Crafty Saturday

We love Home Depot. We sometimes go to Home Depot just to walk around and look at stuff ... finding things we can't live without ;). Jeff has a spot with his name on it (Contractors Only), and oh, we like to use it ... it's like rolling into an expensive hotel and walking right into the action.

This Saturday was the first time the children attended the Home Depot craft hour. They offer this one hour activity every Saturday at 8 am and the participants - smaller and bigger kids - get to bang around to their own enjoyment and create something cool. There is a group of 'regulars', children with numerous pins on their aprons, who have been attending for a long time. And there are the rookies, like us, who were also so warmly welcomed. The children all received an orange apron - just like the Home Depot employees - customized with their names.

I though this would be a great way to get the family going on lazy Saturday mornings and it was a complete success. Lutza was not hesitant, after putting on her apron and safety glasses, she got to choose her tools and nails, pick through the wood pile and 'warm up' by banging around and trying to build something. Vidor was not so sure if this whole affair was for him. He even pulled his neck into his coat and just watched, which was rather surprising since he lives for tools.

Lutza started to build a 'Birds Welcome' sign and did excellent with driving her nails in. I pounded the nails in just far enough that they would be standing stable and she did the rest. Tongue has to be just right!!!

Vidor finally took his coat and cap off and got busy ... he was so gentle and precise. I think the possibilities almost overwhelmed him. There were so many things he could do.

After about 20-25 minutes of 'warm-up', the Wood Doctor gathered the children together. I just called him the Doctor because he was wearing white work gear and glasses - a perfectly grumpy but funny character for the job. He reminded the children to the rules. The most important was to always wear eye-protection - unless any of the children wanted to borrow that extra eye-ball he was carrying around in his pocket.

Eventually the real builder, Daddy, joined in too and showed us some tricks.

Lutza said that it was okay that her house was a little crooked, the birds wouldn't mind it (I was her assistant and I am officially the Queen of finding knots and missed nails). She was very proud of her job!!!

It was a perfect way to start the day and have some family time together. Next week we are making race tracks. Do you think Vidor is excited?