Meeting the Master Lego Model Builder (and IKEA)

So after a half and hour of hair styling on Jenna (see the next post) we left for a local mall. Well, it wasn't super local to us since it was in another town, but it wasn't too far. We got to go and meet the one and only official Master Lego Model Builder. They have Master Lego Designers, too. This guy does designs also, but primarily he is sent out by the Lego company to these events to build intricate lego sculptures. The project he was working on that day was building an 8ft tall R2-D2 with the help of all the children who came.

Each child was given instructions to build one or more giant lego bricks.

As seen above...

Then they gave the "big brick" to the builder and he added it to the R2-D2.

You can see the small model of the R2-D2 that he is copying in picture to his right (to our left as you look at the picture).

This guy was totally cool and talked to the people as he built and even posed for a picture for us. You would think that being a Model Builder would be a kid's dream, and for many it is, but this guy did mention that most people don't stick with it because Lego doesn't pay that well. That's too bad because I know one little boy who would see it as his dream job. I guess it's one of those jobs where you do it because you love it!

Our second stop of the day was to IKEA. I was prepared to have a great time wandering through the paths of Swedish goodies without children in tow, but I was totally annoyed upon entering the store that the play area does not accept children until they are 37" tall without shoes on. Jenna was 36.5" and they wouldn't budge! Grrrrrrrrrrr!!! The worst part was that I had told Jenna before we arrived at the store that she would get to go to the play area there, and so much of the time we were shopping she wailed about the fact that she didn't get to go to the play area. I realize they have rules and regulations, but I see this as an injustice for short people! Okay, Jenna's not super short. She's more like average height, but even so, I know that there are children who are younger than her and taller who would have been able to go in the play area. They should do it by age! How unfair!

Okay, so there is my vent. I feel better now.

It turned out that it wasn't all bad that I had them tagging along with me in the store. I am considering buying this junior loft bed...My intention is that we will use it in our soon-to-be playroom (assuming that we don't rearrange our room ideas before we move). It won't be a bed for us, though. Instead we will use the top as a lego play space for Li'l Robby, and on the bottom, I would make a curtain to make a little play house for Jenna and Olivia. This is mainly so that I won't have to worry about younger siblings (namely Olivia) around Robby's legos. Of course, we are still trying to examine the budget and decide if we have the extra money to make my idea reality.

So anyway, having the kids allowed me to take a picture of them next to the bed for perspective. We are trying to decide if the clearance under the bed will be enough for Jenna to enjoy the space. (This bed is reversible - either a low bed or a loft bed - and it was upside down in the store from the picture in the catalog.)

I'll let you know if we get it.