Ben's Last Pinewood Derby . . .Sniff, Sniff

Ben had his final Pinewood Derby on February 5. Grandpa Mick and Grandma D were in town visiting, and Grandpa was able to school Ben in the finer points of filing the axles and sanding/smoothing down the wheels in order to make the car faster. Nothing was going to stand in the way of making this car the fastest one yet. After putting homework aside (luckily he had a homework pass from his birthday), skipping swimming practice, and me putting up with wheel dust all over my kitchen table and floor (it was 22 degrees and too cold to work outside), the hard work paid off. . . Ben came in third place.

Ben with Grandpa Mick and Grandma D. The "high-tech" track that we borrowed from another ward made the race run more smoothly than the two previous years I was in charge. It was all computerized and each cub got to race in four heats.

It's been fun being in Cub Scouts with Ben for the last 2 and 1/2 years. I recently got a new calling and miss those little guys.

The fans.

Ben's Webelo den. I feel so blessed that there are so many boys his age that he can go to church and Cub Scouts with.

The theme of Ben's car this year. . .B.Y.U.

Being presented his third place award. Sam obviously wanted to be in the picture.

When we got home from the Pinewood Derby Ben was really sad. I thought it was because he didn't get first place and I was a little irritated. When I asked him about it he told me, while crying, it was because this was his last Pinewood Derby and he would, "never get to build another Pinewood Derby car again." Ben's such a sensitive little guy. This is one of my favorite qualities about him. Leave it to me to assume the worst. This is one of my least favorite qualities about myself.

Siblings were able to build a car as well. Sam chose the theme "Green Bay Packers." Shirt to match. Sam's car began as a truck, but with one slip of the saw (I was trying to do it. . .Rusty was out of town) it became a weird looking car. Luckily, it wasn't the "real" thing. Sam also came in third place out of three racers (He doesn't know how many racers there were, and won't find out).

Max is Ben's best friend since kindergarten and, even though he is not a member of our ward, has come to Cubs with Ben for the last three years.