Pinewood Derby 2010

The Pinewood Derby. What can I say about it? This year it was a TOTAL bust for Caleb. It was so bad, we almost walked out after 5 races. Here is the problem. 1) I forget that the pinewood derby is in March every year. I just do not remember. 2) I cannot help Caleb make a derby car. That is NOT one of my talents. 3) Jared is so busy teaching school, working full-time, going to school, being in the bishopric and being a dad that the pinewood derby does not even enter his brain. The results of these things is:

A store bought car that is already carved and just needs paint, assembly and stickers. BUT, a car that does NOT even cross the finish line in ANY race it runs. It was devastating for Caleb. After the first 4-5 races where his car didn't even finish the race he was done. I, too was done. Jared was not there to help and I didn't know how to help him, until....

Jim Hamberlin came to the rescue. Jim LOVES the Pinewood Derby. Loves to carve his own cars just for the fun of it. Jim stepped up and let Caleb use one of the cars he made for himself and Caleb used that for the rest of the night. Needless to say, the car was not "legal" and so he was not eligible to win anything, BUT, that car SMOKED every other car in every race it ran. That was all that mattered to Caleb. That he had a car that would win.

So, I have now told Jared that for his birthday this year (he turns 40 by the way and we will have a big party - hopefully a roast, so get all your stories together) that I am buying him whatever tool it is that he needs to carve a derby car and him and Caleb will start working on it in November, so we will be ready for the race next year!!!

PS - I realize that none of these pictures match the actual story, but it is what I have. :)