There are those days that I find myself wondering if my children are normal, or if they just take the art of learning and exploring the world around them a little too far. A few years ago when my oldest son was in Webelos (scouts) they had a ceremony where they got his neckerchief wet with water and rubbing alcohol and lit it on fire. There were lots of ooohs and aahhhhs and I thought that was the end of that. Fast foreword a few years and one day I overheard my children discussing doing their own experiment using water, rubbing alcohol, and fire. (They are all either little scientists or Pyromaniacs... or both) First they talked about using a stuffed animal and decided that they couldn't part with one...because our beloved Neighbor is the one that gives them stuffed animals (beanie babies).
Next was a long discussion about the material that different objects were made of and whether or not they would ignite since they don't absorb water.
They all came to the conclusion that Barbie would make a good test subject, and that it would be especially exciting if her hair started on fire. Natalie didn't want to part with any of her Barbie dolls, so when we were at the store today she found a knock-off Barbie for $1.
Here is the note that she left for her sister:
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...All in the name of Scientific learning.
I have a 14 year-old son. Last summer he was about 5'6". This summer he is 6'1" and still growing. There is an additional change that I am getting used to. His voice. When I am in the other room and he is talking I don't recognize it. It is so deep that I often have to tell him to speak louder because I can't understand him. His sisters have the same problem too! Sometimes I mistake his voice for his Dads, and then things get really confusing. I'm sure that with time we will all get used to it (and he will get used to his own voice). In the mean time I will find myself wondering, on occasion, who the grown man in the other room is....oh wait... that's my teenage son!
Tomorrow I put my oldest baby on a plane. She is going on a whirlwind tour of Europe on one of those school trips (with her cousin, Aunt, and Uncle) I think that is the one big reason that we are letting her go. She will be surrounded by people that care about her when her parents can't be there for her. We found out this week that her phone that we bought (for this trip) will not work in Europe, and It will be a little harder to communicate, but I am so excited for her to go. I have never been to Europe, but I think this is a great opportunity to help her descide what direction her life should go. She has always loved to travel and learn about things. (She is the only person that I know that can name every country on the planet) She will try to update her blog when she gets to a hotel with a computer and you can get there by clicking on her Photo on the right. or following this link
