A Plug for Lowe's and a Weekend Recap

Usually on Saturday mornings, we find ourselves at music class. However, Music class is done for a bit, and won't start up again until March 29th, so here we are with some Saturdays and nothing to do in the morning.

Luckily for us, a friend of ours from playgroup e-mailed to tell us about Lowe's Kid Clinics. I had seen these clinics before, but thought that Ché was a bit too young. He wasn't.

We took him this Saturday to build a periscope. Yes, a periscope. Ché had so much fun putting the nails in and hammering the kit together. And, surprisingly it worked.

We didn't really know what to expect. But it was a pleasant surprise. Lowe's had put out plywood tables on sawhorses, which were kid height. (Even Ché could see and use the table!) The kits were all prepackaged and laying out with a hammer. The hammers were not teeny, but not huge either, so they were usable for the kids. The kits are pre-drilled, and cut so it is just a matter of putting it together and nailing. You simply open the package and read the directions. There isn't a lot of direction from Lowe's staff, but they are there if you have a question. We had two pretty young looking people helping out that day.

When you are done building you take your project to them and they give you all sorts of compliments (even though it looks like everyone elses'), and then you get a certificate and a patch. (Think boy scout patch)

I guess you can get an apron and some safety goggles. We didn't get those :-(

However Ché has a plethora of aprons, so we're going to sew his patch to it, so it's ready for the next project!

I have to say I was so excited for this. I remember making things with my dad, and really enjoying it. Now, we don't have all the tools to cut and make things pretty, so this is a really good alternative. It gives kids a chance to experience something different, without having to shell out tons of money to buy expensive tools, and risk injury to life and limb.

If you have a Lowe's nearby, check it out. Your kids would enjoy it too, I promise!

Thanks Lowe's!

While we were at Lowe's, we also picked up some seeds for planting. Last year, Ché and I planted and took care of some pumpkin plants. He had a great time, and when it was finally time to pick them, he didn't want to, because I had spent all summer telling him to leave them alone! Ché also picked out a watermelon plant. These things are $.97. They are a paper cup, with a peat round, and some seeds in it. You plant and wait, then take the whole paper cup out and plant it in the yard. I think this year, we may actually till up some ground (sorry Daddy) and see if we can make the plants grow a bit better. Last year with two pumpkin plants we got 4 pumpkins, so maybe this year, with 2 plants we can get some more. I have to say, I think Ché was more excited about the plants than the periscope, but hey, whatever floats his boat!

We also took Ché swimming, and he made it a whole lap on his own (with appropriate flotation device attached). Next week we should be back in our normal pool, the warm pool.

Hope your weekend was as good as ours!