States of Matter

Quinn was staring intently at the lit advent wreath last night, and popped off with this question:
Quinn: "Is fire a liquid, a solid, or a gas?"
UHHHHHHHHHHH.  OK.  GOOD question. 
Mom: "I think it must be a gas.  Except, it consumes gas, so.... maybe not."
Rob: "It's an exothermic reaction releasing energy from a solid and converting it to a gas.  It's just a chemical reaction, it isn't matter."
Quinn: "But the flame ITSELF.  What is that??"
Rob: "Uhhhhhh"
So, we googled it (AFTER we finished our prayers for Advent, of course).

Do YOU know the answer?  Because I bet you were taught, like we were, that there are three states of matter. 

WRONG.  There's a fourth state.  PLASMA.

Fire is plasma.  Who knew?

Continue about your day now.

Breakfast Burps

The scene:  Reagan, Quinn, Colby and I sitting at the breakfast table this morning.

Colby: "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPP."
Mom: ((scowl, while patiently waiting to see if good manners kick in))
Quinn: "Colby, what do you say?"
Reagan: "Excuse me!  You should say excuse me!"
Colby: "That one almost hit the ceiling."
Quinn: "No, Colby... what do you say?"
Reagan: "Excuse me! Right mom?  He should say excuse me!"
Colby: "That's a doozie!"
Quinn: "No, Colby.  What do you say?"
Reagan: "EXCUSE ME!  SAY EXCUSE ME!"
Colby: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhh....."
Quinn: "Colby, you're supposed to say 'that tasted alot better going down than it did coming up'."
Colby: "That tasted alot better going down than it did coming up".
Quinn: "Thank you."

Annnnnnddd... dash the mother's hopes.  I honestly thought there for a second that I witnessing a giant leap forward in the civility of my children.  So gullible. 

Oh MY!

Quinn came home with THIS answer on his Social Studies test today:

"Pubic property is something everyone can go on". 

((sigh))

Creative Genius

The video speaks for itself....

Wedgies

Mom: "Colby, get some clean underwear out of the laundry basket."
Colby: "I can only find Diego underwear in there!"
Mom: "So?  What does that matter??"
Colby: "I can't wear Diego underwear to school!"
Mom: "Why not?  No one sees your underwear."
Colby: "Yes they do!"
Mom: "Really?!?!"
Colby:  "TJ gives me wedgies.  And if he sees Diego underwear, when he gives me a wedgie, he'll laugh at me!"

Then by all means, prepare for the wedgie by wearing "cool" underwear, my son.  SO glad I'm not in the 3rd grade anymore!

Christopher Columbus Biography Report - by Quinn Aho

WHA?????

Holy Bowl-Me-Over, Batman!

I was lying in bed this morning, when I heard someone rustling around with backpacks.  This usually means that one child or another is trying to sneak a toy to school.  I dragged my carcass out of bed to investigate. 

That's when I saw it.

My son.   MAKING HIS LUNCH FOR SCHOOL.  I nearly fainted.

Me: "Colby, what are you doing?"
Colby: "Making my lunch."
Me: "Uhhhhhh, good job!  I'll get your breakfast ready."
Colby: "I already made my own breakfast, Mom.  I'm done eating."
Me: "OK.  I'll get your vitamins."
Colby: "I got my own, Mom."  And he stuck a Barney Rubble out of his mouth. 
Me: "So... I'll find your clothes."
Colby: "I'm already dressed, see?"  Oh yeah.  He was.  In clean, temperature-appropriate, matching clothes.   "It's gym class today, so I wore sweats.  And I'm wearing a t-shirt under my sweatshirt in case I get too warm at recess".

So, with nothing to do, I got out his backpack and went through his papers from yesterday.  Both boys have been struggling with the adjustment to third grade.  Imagine my shock when I pulled out 9 papers.... 8 A's, and 1 B.  WOW.

Me: "Well, buddy... the only thing you forgot was your coat at school!"
Colby: "Turn around Mom.  It's right behind you."

I think I'm still asleep, dreaming.  Honestly.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was literally in tears, feeling like a failure as a mother?   And here is this awesome kid.  Making my morning, my day, my year.  A complete and total answer to prayer, young man.