I’ve been waiting a couple weeks to write this post, because I wanted to give my readers one thing that I could not find online.  Pictures.  (Imagine that you say.)  I couldn’t find many pictures of the Baufix building sets.  Of course there are the typical product shots, but it wasn’t really enough variety for me.  I wanted to know what else I could build with the set.  Of course, the possibilities are endless.  But I’m a very visual person.  Which means the zero-word instructions work well for me.  Since the set has several colors, it is easy to tell which piece you need based on the picture instructions.

This is a good toy for Dad and son, not to say I haven’t had a blast with it myself!

Caleb wanted to build a fire truck first, I forgot to take a picture before we dismantled it the next day though!

Dad’s big helper

Then came a tow truck, which was a similar build to the fire truck.

Then a forklift

A motorcycle

And this.  The super crane.  I built this one.  Surprisingly, it was not as difficult as I expected.

I joked that I sent it in with my M.I.T. application

Hoisting up a load of Hot Wheels takes concentration

We took apart the big crane and it had a baby:

And built an airplane to go with it.  On the more simple designs, you may be able to build more than one model.  Obviously the super crane above used most of the pieces.

After putting the pieces back into the ziplocks 900 times and searching for the screw that always seemed to be at the bottom of the bag, I had an idea.

Instilling Neuroticism Within Your Child’s Core Values.  Classes offered this fall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  Instructor: Dr. Me

Pieces or airplane and mini crane are not shown in the box, but I *think* they will fit.

As you can imagine, this is a toy that will definitely grow with your child.  They can go all the way from part finder with a parent putting models together (practices colors, matching, etc) to building models themselves and creating their own inventions.  And of course, 75% or more of the pieces are made from wood according to European toy safety specifications (well above the USA’s).  If you’re wondering where you could find this for upcoming birthdays or Christmas, please take a look at Carl and Me.  They are an awesome family run online toy store with customer service that you just. don’t. find. these days.  I have exchanged several emails with Karen at Carl and Me, and I encourage you to do the same, should you have any questions.  Like I said, outstanding customer service and amazing European toys.  Right now, they are having a Father’s Day sale on Fagus trucks (which I can offically give a big thumbs up on, though I have not written about them yet).  Free shipping over $100.  Check out their whole site, you will not be disappointed!

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Crazy good things that happened:

  1. I got 2% milk for $2.09 a gallon.  I did a double take at the tag (because it was an unadvertised sale), then read it carefully to make sure it wasn’t the half gallon.
  2. I had a $1 off coupon for Country Time lemonade.  There were two containers, a 8oz container for $2.28, and a 29oz container.  For $2.28.  Guess which one I got?
  3. Toilet paper: BOGO.  Need I say more?
  4. I attended an awesome online photography trade show.  I didn’t get to see all of it, so I’m waiting for them to get the programs I missed on demand.
  5. Last but not least: We found crazy straws.

You know it has been a good day when you drink out of crazy straws.  Especially 3 or 4 at the same time.

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Ta-da!!!

Get it? We were still under construction yesterday… toldja to read carefully :)

Our train table has become a somewhat temporary jobsite.  I made this reasonably easy to store away when not in use.

The gravel yard: coffee grounds and sawdust

Construction work is serious business.

And no, the blue painters tape is not an accent piece…our train table actually has very small holes all the way around the outside for add on toys that we don’t have.  I’m a little bit crazy, but not plain stupid.  I covered up all those already dust filled holes.

We’re planning to go and collect some small rocks to add to our site, we just haven’t gotten to it yet.

I can’t take credit for this awesome idea though, you can read more about it here.  I borrowed the general idea, and then kind of went a different direction toward the end.  This guy made more of a rock quarry.  My patience with the project was wavering by the time it came to painting, so I gooped sand, brown paint and glue together and smeared it everywhere!  It definitely achieved the textured, yet not too messy appeal I was going for.  I do recommend his cutting technique for the styrofoam.  You know, unless an indoor snowstorm just appeals to you.  In that case, stabbing a bean bag chair will render approximately the same result.

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Project X, as it has been nicknamed is nearly complete.  So these will probably be your final hints.  I curious to see if anyone can figure it out while it is still under construction.

Guess this sort of blows the iceberg theory out of the water ;)

Yes, we did this on purpose.

Final hint: Read carefully.

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…there’s a warning somewhere on this thing that says “Not for use by children” and perhaps a “Use with care” notice. Maybe Black and Decker should have issued a special attention notice  for our family: “Dustbuster not intended as a substitute for bathing.  Please refrain from vacuuming child after meals and allowing child to vacuum his own hair while unattended.”

For those of you who, instead of laughing, are thinking to yourselves, hmmm maybe I should let my kid try that, I leave you with this.  He entertained himself for a full 12 blissful minutes.  I’m unsure of whether an extended life battery can be purchased, but I can look into it for you.

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I cleaned up a small mess before taking this picture.

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Who’s up for a good mystery?  Any guesses what in the world we are up to this week?

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This past week, our backyard turned into grand central.  Several of the neighborhood kids, who seemingly are free to roam the neighborhood, took up residence on our deck.  We are glad to have the company, but our neat and tidy sandbox turned to chaos.  And it quickly became apparent that the biggest (and most expensive) hit, the moon sand, was being dispersed through the cracks in the deck at an alarming rate.

The sandbox

The whole area around the table with the moon sand box looks like this:

After a little research online, I stopped by Walmart last night and for the grand total of $1.75 for two boxes of cornstarch, I made my own moon sand.  It is a bit messier than the real stuff I think, but for a small fraction of the price.  You combine water, cornstarch and play sand.  The only difference is this sand does dry out.  You have to add a little water each time.

The darker models are moon sand, the lighter is my homemade sand

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I call it preparation for homeschooling.

I’m even brave enough to come in a different room to the computer and blog while he’s playing.  Luckily only one other toy, a monster truck, so far has been paraded by for permission to dunk.  I gave him a measuring cup and he went to the counter and got the measuring container and funnel used to fill my steam cleaner (beside his tractor below) and started counting how many half cups it would take to fill up the big measuring container through the funnel.  Kids just soak (pardon the pun) up knowledge no matter what they are doing.

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