Home Depot

If you have ever been to a Home Depot on the first Saturday of the month then you have probably noticed the kids workshop that they put on.

It’s organized chaos really.

The concept is great, design a craft that kids can build/construct, and give the kit to kids with their own Home Depot Apron and let them go to town. One of the most appealing aspects is that it is free, which is always a bonus.

Granted it’s “free” in the sense that it doesn’t cost any money, but it does come with its own “costs”. At least one of my fingers is smashed by an over eager hammer wielding little boy each time. I also usually get wood glue on various parts of my body. And let’s not even talk about the paint….let’s just say both Clint and I had to order new shorts after the kids workshop this past time. How we both ended up with giant blobs of green paint on our shorts but no green paint (they were all orange/red/blue) on the project is beyond me.

We have made a variety of projects; fire trucks, bird feeders, turkey napkin holders, treasure boxes, and then yesterday we got to make a peg board that one can toss little footballs onto. Leighton’s loves his. He has gone to sleep with it next to his pillow every night since making it. Caedmon is way too young to have any idea what he is doing or making, but he loves the hammer and paintbrushes (I think I know where the green paint came from…)

It is chaos really, but also a lot of fun and in retrospect what’s a pair of shorts or a couple of fingers? They heal and can be replaced, but the joy and excitement in the little boys’ eyes is priceless. They grow quickly and it won’t be long that they don’t want much to do with me on a Saturday morning, so I’ll soak in these moments. Especially when they are finished off with a ride in the “car cart” through the lighting section (my boys love the lights and fans) which is just about pure bliss in their worlds. (mine too!)

As I’ve mentioned before the process in Korea slowed way down a year ago and as a result there are a lot more babies and toddlers at the Babies Home and in foster care through Eastern Social Welfare Society (where our little guy is at) and as a result they are needing more supplies for kids. A friend has contacted ESWS and asked what people can do/send. They need gifts to give the kids for their 1st and 2nd birthdays. Below are links to the two gifts that they are requesting (blocks for 1st, stacking toy for 2nd), please consider ordering one of the gifts and sending it to me and I’ll get it to a family that is traveling over to deliver it to ESWS for the little ones. Please email me and I’ll send you my address or if you have any questions (hikingmommy@gmail.com) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030F67N6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DERI