Okay, let me start by saying that Shawn ALWAYS puts any toys that we buy together.  In 7 years I don't think I have put any of our big toys together for a good reaon-  I'm NOT mechanically inclined, LOL...  So, anyway, for Cody's birthday we bought him a nice tabletop easel.  No assembly required, which is considered perfect for me, LOL...  But Cody got a good amount of birthday money and wanted the 'big fancy easel that Alannah has' (in his exact words, LOL).  So I figured I'd let him exchange the set I got and he could get the one he really wanted (I originally wanted the big one anyway, but it cost a lot and we had already bought him a Jeep, so I wasn't offended by him wanting a new one).

I had to drive 20 minutes to get to this little toy store, spend another 30 minutes exchanging, finding all of the really cool supplies Cody wanted to go with the easel, and letting Deuce decide if he wants to spend any of his money, and talking with the cashier (tiny toy store, and a really sweet old lady working the cashier, you know the type).  We drive another 20 minutes home, and Cody is bouncing all of the way, and I decide to look at the directions to see how hard it'd be to put together (Shawn will be home from work late, and I didn't have the heart to make Cody wait, lol).  The directions look easy and the only tool required is this adorable little allen wrench that was provided in the box.  How hard could it be if the only tool required is so tiny?  LOL

I managed to get the legs put together and started to stand it up and realized that one leg is longer than the other...  *sigh*  where did I go wrong..  wait, I know where-  I opened the box...  So I spend 10 minutes going over the directions, sure that it is my fault, and realize that the wrong piece was put in the box....  I call the store (thinking that they will tell me to undo all of the work that took so long) and was pleasently suprised to be told that I only have to bring in the leg and they'd give me the correct piece from the display model at the store.  Another 40 minutes of driving and then I can finally finish this thing...  luckily after that, everything was easy. 

So now Cody is painting (and has paint all the way up his arms, and on his toes, somehow, LOL).  He loves his easel and says that he's going to be a firefighter and a painter when he grows up, LOL....  and I'm pleased as punch that I didn't ruin the whole thing.  I thought for sure that it'd fall apart as soon as he stepped up to paint at it...  :-)