Celebrating LEGO

Fifty three years ago today, in 1958, the LEGO company patented the design of its LEGO bricks, which is still compatible with bricks produced today. 

The Danish word LEGO roughly translates to “play well.”  I love that. 
 
LEGO has provided countless hours of quiet, really enjoyable entertainment for our son (and millions of others) over the years.  

We have shelves of LEGO creations at our house - some explicitly following the directions, but most improvised.  They are held in high regard and represent hours and hours of thought and creativity and "engineering."

An "attack boat"

This is a cute storage container for Lego bricks.  "Attack tank" in the foreground.

An "attack bomber."  Notice a theme here? 

This past Christmas my son got this really cool White House model, from the new architectural series.  It took 2+ hours to create.    

If you Google LEGO and birthday you will see countless ideas for parties, cakes, etc. from fans the world over and the inspiration LEGO has given to children to become  engineers, architects, builders, designers etc. of the future.  

When I was a in second grade, my class memorized a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Despite my poor memory, I am able to recall good portions of it today. And, though Stevenson wrote Block City in 1913, well before the plastic injection mould was utilized by Ole Kirk Christiansen to create the first LEGO,  it seems too perfect not to quote today.

What are you able to build with your blocks?
Castles and palaces, temples and docks. [and attack vehicles?]
Rain may keep raining, and others go roam,
But I can be happy and building at home.