And only four + a half hours later...
The giant Lego Star Wars box was opened as soon as Simon arrived home yesterday. It was definitely the first thing he wanted to do after he came in the door.
It was about that point in time when I looked on the box and noticed it said ages 9-14. Um, yep, I knew I was in for it.
Upon opening the box I was greeted to somewhere around 14 bags filled
with lego supplies. Lots and lots of small and smaller pieces. My first
task was to go in the kitchen and grab a couple muffin tins, cookie
sheets, and some blue cups because there was no way this task was going
to be tackled without some serious organization.
There were over 1300 pieces and two booklets. This photo right here was step 10. I think there were 60 some steps.
Simon's job in all this was simply not to whine and to help where he could. Amazingly, over the four + hours it took to put this ship together he did not break down once. He did ask if I was "done yet" a few times but no drama. He put all the little droids together - and practiced some counting as there were 23 in all. We had a nice little conversation as the afternoon and evening went along, talking about the legos, the baby, his birthday party, and school yesterday (they made a Chinese dragon that he was pretty excited about).
We took a little break for dinner and to put on jammies. And then it was finally done. It looks like this:
He didn't have much time to play with it before it was bed time, but it was a good start. I imagine tomorrow afternoon will be filled with some serious playtime. It's a pretty cool ship with lots of doors that open and close and three other small ships that go in and out (one carries all the droids).
I have to say that I liked the process. It's methodical and balanced and you just follow the directions...one small step at a time. As I was putting it together I was thinking that it's someones job to design these things and to figure out how all the pieces go together just right. Totally amazing.
Here's to a playful weekend at home and to 37 weeks tomorrow.
Coming next week: a Valentine minibook, a superhero giveaway, and a tour of the baby's room.
I raised two Logo fanatic boys. We put the pirate ship together twice (baby brother got mad and knocked it over..ugh) and my youngest son Steve made a Lego robot when he was about 11 or twelve. Looking at your photo I was amazed at how creative and organzied you were with sorting and storing the pieces. I wish I'd known you back then. I love the way you think, if only it could rub off on me.
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*grin* Glad it was a success!
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LOL! Ug legos!!! Star Wars legos are very popular in our home as well. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the way they bag those little peices!
Glad you got it together and enjoyed some time with your son!
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Am not that patiences with the lego thing my husband seem to love doing it.
Thanks for sharing.
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What we do for our kids...I still love Legos! You did an awesome job putting the ship together and Simon was so patient. WAY TO GO MISTER!! I don't think I could have that much patience. High-Five from me!!
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That is impressive! There is no way I would have gotten through that without whinnying! I have to leave the Lego building to my husband and daughter!
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Awww, that brought back memories...my son (now 15) was so into Legos when he was younger...he was so easy to shop for. Looks like you both had a lot of fun.
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Hola Amiga,feliz cumpleaños para Simón,muy lindo su lego de star wars,felicidades,tu blog es hermoso,saludos desde Coahuila,México
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You are super mom! That is amazing!
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Thanks for showing me I'm not crazy. for 6 hours on Saturday a helped my 12 year old son make a 80cm Big Rig and the first thing i did was sort it into muffin tray just like this. I did begin to wonder if i was going crazy "organizing" the little bits like this- but i did find it oddly relaxing.
I'm sane again- thanks Ali
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My 8 year old son loves Legos. He plays them everyday and amazes me with his ability to put huge sets together. The Lego you showed...I accidently dropped it after my son finally finished it. He cried and I cried for him. I felt horrible. He was able to put it back together though.
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Love your system! I have to share this with my Lego-mad son! I have to admit "I love the sorting!" This Christmas I downloaded the instructions to the wreath, snowman, angel etc. and ordered each piece on Pick a Brick on the website....it took me HOURS!!! Well worth it though. Now we can decorate our 50th Anniversary town! Kudos Lego-Momma!
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Good on you for the Legos and congrats on the new baby.
Hope you enjoy your Legos Simon! :)
Cheers
Shawnnita
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God bless you! We have some Mega Blocks for our toddler, and when Mack the Truck from Disney's Cars comes apart, it's meltdown until it's reassembled. Glad to see you were able to keep Simon's anxiousness at bay. Way to go!
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Wow thats an amazing ship, my boy would just love it, but he'll have to do it himself. Cant wait for the valentines minibook. Did yours last year as well and was a huge success.
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My boys are 25 years old now, but I can remember sooo many hours of great fun building lego sets with them. Enjoy these times! I have all their legos boxed up hoping to share many happy hours playing with my grandchildren.
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yeah, we built that one too and it was cra-zy to get done, but oh so fun to play with! in our house they last about 2 weeks and end up in chunks and pieces to later become new creations. gotta love the legos!
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my son is 6 and he loves lego and star wars. he spent the entire Christmas morning putting his new battle ship together. From about 7am to lunch. Lego is such a great toy for little minds. this is a lovely link showing some Australian kids building with white lego only.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/02/21/2168966.htm
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My act of courage is not mine but my 7yr old son's. He is an incredibly shy boy and at school was to tell a story in front of his class. After a week of tears, we worked on the story and rehursed and we talked about the actual act of standing in front of his class. He finally found the courage to do so and completed the task. I am so proud of him.
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My most recent leap of faith has been in a part time career move. I have recently given up a Mary Kay business that I have been building for three years. I worked hard, but economic times are not cooperating. I have two little girls and the extra hours it would have taken to make it work wern't worth it to me. That's why I started in the first place. Anyway, I decided instead to become a scrapbook instructor. I have a part time job doing so, and love getting paid to scrapbook!!!
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LEGOS
Wow, what fun they were and what a great way to totally captivate and keep a youngster occupied for a long, long time. We still have large plastic containers filled with them in our basement that belong to our youngest son, now 24. He even took photos of some of his own designed forts for him to admire, as he took it apart and built another. I wonder where those photos are now...Our daughters sets are now kept neatly in the attic next to their old bedrooms for them to get later. The girls are now 30 and 28. Only one of our children, a son 26, was not interested in them.
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