Do you guys watch The Middle? You should...cuz it's funny. In the last episode the mom buys a single tiki torch (because it will transform their backyard into an island paradise), only to find out that each of her children has some major projects/obstacles to finishing the last four days of school.
She curses the early purchase of the tiki torch, as if by prematurely summoning summer...she cursed herself.
Oh Frankie. I get you.
We, too, have been embroiled in final projects, exams, recitals, awards assemblies and MUCH, much more. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now...but only because Parker carted his catapults up to the economics fair today. Yes. Catapults.
Each year the fourth graders at our school participate in an economics fair. It's actually pretty fun and my kids always look forward to it. Since Parker is in fourth grade this year he was a producer. He and a buddy needed to develop and produce a product. They would then sell it to the third graders. Yes...to the third grade babies.
Parker and his friend Ben were pretty much set on blow darts. They had this idea to cut off the ends of shoelaces...and then blow them through straws. Actually, it's a pretty effective little dart...but they aren't supposed to spend more than $6 and procuring the ends of shoelaces? Not such a simple task.
In the end, they really just wanted a weapon. Sterling helped them come up with this.
We hot-glued a small piece of straw to the plastic spoon. The straw, then, holds the projectile (in our case, airsoft pellets). You simply pull back on the spoon and then BAM! RELEASE. It could put an eye out. (Not that I'm accepting liability should that occur.) Here was my contribution: Sterling was trying to find something to hold the airsoft pellet. He tried regular straws, but they were too small...the pellet would stick. But I, in my ultimate wisdom, knew that McDonald's straws have a significantly larger diameter. I ran down to the golden arches and picked up a handful. Worked like a charm. See? All of that Diet Coke drinking really paid off for me there.
We packaged those babies up with a handful of airsoft pellets and some tantalizing labeling.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS!
TORTURE YOUR SISTER (OR BROTHER)!
BUY A CATAPULT TODAY!!!
And that's it. Last project complete. I surrender.
Waving the white flag.
Climbing into bed.
Do not disturb.
I'd totally buy that.
Posted by: em | May 28, 2011 at 05:17 AM