Mighty Machines!

AJ's latest obsession is building what he calls "mighty machines" out of his Lego Duplo sets. It all started when he went along with Andy to pick up our vegetables one Sat morning and the people who live at the drop site (who happen to be my friend Jason and his family) were having a little yard sale. AJ saw a little box of construction-themed legos and wanted them. Jason sold them to him for 50 cents! What a steal. Especially since they have kept him busy and engaged in imaginative play (You be the front loader crane and I'll be the bulldozer tower...) and honing his engineering skills ("this is a cantilever", or "we need a counter-balance") since the end of July. And his "plain old" duplos are the perfect compliment to making the set big enough for MIGHTY machines! lol

Here are some of his construction highlights. I thought I took a movie of him describing one of these, but I couldn't find it, and it's completely possible that I just intended to shoot one, but they are very involved descriptions and just about every part has a purpose!

AJ is Mighty pleased with his Mighty Machine!

Posing with it again after a few finishing touches were added. We have to keep them off the floor or they become smash and bash practice for Lizzy.

AJ took this picture himself.

Here's another one. With tracks, a rain shield, a grabber,

a ladder and other items I cannot recall...

He sometimes looks away from the Legos long enough to play with

some of his other toys...like WALL-E.

And then it's back to the Mighty Machines again...this one has a mighty pusher.

And this one is actually enhanced by some super-old duplos from my mom's set. That red cab in the center is from her set. And the little "operator" who is sitting inside. :)