You want us to do WHAT?!?!

Pack 11's Wolf Cubs descended on the Woodruff household tonight to learn about tools. Sterling turned the garage into a lecture hall / workshop, and did a TON of work preparing birdhouse kits for the boys to put together. Prior to the nonstop hammering, there was a brief overview of each tool, and they all got a chance to practice hammering, screwing, etc, into some scrap wood.

They wrapped up a little after 8 and most boys headed home. Sterling and James' Dad/Son friend combo, Fred and Andrew, stuck around for a few more minutes to finish up a task or two and chat about how it went.

Naturally, neither boy could just help clean up, or hang out quietly, they were playing with balls, or Beyblades, or just yelling their fool heads off the whole time. Fred said, "do you guys HAVE to play with those things?". When James went to grab a ball again, I gave him the stinkeye, and he said, "what CAN we do?"

I said, "can't you guys just talk? Just hang out and say, "hey, didn't you like scouts tonight?", "do you like how your birdhouse came out?", "which tool was your favorite?". Ya know, just talk"

Andrew looked at my like I'd swallowed a live rat in front of him, and said incredulously, "That's GIRL stuff!!!". I said, "what, talking?". Again, he looked at me like I'd grown a third eye and said, "YEAH! Talking is for GIRLS."

It's rare that I am speechless, but this was pretty much one of those times.

Derby Time!

That's right, it's Pinewood Derby time! That special time of year when fathers carve cars out of a block of wood for their sons to sand and paint, and hope that they roll straight! The hard work paid off this year, although James' car was a little out of alignment, and thus not speedy, it did look pretty doggone cool and won Best Craftsmanship. That came with a fat trophy, so the boy was pretty tickled. Pics posted in the photo album (click on the link to the right).

My little radar detector

Yesterday was one of those days when we just started off late. We've all been just pooped lately, and James, stinker that he is, has an AWFUL tendency to either play with his toys after he's gone to bed, or sneak a book and flashlight under his covers and read. This typically goes on from his actual bed time of about 8:30, until we go to bed at around 10:00 and catch him. So he's always a bear to wake up in the morning.

Yesterday was no different! After a little prodding, however, we actually had a GREAT morning (thank goodness). He finished up some homework we hadn't completed the night before*, grabbed breakfast, he got himself dressed without getting distracted by the afore-mentioned toys / books (that happens a lot, too), and we got all packed up and headed out the door at 9:10am.

School starts at 9:15. Thank GOD we live right around the corner. So I'm zipping on down the street, and James reports, "Mommy, the speed limit is 45, you are going 50. Wait, now the speed limit says 35". Busted. "You're right, James, I was, thanks for letting me know.. I'm slowing down now". Of course, when we turn the next corner onto the road that his school is on, it drops to 25.. and he let me know about that, too. Granted, I don't typically speed to school, but we also don't normally have 5 total minutes to get there. I crawled down to road, and dropped him off at like 9:12, and told him to hustle. Then I laid rubber and took the corner on 2 wheels! I kid!

So nice to know that if I ever do get pulled over, he'll be able to tell the officer exactly what speed I was going.

*the reason we were so sleepy yesterday is because... we joined the Y! Sterling is WORKING OUT with me twice a week now, and Tuesday was our first night. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz