Another Pinewood Derby in the Books

I have mixed feelings about Pinewood Derbies.  We've had years where the kids (and Mom and Dad) have spent a ton of research, time, and work to make the best, fastest, awesomest derby car ever.  Then we've had years where we've done minimal work, slapped a number on the side, and called it good.  The race results never seem to reflect the effort expended, so I can never really reconcile my feelings about the event and all it entails.

This year our troop decided to use cars from pre-cut kits.  It required very minimal assembly and effort on everyone's part, which was likely appreciated by most parents.  Kyle completed his car a few days after the kits were passed out, a couple of months ago.  Grant finished his car with minutes to spare the night of the race.  The axles of the cars kept falling out of their pre-drilled slots, and with only a couple of hours before the race, I didn't have time to use a slow-drying glue to hold them in place.  I decided super glue was my friend and I glued the axles into place before we left the house.

When we got to the race and started the weigh-in, I discovered two of Kyle's wheels had seized up and would no longer turn.  Ack!  My super glue idea had backfired on me.  With minutes to go until the race started, Kyle's best friend, Eli, came to our rescue.  Eli and his dad had built two cars to race, one for fun.  They offered to take the wheels off their extra car and let Kyle use them so he could race.  What a friend!  With the help of our Scoutmaster, David Reinhold, we quickly installed the new wheels along with the weights Kyle needed and off to the races he went.

And, guess what?  Kyle won the event!  It was a true testament to good sportsmanship, helping others, and Scout honor.  We were grateful to have been the recipient of such help and goodwill.  Thanks to all!

The competition

Grant in the background celebrating his brother's win 

Kyle trying not to smile too big, but obviously pleased with his results

Bored on Sunday

Sometimes when you're bored on Sundays....

you take your family for a drive in the mountains.  

And maybe you bring your guns...

... and teach your kids how to shoot stuff.

And let them chop down trees with hatchets...

... and get silly enough that they want to take pictures in random poses.

It's what we did on a boring Sunday.   And it was fun!

Snippets

Kyle came home from an afternoon at Grandma's and told me:

"Mom, at Grandmas house there was a 45-minute commercial on her TV!"

"Really?  What was it about?"

"Something about the comfort of your feet."

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I bought a belt a couple of weeks ago.  OH. MY. GOODNESS.  Why haven't I purchased one of these incredible inventions for so many years?  It must be because I was pregnant forever and a day during my child-bearing years.  My brain must have forgotten during that time how useful these little straps of leather can be.  My pants actually stay put now!  Seriously.  I'm amazed.

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Does McDonald's have great food?  Nope.  Do any fast food establishments have great food?  Not really.  Am I usually disappointed when I order something "spicy" and can hardly taste or feel the spice?  Yup.  Does McDonald's have a totally awesome, nice-and-spicy-even-for-the-hot-tongued, southwest chicken wrap?  YES!  Order it today! It won't disappoint!

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I was talking with someone the other day who was upset and quietly crying.  Karina happened to notice and asked why they were crying so quietly.  Then she commented, "Cuz when I cry, I'm usually screaming and yelling and stuff."

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Karina, on playing loud music:
"I usually just blast the music, Mom, 'cuz nothing really ever hurts my ears.  Like screaming.... loud music....  yeah, it just doesn't hurt me!"

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April Fools Day:
Kyle put Grant's shoes on the curtain rod above the window.
Dallin put salt on everyone's toothbrush.  I thought the toothpaste tasted funny, but nobody else seemed to notice.

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I made stir-fry this evening, complete with sticky rice and sweet chili sauce on the side.  As Karina was eagerly pouring sauce on her plate she exclaimed, "I love Mexican food!"

An Easter Program

As if a musical Christmas program weren't enough to organize and plan, I decided an Easter program would be a good idea.  After all was finished, it was a good idea because it accomplished the goal of worship and reverence for the Savior on Easter Sunday.  Those who listened and participated were pleased with the outcome.  But the work and worry involved for me was more cumbersome than I had anticipated.

I learned that most people are much more busy in the spring than they are in the fall.  It was a challenge to get the choir members to be consistent in their attendance, which can be disheartening for me and for the other members who come regularly.  In the end it all worked out, even though we were a smaller group than during the Christmas season.

I also learned not to pick out "simple" songs in minor keys, thinking that it will be an easy, quick song to learn for the choir.  It was easy to learn, but not easy to make sound good.  Sigh.  Oh well.

But I also learned that even when I'm unsure of myself and of my ability to put together a fluid, cohesive program that is both pleasing to the ear, to the mind, and to the Lord, I am sustained by the powers of heaven in my efforts.  And, I suppose, that makes all the worry and work worth it.

Back to school--sort of...

I'm still working at the shop doing much of the data entry and bookkeeping.  I'm turning into the Accounts Payable/Receivable Department, I think.  

Back in February, we met with our accountant to get our business taxes prepped.  After discussing all the numbers and after my numerous questions, he advised me to take a basic accounting class so I can better understand the numbers and how they flow through the reports and documents of our business.  And so, because I do as I'm told, I enrolled in an online basic accounting course.

It's a bit challenging, since it's teaching me how to do everything the long, handwritten ledger way.  I'm so grateful for modern accounting software that allows us to enter data and let the software do all the correct debiting and crediting of accounts behind the scenes.  I've also read several books from the library on accounting and bookkeeping, which has been helpful.  Double-entry accounting is not necessarily simple, nor does it make much sense without practicing it over and over.  Probably the most challenging thing is that accounting terms are NOT what we're used to in our daily lives--credits and debits are the opposite in banking language.  That has thrown my mind for a loop more than once!

My next stack of books to study is about QuickBooks.  We are preparing to switch our current software over to QuickBooks, so I'm trying to familiarize myself with that program.  I don't think it will be terribly different from what we currently use, but any global change like this in a company is difficult and tedious.  Especially when customers still want to purchase items and be serviced, bills still need to be paid, employees still want their paychecks, etc, etc.  

Kah-Nee-Ta

We took the kids to Kah-Nee-Ta to spend a few days for spring break.  The weather wasn't ideal, but the warm water made up for it.  We rented a little cabin that was right across from the pool and took full advantage of our location.  The kids swam every day and loved every minute of it.  They enjoyed the water slides immensely.  Even Karina mustered the courage to go down the slides and she did great!  I was surprised to see her completely willing to go down them even though the water at the end of the slide was deep for her.  She just swam right over to the side with no worries.  Yay!

We took some time to ride horses.  Mariah and Dallin enjoyed an hour long horse ride and the little kids got a quick pony ride.  It was the first time on a horse for Grant and Kyle.

To wrap up the trip, we headed to the Oregon Raceway Park in Grass Valley, Oregon, to watch Jason race.  Unfortunately, the car didn't cooperate and Jason had to settle for driving a friend's Nissan GTR instead.  Oh darn.

It was a nice, laid-back trip for us.  I enjoyed the down time and watching the kids have fun.  I like to see Jason race, too.  It makes him smile more than anything else he does!