Keeping It Real: Ketchup-- Derby Style.

It seems as of late that I tend take over the blog with selfish rants while noteworthy things are happening in each of my children's lives as well as Kyle's. I should stop being such an blog hog! Tonight I am attempting to do that. This post is dedicated to....

Cade and the Pinewood Derby

This was truly the highlight of Cade's cub scout career (at this point, he had been in for 6 whole weeks). Kyle and Cade worked really hard on getting the car ready. I would come into the office to find Kyle and Cade watching youtube videos on building pinewood derby cars and find "building your pinewood derby car" books around the house. Who knew this event was worthy of such diligent research?

Cade decided to name his car The White Stripes. For some reason, he has an affinity for the Airforce. He went to a football game some months ago where Airforce played Boise State. Airforce's "song" is played by this band The White Stripes. Therefore, Cade loves the song, and the band The White Stripes. Are you following? Oh, and in case you were wondering, this paint job took at least 7 or 8 coats and about 3 weeks to get this way. {Whether it was on purpose or not...I'm not quite sure}

Kyle was so bummed that he would miss the event as he had to be in Northern Virginia for work. A few days before the pinewood derby was to take place, he called said something still needed to be done to the wheels. Something about graphite? I had no clue. Cade really wanted Grandpa Sheppard to come for the event and boy did my Dad save the day. Not only did he put graphite on the wheels (he had some graphite!), but he ended up helping determine the close races by recording each of them with his video camera.

My father, being the astutely detailed-oriented guy took notice that the lanes of the pinewood derby track were not "equal" so to speak. He didn't say it to anyone, but after watching enough heats, he definitely noticed a trend happening in certain lanes. Cade was pleased to get first or second in just about every heat and considered the night a success. Grandpa Sheppard wasn't satisfied with those results (Cade tied for 3rd), so when he saw the top three cars do an impromptu race after the awards had been handed out, he had Cade's join in. His took, in my dad's words "a decisive second."

So there you go.

Yep, Kyle was proud when Grandpa informed him of the unofficial, official race. And then they spoke at length on what to do next year to tweak their design. I have to admit, it made me chuckle. I should know better though. Pinewood Derby events are a big deal.

Grandpa and Savvy