A boy day...

Today has been one of those days that I'll cherish and remember as a boy day.  We read about tanks for science.  It was one of our more thrilling science lessons.  Eight years ago, I would have been shocked to see how much enthusiasm I could generate over weaponry.  

Today's history reading was on the Mayans.  In case you were wondering, status symbols and beauty are relative.  The Mayan kings would file their front teeth to pointed fangs.  As babies, their mothers would use wooden rings to give them pointy heads and hang toys right at their noses to make them cross-eyed.  We were all hugely entertained by that mental picture.  David asked if it would hurt to file your teeth, so I'll need to keep an eye on that situation.  We also learned about a Mayan ball game where the winner is rewarded with gold and treasure and the losers are beheaded.  (And I thought Little League was nuts.)

After lunch we spent some time in the woods.  They walked across an old fallen tree lying across a creek.  It was a perfect height - just high enough so that they felt brave and wild for crossing it.  At the end of the walk we spent some time playing in the creek.  I don't know why I wasted oxygen saying, "You can play beside the creek, but don't get your shoes or pants wet."  I've been at this boy gig long enough to know better.  Of course everyone but Rand (I'm still faster than him) got soaked.  It was always technically an accident.  I think they were born understanding plausible deniability.

This afternoon David and Jacob watched Top Ten Tanks on the Military channel.  David took notes.  Afterward we went to the library and checked out every book on tanks.  On our way in, they all ran up to me with a handful of dandelions.  It's been a good day.