Pinewood Derby

We just experienced our very first Pinewood Derby!  It was so much fun!  My favorite thing about it all, 

was the fact that Todd and Riley were able to spend so much time together building their awesome car.  They went in to Garmin several times to use the awesome tools there.  Riley did the sanding and helped with the painting...Todd kept him away from the bandsaw however!  He loved it! 

The paint job was actually pretty awesome...and in no way, shape, or form was Todd or Riley responsible for it.  Todd and Riley had painted it and left it at Garmin to dry.  When Todd went in to work the next day, it was still tacky.  Well, the painter at Garmin took one look at it and said, "Dude, you gotta let me paint that." Todd declined, but then the guy said, "No seriously dude, I love this kind of thing.  It won't take long at all." Well, how could Todd refuse that!  And that is how Riley's car came to have a professional paint job.  It rocked!

Riley's car ended up with a bent back wheel...and this is the face Riley made when he started losing.  It was actually pretty sad.  Riley doesn't do anything half-way.  It's all or nothing for him.  When he was happy, he was giving everyone high-fives and telling them good luck or good job.  When he started losing, he was so sad.  

It all worked out though.  Not only did he come in 4th place in his very first derby, he also won TWO awards: Best paint job and Best Sportsman.  Only one other boy won 2 awards. 

My favorite moment was when Riley was up getting his awards and Tanner came running up from the other side of the gym and gave Riley a big hug and told him he did a great job.  

What a fun night...and a fun week getting ready for it all.  Riley and Todd did a GREAT job.  And can I just say, I am so happy that Todd is willing and ready to do all this scouting stuff with Riley.  I love it when they work together.  Riley loves his daddy!!!