Experiments

Jacob loves science and experiments. One of his favorite shows on tv is Mythbusters...this would be his ideal job. If he could be on tv, blow things up and make things he would be on top of the world, lol. The things he learns and repeats back to me days and even weeks after he has seen a show just amazes me. Not too long ago, the guys on Mythbusters did the Mentos and coke experiment and Jacob has been wild to try it so last weekend I bought a cheap Big K coke and a package of mentos. He, of course, wanted to try it last Sunday during those wild winds we were having from Ike and I couldn't talk him out of it. Needless to say, we didn't get the super tall geyser he was expecting so I promised him we would try again this weekend. I bought a tube this week at school that made it easier to get all the mentos in the 2-liter of coke at the same time and surprised him with it on Friday. We tried the experiment again today and it went much better. I videotaped it and will try to include it in this post. We also had gotten an email about making a "camping lantern" with a Mountain Dew, baking soda and peroxide. During our Saturday night campfire we tried this one and was very upset that it didn't work like the video we saw but upon further investigation on the Internet at snopes.com we found out the video was a hoax. Too bad because it was pretty cool they way the mountain dew was suppose to glow!

I have just about drove my family crazy this weekend...especially Shannon. I am trying to decide whether or not to go back and get my Master's degree. EKU has discontinued the elementary program so I could only teach middle school or high school. I know I don't want to teach high school. I am so torn...it is a huge commitment and expense. I am never away from Jacob except the few hours he is in class...even then I'm usually just a few doors away. The thought of being gone from him even one night a week gives me feelings of guilt. Friday night, after spending time looking around EKU's website (again) I put down my laptop and sigh loudly...

Jacob says, "Mom, if you need help just ask."

I say, "Help with what?" not realizing that he had paid attention to what I was looking at.

He says, "About if you should go back to school or not."

I say, "ok, help." I'm very curious to what he will say.

He says, "I think you should do it, I will miss you but I'll be fine. I'll help you study and I think you'll do great."

Oh, if only adult decisions were that easy.

He wasn't too hip on the idea when he thought I would teach English but since I could be teaching science he is all for it. I think he secretly thinks we will do experiments all the time and he will have access to a cool lab. Not sure how cool a middle school science lab is but to an 8 year old it would be awesome I'm sure.

Another great Jacob moment...Shannon was spraying some wasps today that had built a nest on our porch. Jacob says, "Jamie and Adam (mythbusters) always say that when all else fails, use C-4 explosives."

Shannon told him that would be a bit of overkill to lose our house in an explosion just to kill a few wasps.