**Constructing the ‘Twilight’ Cullen House Lego Set Was More Than Just Enjoyable—It Was Healing**
I need to share a little secret before we jump in—please hold back any criticisms in the comments.
I’ve only seen the first *Twilight* film, so I can’t claim to be a passionate fan. However, I found it quite entertaining, particularly the moment when Bella amusingly fumbles with a ketchup bottle.
So, why did I invest $220 in the *Twilight* Cullen House Lego set? The answer is straightforward—my wife is a *Twilight* enthusiast, and I believed it would be an enjoyable project for us to work on together. The set, an over 2,000-piece replica of the Cullen family’s stylish mansion in the woods, was released by Lego in mid-February. Yes, it was a significant amount for a collection of plastic bricks, but as we constructed the three-story wonder, we quickly discovered we were gaining much more than just the value for our money.
### The Arrival of the Set
After nearly a month of anticipation since our preorder, the eagerly awaited package finally showed up. I shook the box—it definitely contained Lego pieces. As we opened it, we marveled at the set in its full splendor, although we felt a bit anxious. Were we actually prepared for this monumental project? How long would it take us? And most critically, would Jacob’s minifigure come with torn denim shorts?
We decided to postpone starting until the weekend, ensuring we had ample time to fully engage with the build.
The box was enormous—for context, here’s a picture of my dog next to it:
*(Insert image of dog next to the Lego box)*
Sadly, Stevie wasn’t able to assist us in constructing the set.
Upon opening the box, we were met with an astonishing number of Lego pieces (no surprise there). Fortunately, the 2,000+ pieces were neatly organized into 18 numbered bags, which aligned with the step-by-step instruction manual. This organization was a tremendous relief since neither of us had ever taken on a Lego set of this magnitude before. The arrangement made the task feel more manageable rather than overwhelming.
### Getting Started
We cautiously opened the first bag, which contained a brick removal tool (for inevitable errors) and a sheet of stickers for embellishments. The first task? Putting together Charlie Swan’s truck. It was a breeze, thanks to the clear instructions, and it even had functioning wheels!
Then came the actual challenge—the house itself. Initially, we dumped all the bricks from each bag onto the table, but that soon became an issue. Many pieces looked alike, and we spent several minutes searching for the right one. The occasional panic of thinking we had lost a piece was also unsettling (though it turned out we never did—each bag had extras provided).
So, we changed our approach. Rather than dumping everything out, we meticulously sorted each bag’s contents into groups before diving in. This made it much more straightforward to find pieces and significantly sped up our progress.
### Finding Our Rhythm
Once we got into the swing of things, we began to breeze through the building process—well, relatively speaking. It still took us about eight hours from start to finish.
We became a well-orchestrated team, smoothly alternating between the instruction booklet and the evolving structure. We tackled different sections at the same time, as if we had been doing this forever. We had officially entered *The Flow State™*. Is this what Lego aficionados experience all the time?
Brick by brick, floor by floor, we assembled the Cullen house from the ground up. We were astonished by the intricate details tucked away—elements you would miss unless examined closely, like the Cullens’ wall showcasing graduation caps or their grand piano. These small features required meticulous attention, but the reward was well worth it.
One of my favorite aspects of the experience was the tension of not always knowing what we were constructing until it fell into place. The instructions kept the final result a secret, so occasionally we found ourselves staring at a puzzling cluster of bricks, wondering what it would eventually become. It was a fantastic exercise in patience and trust—something that felt unexpectedly profound.
### More Than Just a Build
As we progressed, we fell into autopilot. Half of our time was dedicated to building, and the other half to conversation. My wife shared *Twilight* references that flew over my head, and she grew excited whenever I made a connection on my own.
It was delightful to bond over what some might regard as a children’s toy. The experience was reminiscent of a simpler time. For those few hours, I wasn’t mulling over the chaos of the world—I wasn’t preoccupied with current events or existential dilemmas. I was solely focused on joining tiny plastic pieces and cherishing time with my favorite person.
I’m not suggesting that you