My Big Christmas Project

My boys have been totally into skateboarding lately. It's all they think about. I was looking into getting the boys a ramp for Christmas, but those things aren't cheap!!! Dave said we could make one because he had when he was a kid. While I know he truly meant that he would be willing to help, I also knew that there would never be a time when he could work on them when the kids weren't around. I was pondering whether or not I wanted to take this project on on my own, when my neighbor said she would want to do it too for her son. So... we decided to make it a joint effort. We actually ended up making 3. One for her son, one for my boys and one for my sister's boys. It was quite an undertaking, but we were pretty pleased with the outcome.

As we were making them, we decided we could work on the frames in the morning when CK and my friend Kimberly's little girl who is just a couple of days older than CK were here because they wouldn't recognize what they were. Then, we could do the finishing touches after they had gone to school. Well, the first day we were out there with them, the girls walked out and said, "What are you doing? They look like ramps." At this point, I knew I couldn't deny it too much, so we went with it and told them that they were for old ladies in wheelchairs to help them get into their cars so they could go to church. They were a little skeptical, but didn't challenge us too much.

Kimberly gave hers to her son for his birthday, then my sister gave hers to her boys early too because they went to Isreal for Christmas. (I know! What an opportunity! They thankfully made it too and from safely and had a great time.) So, my boys had to wait. When my sister's family celebrated Christmas, my kids just had to go over and see what they got. As soon as they saw the ramp, L said, "That's from Mike! That's from Mike!!" Mike is my very kind next door neighbor who allowed us to hide them in his back yard. As soon as she said that, my nephew Josh said, "I know! There's another one too." Hmmm... Great. I tried to make a point of telling the kids that Kimberly's family had just got one too, but they still weren't too surprised come Christmas morning. The only thing they were surprised about was that I made it, and not Mike. At least they were excited about it!

Here the 3 of them are as they were just all finished out on my driveway.

Me with Mine

Kimberly with hers

My little sister was able to get me a great jpeg file so we could print out the Bronco and glue it on. Kimberly graduate from Boise State whose colors are also orange and blue and the mascot a bronco, so it worked out well.

It was clearly made by moms....

Not only were they painted and decorated, but...

Here's B enjoying all my hard work.