Derby Rotten Scoundrels

This year we are really enjoying the Boy Scouts.  There have been so many neat things for the boys to do.  Of course the one thing we know EVERYONE gets excited about is the Pinewood Derby!


As soon as we received this, 

we were ready to do work!

The problem is the directions were like this:

It wasn't long before we were thinking of looking at cars on eBay.

We knew we needed help ASAP, and lucky for us we have connections.

We enlisted the help of Mr R. and Mrs. E (they have not one but TWO Eagle scouts).

They were very accommodating.

As you can see from this picture....

the fathers always have a certain amount of "planning" before the son starts working.  They gave us lots of tips to get started.

Fathers in the background planning- but great pic of the kids!

At this point C. is more concerned with J's pet snake- not the Derby.


Of course I said I wasn't getting involved but I just HAD to share some of my tips for success, for example,
1. plan ahead
2.  stick with a theme
3.  make a sketch

Men don't really think that way.  They play it by ear.  I was annoyed as heck when Darren and Connor were still messing around with weights for this car the DAY OF THE RACE while trying to get ready.  
I don't work like that.  I plan. I plan. I plan.


We have one of these now. hello. We plan.

During the process, Darren let Connor pick what he wanted to do with his car, paint, fix the stickers, and name the derby car. The car was suppose to be based on the Blue Angels via Connor's vision.

This is how it turned out. 

Connor simply named it 'NAVY'.   

I asked the question:  Is it a car?  An airplane?  Or a ship?

The answer from the boys:  It doesn't matter because it has missiles and that makes it cool.

I was very concerned that after a very long week that Connor would not attain to all the races that would run, and then he would get in trouble.  

Boy was I wrong.  

C. cheered everyone on and stayed close to the track watching ALL the races. 

 (God Bless our Den Leader who patiently answered, "Can I go next? Is it my turn?" a million times!)

Even Mr. R., Mrs. E., and J. came out to support Connor.  We are so very lucky to know such wonderful people.

 

One thing about it we were consistent. 

Consistently LAST every time.

Toward the end we came in second at one race and The Sechrist Clan almost broke out the champagne...right there on the spot.

2nd Place, YAHOOOO??

We pretty much knew we were only going to be getting a "moral victory" much to the non-joy of  Darren.  He kept trying to encourage Connor to fix his car perfectly on the track.  I told D. he needed to relax and just say he was proud.  

D. said there was no time for politically correct parenting during an important thing like a race.

After the third pep talk I broke the news to my husband that their car sucked at speed!  He refused to believe it.

 Of course, Connor thought he won every race and was as happy as a lark.  He kept asking me how many points he had and I just kept saying 1000 every time (I didn't have a clue).

Meanwhile Carlee was not keeping me entertained.

So it wasn't long before I was getting a little restless.  

I found some friends that were more my 'speed'

 (checkout those shoes..so pretty).

At the end of the night, I explained to Connor that he wouldn't get a trophy but it didn't matter because he rocked it.

He said that was cool.

But then the kids voted on Best of Show and Most Original Car....and guess what?

My Connor WON in a three way tie for Best in Show!  

I was so surprised and proud the Navy/Plane/Car won!!!

Very Exciting.

He is so very proud of this.

I later told Darren I thought the Ice-cream Sandwich Car would win for sure.   It was so neat looking.

 He told me I had to think like a 7-9 year old boy not a tired 34 year old woman with chocolate needs.  

Good Point-but I loved it.

I have to tell you I had fun with my Derby Rotten Scoundrels.

We laughed and enjoyed watching all the scouts tonight.

Darren is an amazing dad. 

I love watching him with the kids.

I love my crazy family.

We may be slow...

we may be last...

we may have a few wheels that wobble...

but we are always ready to be the Best in Show.