The Pinewood Derby

Sometimes, it seems strange to me that I have boys old enough to be Cub Scouts. Alas, it is reality. I grew up with two older brothers and a mom that served as Cub Master for years. Even though I am a girl, the scout office was just part of my childhood.

I was recently asked to serve in the Primary Presidency as the 2nd Counselor (meaning I'm over Cub Scouts). I have visited the Scout Office several times the past few weeks. I guess it will be part of my girl's childhood as well.

It is the Pinewood Derby time of year. This is the first time we have participated. The den leaders handed out a block of wood, four wheels, and the idea is to turn it into a car. My parents and brothers spent weeks on their pinewood derby cars, but not us, being the procrastinators we are, we were relieved when somebody told us that Michael's sells pre-formed cars. Ethan sanded and painted it. We used a trick I learned from my brothers, to make racing stripes out of electrical tape. Aaron nailed the wheels on as we walked out the door.

His poor car came in last place almost every time. I moved the weights to the very front of the car (another trick I learned as a kid from my brothers). That helped him come in second place on the next race. At the end of the evening, he received the award for the best paint job. (The tape trick came in handy after all.) Ethan said next year he's just going to paint the block of wood and put the wheels on. I think that is a great idea.

At one point I referred to Ethan's "derby car" when Savanah promptly informed me that it wasn't a dirty car it was a clean car. I wonder what she will remember from her childhood.