Ok K’nex, I Give Up. You Win.

I thought it was a simple thing to play with toys. It should be and I think it probably is. Unless you’re me.

When this K’nex 400 pc building set showed up at my house, I thought I’d show off my ability to follow directions and make all kinds of cool models like they have in the instruction booklet.

So I attempted to make this really cool hot air balloon. I followed the directions carefully and I almost had it done but I couldn’t get the last pieces to attach. I pushed, pulled, and tried to force them. I even tried to break them into place. K’nex, you’re unbreakable.

I gave up and destroyed my hot air balloon in a fit of rage. (Not really, but I knew it was time for something simpler.)

Hence…this 2-D castle structure. Perfect for those of us who are on the simpler side.

Then I whined to my son that I’m pathetic and I can’t even build a thing. He took pity on me and made this big truck for me to show off.

And then the lad got hungry. And I got a sinister glint in my eye. I said, I’ll make you lunch if you work on one more K’nex project with me. And that boy said YES!

So my son proceeded to teach me (like I’m 7 years old) how to connect interlocking pieces.

–No, Mom, it goes like this, remember?

–Mom, they slide in from the side.

–Mom, stop. Look. I’ll show you again.

And somehow, in spite of me, we managed to put together this most brilliant piece of architecture: a ferris wheel that actually spins!

It pays to have kids.

By the way, K’nex is currently having a video contest where you can win $1000 in Knex toys! Send in a video of your child playing with their Knex toys, and you might win. For all the details, visit the K’nex website.

* You’ll find the K’nex 400 pc set for $20.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us. *

Thank you to K’nex and Team Mom for providing me with the building set for purposes of this review. This review is based on my own personal opinions and experiences. No other compensation was received.