We’ve been having a mini heat wave the last few days, but I was still able to get out this weekend with Artoo.

Late on Friday I found out that “Master Model Builder” Stephen Gerling from Lego would be in town building a giant eight foot R2 at Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo. So I just had to take Artoo along to check it out.

With temperatures up in the mid 90’s by lunchtime on Saturday and no AC in my droid mobile we headed out. It felt like everyone was trying to go where we wanted to go, and we sat in traffic for almost an hour while trying to leave the coast side. Usually the mall is only 20 minutes way, but everyone wanted to escape the heat and hit the beaches – so traffic just limped along.

We quickly unloaded and headed into the mall – breezing by security, who must have though we were part of the attraction!

The building had already started on Friday night and it looked like they were about a quarter of the way done by the time we arrived.

There was an army of kids making small section of the Artoo, while Master Builder Stephen orchestrated the placment of pieces.

We were totally mobbed the entire time we were there

This has got to be one of the cutest shots of the day

Thanks to Stephen for being a good sport and allowing us to crash the party 🙂

I’d really like to go back on Sunday to see it done, but I’ve got a previous engagement.

More Photos

Update 5-27-08: I never did make it back on the Sunday to see the finished model, but here’s some photos of it I found on Flickr.

Artoo, myself and members of the Rebel Legion’s Endor Base visited Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital yesterday.

It was a great day and Artoo was a big hit with the children and adults alike. This is definitely something I want to do again.

Unfortunately we don’t have many photos as camera weren’t allowed around the children for privacy, but we did take this quick shot at the end of the afternoon.