cupcake monster out of his imagination complete with big red eyes on the top.


A couple of hours later Brock decided to wake up. Although at first he was still not completely into opening presents, he eventually came around and had fun with this Super Why Hover Toy.


Little Super Why people up, up and away!


Zoom!


Since we were taking the whole birthday thing step by step, it wasn't until the next morning that Brock blew out his candle on his Alien Cupcake.


He was a little nervous at first but finally got the candle blown out.


I did it! And apparently Woody did stop the train in time because the Alien Cupcake is still standing!