All About the Derby

 In my still-new role as a counselor in the Primary Presidency of our local church ward, I inherited the assignment of doing decorations for our Primary Pinewood Derby.

When I thought about it, I cried.

For 5 weeks.

Then the light came on, and suddenly I was happily engaging with Pinterest and my kids and ward members and my husband and Etsy

I had a $40 budget and plenty of inspiration.

Yes, we did normal things at home:  sending Little Princess off to FSY, Morning Meeting, evening scriptures, daily and bedtime read alouds, gardening apprenticeships, library day, youth church activities, grocery shopping, dance meetings, meal making, canning (strawberry top syrup, Mexican corn soup starter, and strawberry/rhubarb pie filling), and cleaning.

But the whole week was really about getting ready for the derby.

Lola's Yellow Dragon car

Baymax's SWAT car

With my family in tow, we hauled  the kids' cars, 16 old tires (I washed and dried them all on Friday), a whole bunch of homemade (with the help of Etsy-purchased printables) photo booth props and signs, a package of purchased party decorations, and a bag of borrowed tablecloths to the church.  (I spent less than $30 of my $40 budget!)

2 hours later, the gym was . . . well, still clearly a gym.

But it was a fun gym all ready for a Pinewood Derby!

The winner!!!
I admit I was rooting for a different kid, but when I saw this darling's face and thought about a girl getting to win what has been traditionally a boys' activity, I was delighted!

Sir Walter Scott was the race-starter (he released the cars in every heat) while Mister Man and Brother served as line judges.  

Everyone had fun.

Everyone brought plenty to eat for the potluck.

We had 100 or so balloons scattered on the floor for kids to play with as well as coloring pages, crayons, toy cars, a couple of toy car racers, and some road washi tape.

No one complained of anything, and in our post-activity meeting we didn't come up with anything we'd change in the future. :)

On Thursday Sir Walter Scott took the day off work so that I could attend a caregiver's support group with my mom for people who care for those with memory failings as they age.  (My dad's memory is going, and his behaviors are changing.)  We took all of the kids (except Little Princess who was at FSY) with us, so that we could make a day of it.

He and the kids swam in my sister's pool while my mom and I attended the meeting.

We all had lunch together, then my mom took Mister Man and Brother to her friend's house so they could play chess with her friend's husband--the one who runs a national chess camp.

He played both boys simultaneously, beating them both in several games.  They came home very happy to have been beaten because they learned so much with him.  I hope they can play with him again!!

We were exhausted after a morning of physical or emotional energy spending.

But it was the good kind of exhausted.

And while I'm grateful for the inspiration and joy that came with fulfilling my calling at church and serving our church community, I'm glad that's over!!

Cute Little Princess came directly from FSY to the derby.  

A lot of her pictures were of visual aids from the classes.
I found this one thought-provoking . . . and so good for Little Princess to internalize.

Such careful, thorough agendas!

With a favorite friend

She came home happy, exhausted, and full of awesome stories about great counselors, a terrific talent show, new friends, old friends, fabulous classes, and a sense of renewed wonder about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm so happy she went.

This week she'll depart for Encampment, and I'll focus on dance preparations!!!!