Andrew (8) participated in his second Pinewood Derby this year and won first place out of 35 cars! What made it more fun was that he did a lot more of the work on the car this year than last year, so it really was more of his effort. Andrew, of course, was delighted.

The event was much faster this year too thanks to a new track setup we used from Northwest Scouters. They have a slick four-lane metal track with computer scoring. We ran all 35 cars and were done with the racing part in maybe 35 minutes (vs. the two hour ordeal last year.) I think all the dads were more excited than the kids to see the track go together and check out all the computerized gear.

Good fun.

Congratulations to the Steelers on the victory in tonight's Super Bowl. The Seahawks gave it a good try, but ultimately self-imploded.

It was fun the watch the game with the boys tonight. We don't have a TV signal normally (I'll blog on that sometime), but today I hooked up a pair of rabbit ears to watch the game. We all sat around, snacked, yelled, and watched the game. The guys enjoyed it, although Michael (5) kept referring to the Steelers as the Robbers.

We'll have to watch more games in the future. It was fun.

Apparently, Michael (5) is tired of waiting for the big trade. He's removed the requirement that the eagle has hair and will accept a bald eagle now.

I'm in trouble now.

I'm not sure how the discussion started, but after some intense negotiations, Michael (5) has agreed with Michelle that he'd trade me in for an eagle, a monkey, and a goldfish. He figures they'd be more fun than I am, although he admitted the goldfish wouldn't do much.

When asked if he meant a bald eagle, he said, "No, I want one with hair." I figure I'm safe for a while since finding a hairy eagle will take a while.

Michael went through some packages that arrived yesterday looking for his animals. He was visibly disappointed when his box didn't show up.

I guess I should be flattered that he wants three animals in exchange for me. My boss keeps threatening to trade me for a carton of cigarettes.

Michelle is making fudge right now. Michael (5) is excitedly watching her do this; he's a major chocoholic. When I asked him, "Michael, do you like fudge?" he replied "I love fudge more than I love you."

Well, I guess I know where I stand.

Out of the blue this afternoon, Michael (5) declared today that he would choose to be in Slytherin House. (For those of you who are not Harry Potter devotees, Slytherin is the house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry known for producing Dark Wizards.)

Somehow, I'm not surprised. He preferred the Sith to the Jedi as well. Power appeals to him.

I'd probably be in Hufflepuff, since I'm a bit of a duffer...

(Once again, I'm stunned that Wikipedia had articles on the random HP stuff I linked to above. I don't think Encarta or Britannica would consider it reference, but it's an interesting and useful redefinition of reference. Looks like the intersection between Wikipedia geeks and HP geeks is high...)

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised given his recent conversion to Egyptian mythology, but Andrew (8) made an Anubis holiday card this week in Cub Scouts. We were making pop-up cards out of construction paper. His had a pop-up head of a jackal (Anubis), resplendent with a red and green collar for the holidays, next to a Christmas tree.

It was a nice mix of two pagan religious symbols and is probably as Christian as other symbols associated with Christmas like the yule log and mistletoe, appropriated from pagan ritual.

Learn more about Christmas from Encarta.

After Michael's (5) bath this evening, I was kneeling behind him as he stood naked in front of his dresser picking out his pajamas. I noticed he wasn't really moving, but he was bobbing his little butt at me. I wondered what he was doing. Then, a lightbulb went off.

I asked him nicely, "Michael, are you trying to fart on me?!" He started laughing evilly, almost maniacally. He then turned around and started bobbing his butt at me again, still laughing.

Gross little kid. Fortunately, he doesn't have that kind of bodily control yet. Lord help me when he does.

[Scene from the Chor household this evening.]

Michael (5) comes into the kitchen despondent.

Michael: [Sobbing] "Andrew (8) is being rude."
Michelle picks him up to comfort him.
Michael: [Through his tears]: "Let's chop him up with an axe."
Michelle: [Soothingly] "OK."
Michael: [Suspiciously] "Do we even have an axe?"
Michelle: [smiles]
Michael: "Well, let's a get a big knife and stab his heart." [Evil grin]

[Exit]

Who knows how this act will play out?

Michael (5) was mad at Michelle this evening because she wouldn't let him stay up past his bedtime to play his Gameboy (how cruel of her!) He was simply beside himself. Through his tears, he pulled me aside and said, "You should fire her."

I don't think it works that way, little kid. Plus, she'd get half.

Too bad I wouldn't get half of Microsoft's cash if they fired me. That would be OK.