Catapult vs Tribuchet

Its really fun being a handyman dad during the science fair. Yes even though Jacob is only in first grade, at this charter school he to must participate with a science project or a model. He wanted to do a model of a catapult.

So we went to the best video authority I could think of for catapult's - the 3rd movie out of ht eLord of the Rings Trilogy, Return of the King. Not only did Jacobget to see catapults in action but he also got to see trebuchets - which really got his atention. This last weekend we bulit one and he learned so many lessons: leverage, counterweights, saftey, and triangulation - not to mention the importance of planning and assembling things methodically.

The best part is on Monday we got to use is and launched over 10 ballons until it broke. Check out these pictures!

Taking a day off with your Boyz sure is fun!

After working 11 days in a row, and with a baby sister on the way, I definitely needed to spend some father-son(s) time.

We went fishing on the pier in Pismo (didn't catch anything), ate clam-chowder bowls as Splash Cafe (the Boyz' favorite), and got to have free ice cream at Doc Burnsteins.

This turn into a doubly fun trip because this morning I saw a picture of my oldeset son on my shoulders on the front page the the Santa Maria Times.

What a fun time!

Jacob in the Rodeo

So we have been telling everyone about Jacob being in the Santa Maria Rodeo Friday night at 7PM. He is signed up to be a mutton buster.

There is also a Rodeo Parade at 9AM in Santa Maria on S. Broadway.

HEre is more info about the event:
http://www.santamariaelks.com/rodeo/rodeo.html

Monkey Boyz!

My boyz love to climb trees. I joke with them and tell them if they spend too much time in the tree they will grow a tail.

Nathan actually walked over to some people at the park and told them to be careful when they climb trees!

Movie Night

So about every two months Travis and I try to put together a MANly movie night. Previous movies have included:
Gladiator, Alien vs. Predeator, Alien, Aliens, Iron Man, The Hulk, etc - the last movie we upgraded our office for Blue Ray as well.

Now my wie play in the orchestra so about once per month she will come early with the boyz and we hang out in the office and watch a movie together. Tinight we watched Back to the Future.

What an adventure! It has everything boyz love - cool machines, a bully that gets beaten up, an electric guitar, lightening, guns, a pretty girl, and of course skateboarding behind cars!

Throughout the whole movie Jacob was asking about what was hapening in the movie - he aso would do reality checks of whether or not time travel is possible.

We have watched all kinds of good boy movies together (especially my oldest): star wars (the original 3 of course), all three Lord of the Rings (Legolas was his favorite), ET, and Karate Kid.

I am still not sure how I am going to top this last movie night the next time my wife is in orchestra!

1. Making Mo-hawks during bathtime
2. being shot at from pretend guns across the kitchen
3. Saving my son who is 20 feet up in the air, stuck in a tree
4. Chasing naked boyz around the house
5. the tickle monster
6. Story time
7. Wrestling in the living room
8. Scaring my boyz when they walk around the corner
9. Building a treehouse

These are some of my best memories with my boys. I love being a father.