Daddy Day Camp: Captured Video

So I know summer is way over.  But I don't think I've reported on all the activities we did this summer. 

So here's some back story on this project.

A few years ago (2 to be exact) the David Crowder Band (of which I was a big fan) announced they were going to break up at the end of their fall tour.  I was saddened.  I enjoyed the music they put out.  It was something fresh in a Christian industry that's really good at putting out the same old stuff in a new wrapper again and again.

But then good news arrived.  Four of the guys from DCB were building a studio in Waco and creating a new band.  The new group is called The Digital Age.  I've already posted some videos of their rehearsals... Here, Here and Here.

After much anticipation this summer their album finally came out.  If you haven't heard or purchased yet, run don't walk to your computer....wait you're probably already at it....and buy this album now.  RIDICULOUS good.  So many layers of sound. 

So in late summer the band announced they were going to work on a music video for their first single "Captured".  But they needed fans help.  They wanted us to record ourselves singing the song or playing the song. So we did.

Here's the Official video of Captured.  You can see the boys at 0:44, quickly at 1:33 and if you look at the top right area at 3:10.  We're famous!!!!  Daddy Day Camp rules!

Daddy Day Camp: The Project

Last year during Daddy Day I decided that it was important to BUILD something together.  The way I learned how to use tools was from my father building things with us boys.  He showed us how to cut, hammer, measure, etc.  So last year we build a backyard catapult.  It was about 3 feet long and 2 feet wide and shot water balloons and balls across the back yard.  It was a fun project.

This year we needed something else.

So two weeks ago I posted this picture on Facebook and asked what everyone thought we were building this year at DDC.  So what could it be?

(for those who might worry...you'll notice that the drill doesn't have the battery in it and you can see the extension cord wrapped up on the garage floor, thus the saw is also not plugged in....so while they're holding them awkwardly, no one's going to get hurt.  Also note goggles were used throughout.)

First we measured our wood and made the marks where we needed to cut and where other parts would be attached later.

 Then it was time to use the circular saw.  Many would say that this was scary or dangerous.  I explained fully how the saw worked ahead of time.  I told them where they were allowed to put their hands and where they needed to stay away from.  Tobiah particularly I held both of his hands on the saw so there was no way he was going to wiggle free.

You HAVE to click on the picture of Tobiah using the saw and expand it as big as it'll go.  His face is AWESOME.  He loved the vibration and loudness of the saw....so much, that when we were cutting he would yell at it.  It was hilarious.

 This picture is Corban cutting.  You'll notice one of his hands isn't on the saw.  You'll also notice that it's balled up in a very tense fist hanging at his side.  He was not as passionate about the saw.  He is our cautious child.  I like it.

We found this leaf bug while we were cutting.  He was already dead, but he was fun to look at.  I set him on the board.  Then later without paying attention, I moved the board and readjusted the C clamp.....right on the leaf bug squishing his guts all over our board.  It was gross.  And we laughed hard.

After some instruction, I let them use the power sander by themselves.  Goggles required.  No thumbs were sanded in this undertaking....which honestly was amazing.  Tobiah didn't really like this vibration as much as the circular saw.  Corban loved it.

So did you guess it yet?

The answer to what we were building is.....STILTS!!!!

When I was a little boy my dad made us stilts.  I'm not exactly sure why he did that....I should ask him.  But my brother and I learned how to walk on stilts.  They're a lot of fun and they help tremendously with balance.  So I thought it would be fun to get the boys going on these. 

Corban is tearing it up.  He loves them and wants to be really good.  Tobiah struggles with picking up the wood, but is slowly grasping the idea of shifting his weight to make the job easier.  I think it won't be long before they'll be walking the neighborhood with them.


As a bonus everyone finished the project with the same number of fingers and eyes that we started with!

Daddy Day Camp: T-shirts

Last year we decided that instead of sending our kids to day camp or day care I was going to run Daddy Day Camp.  My schedule allows me to be flexible and work from home.  So why not spend the summer with the boys?  So we take small trips, go to the pool, build things, try new things.  The other day Marjorie left the lights on in her car.  So I taught them how to jump a car.  It's fun!

So last year, Marjorie and the boys created our "DDC" shirts.  This year, I was told that we were on our own.  So I decided we still needed shirts....but we were going to do them ourselves.

We started by going to Walmart and picking what color shirt we wanted.  Both boys wanted green, so I thought I'd go with green too.

We then bought some vinyl poster letters at Dollar General.  We put the letters on the front of the shirts (I made a template for the back).

We then used a 50/50 water bleach solution to spray on the shirts.  We wrinkled the edges and sprayed. After we did both sides, we sprayed them off with the hose and then soaked them in vinegar water.  Then a normal laundry cycle and we're done. 

The finished results....not a great picture....because we were hiking.