My Mom's tricks don't work today

During dinner Friday night Jacob did something I had to tell him not to do. Can't even remember what it was he did - but got the answer "but Layne told me to do it".

Soooo - I pulled a trick out of "My Mom's Hat" and said "If Layne told you to jump off the side of a cliff would you do it?" You know, the 'ole "think for yourself lesson"...

The answer I got was the following conversation:

Jacob "Of course I would. But, I would want to be wearing metal armor when I jump off."

Layne "Dude (yes, she said Dude, it's her new thing) that would just make you fall faster."

Jacob "I know that way I would get it over with quicker. You know, what would be even better is if there were magnet downs at the bottom and then I would really fall fast if I had the metal suit on."

Layne "Where would you do this? How would you get a magnet? Dude, that is just wrong."

Jacob "I would figure it out. There could be lots of magnets instead of just a big one."

I have no idea how my lesson to think for yourself turned in to a mathematical / law of physics discussion in less than 30 seconds.

Dude, Matthew and I laughed. And then I gave up.


Here is Jacob, Layne and Stephanie (gotta' love that smile) from Kid's Creek today at church.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Well it was a long drive, but well worth it. Jacob and I both had a great time. We got to the hotel around midnight, then up at 6:30. The top picture is the view from the hotel room, pretty sweet. We got together with all cub scouts around 8:30 and headed over. Here is the Saturn V, man is it tall. What an awesome sight, to see it vertical...just... wow. We had great weather, especially considering how much is outside.

I kept trying to explain stuff to Jacob about what we were seeing, just not sure he was interested enough to take it in. I was hoping my excitement would catch, I think he had a good time, just not sure he was excited about what I was telling him. I overheard some parents talking to their kids about some of the stuff we were seeing, and they were getting it all wrong or they just didn't know some of the answers. I thought everybody knew the same stuff I knew. How can people not know some this basic aviation stuff, I mean it's a SR-71, not a stealth fighter, really shocked me.

Jacob's favorite thing was what he called the "simulator", it's the centrifuge where you pull 4 g's. We rode it three times. Let me tell you, pulling g's wears you out. He enjoyed the martian rock wall too. They had it all organized really well. There was an army section and you could control a camera on a remote vehicle that was located on the opposite side of the exhibit. Jacob really liked moving the camera around and following people, he was pretty good at it too.

Our First Models

For Christmas I got a simple airplane model and the kids have been fascinated with it since. So we all went out and picked up some model kits (a bit pricier than I remember). Got home with 'em and started building. It was a cold yucky day so it gave us something to do. I promised pics and here they are...

Ho-Hum

Not much to report. No tv today, we all got home late due to traffic so it was a quick dinner and some studying. We logged onto some learning aid site. It was pretty fun. We did the multiplication section and competed against kids in China, Australia, and New Zealand. They were just starting their school day on Tuesday morning. Still freaks me out like time travel or something. The kids had fun and it did help them out some. Joshua even wanted to play, he just started yelling out numbers when Jacob was playing, "17, 9..." he so wanted to play.

It' late, getting tired, gonna go to bed. Need to get some pics off the camera and upload so you all can see. Maybe in the next day or two.

Joshua and Mom

Yeah - Joshua wanted to spend time with me tonight. He is too funny.

In the car on the way home he sneezed. I said "God bless you, Joshua" and Joshua says "Why, thank you Mommy".

I came upstairs to change my clothes while he was downstairs watching Dora. I told him I would be right back. Next thing I know he standing in my room and tells me "There are no monsters in our house, it is just you and me, Mommy - I check and you do not have to be scared".

He got an awesome haircut with Papa Jack at the Barber this afternoon. He looks very handsome.

When I met my family at Waffle House - Joshua ran up to me in the middle of the restaurant yelling "Mooommmmmyyyyy!!!!" the whole way - and then I got a big hug and a very serious kiss on the cheek.

He let me play with 2 of his cars - "but only those 2 Mommy because these others are all my friends".

He had one accident at daycare and one accident at Granma and Papa Jack's - but went poop and pee all on his own at the house. Please keep your fingers crossed that he potty trains soon.

It is raining again in Georgia. Joshua told me today that "rain sometimes makes me sad, I miss the sun".

I love him. Joshua Edwin Ganote, age 3 years.

Fire

I know our second post titled "Fire", only this one was ours. Not a good start to the year. Remember the Jacob throw-up incident, I know I do. Now, remember the scene in Parenthood,
"...do you feel like you want to throw-up?"
"ok..."blagh...splat.

That was me with Jacob, he comes up to the bathroom,
"My stomach hurts, I feel like I'm gonna throw up"
"Right now? Get to the toilet (door closed, not gonna make it) the sink!"
Too late, and as Jennifer stated, it was every where. After things settled down and Jacob was ok. I really emphasized if you feel like you need to throw-up, just go throw-up into the toilet, then come and tell me you threw-up, you don't have to tell me first.

We got it cleaned up, somewhat, and lit a candle to help with the smell. You know a candle, that thing that is supposed have a cute little flickering flame, a little whisp of smoke and keep that flame contained, yeah, one of those. We went downstairs for a little while to take a break. Jennifer went back up stairs a little later...
A very urgent "Matthew get up here quick!"
I thought Jacob had woken up and started to puke some more, No-ho. That candle, yes, the cute little candle was on fire! How the hell a candle catches fire I don't know, but the candle was on fire. The glass container had broken in half, the top half on the counter on fire and the bottom half with the candle on fire. Not just the little wick, the whole candle, on fire.

I grabed a wet rag left over from cleaning (the vomit, remember) and threw it on top of the candle, repositioned it and doused the flame. The bathroom was full of smoke, lots of smoke, not like Towering Inferno smoke, but some decent smoke and acrid, sweet, burnt candle smell. Now we were gonna have to really clean the bathroom. I knew were gonna need to clean it well after the throw-up, but this took it to a whole other level. Really glad Jennifer went back upstairs when she did. All that dried hairspray on the counter near the candle and it could have gotten bad real quick.

Monday and Tuesday were boring, so the candle story had to be told, and hey, the bathroom is looking pretty decent (with lots more to do).

A Boy and his Cars

In the past couple months Joshua has begun to really get attached to his cars. I was actually surprised by how excited he was with the remote control Lightening McQueen car he got from the Gilberts at Christmas. That was one of the first things he wanted to show his Grandma and Papa Jack after Christmas - he was so excited to show them his car.

That car has become his "backpack" car and goes with us when we are out of the house. He is very serious about his cars. Which also means he has a really good memory and knows exactly which cars are his. He also laid claim to a couple extras - but I don't think Layne and Jacob have noticed.





Each night when we come home right now he immediately gets his basket of cars out - they also go in the tub and they are the first thing he wants when he gets up in the morning. He also has to pick out a special car that he gets to take with him to school. That doesn't mean it gets to go in school - but it does get to go to school. There is a difference.

I told Matthew tonight that he finally needs his own case for his cars. Of course, I didn't decide this until I heard Jacob arguing with Joshua over exactly who did own what car - and that Jacob knew that because they were in his car case. We need to start looking for one that will be just for him. He has done so well sharing and inheriting things that I think it would only be fair for him to have his own car case. Hopefully we can do that soon.