The scientist

The other day, John said to Daddy "Don't worry Daddy! I don't want to be a firefighter anymore. I want to be a scientist!"  Daddy was very happy to hear this and asked John, "Why do you want to be a scientist?"  John said "Because I want to travel back in time to see how the dinosaurs got extinct." 

Tonight I picked him up from school and he was complaining to me about how we missed the book fair. "I didn't get any new books. You know I want to be a scientist now. And I need a lot of books so I can figure out why the dinosaurs went extinct. I might even have to sleep in a library!" 

the fireman

At dinner tonight, Gillian and I told John that tomorrow a fireman would be visiting Gillian's school.  This made John very happy.  If you remember a few weeks ago the fire department visited John's school and he really enjoyed it and learned a lot (check out Fire Safety).  Anyway, we had John's attention.  Gillian tells us "I like the fireman.  But I don't have a hat.  Maybe I can use Johnny's hat.  But it needs stickers.  I could decorate it."  John's face said it all.  He wasn't happy with his sister's idea.  He said "I hope she isn't talking about my hat.  I'm going to put it under maxima security!  And she better not put any stickers on it!"  I suggested that maybe the fireman would bring hats for everyone since John got his hat when the fire department visited his school.  Gillian was very happy to hear that, but then she said "I get a hat.  But what about Minnie?"  Gillian has a small Minnie Mouse doll that she carries around everywhere.  John took his hat and put it on Minnie and said "See Gill, it won't fit her!" 

The haircut

Earlier this week, I asked Miss Brittany if she would cut John's hair this weekend.  Miss Brittany is our neighbor (she is also Mr. Matt's wife) and she is a hairdresser.  I wasn't sure if she would be comfortable cutting a little boy's hair.  But she said she would be happy to give John a haircut.  We made plans to meet her today. 

Tonight John and I walked over to Miss Brit's house.  We knocked on the back door and walked into their kitchen.  Miss Brit asked John "How do you want your hair cut?"  John looked at me and then said "You know!  You tell her."  I explained to Miss Brit, that John wanted a faux hawk.  I also told Miss Brit, that I thought John's hair was a little too short for a faux hawk and that it probably needed to grow more.  She agreed and we decided to cut the sides short and leave the top longer this way maybe next time he could get a faux hawk.  After we decided what the plan was, Miss Brittany starting cutting with the clippers.  John is very used to clippers.  Daddy has been giving John buzz cuts for a long time.  John sat very still and Miss Brittany asked John how school was.  John gave some short one word answers and then I prompted him with "Tell Miss Brit who came to visit school on Friday."  That prompted John to tell her all about the firemen that visited school and about fire drills and lockdown drills and fire safety.  He was chatting away when there was a knock on the back door.  Aunt Missy arrived!  (Aunt Missy and Uncle T were going to visit Mr. Matt and Miss Brittany for dinner tonight.)  Miss Brittany finished John's hair.  What a difference it made!  He looks so grown up. 

I tried to stay and talk with the girls.  But John was not having any of it.  He was ready to go.  And since I wasn't moving fast enough, he just started pouting in the middle of the kitchen.  We said our goodbyes and we walked home.  It is so nice to just walk next door and get John's hair cut by someone we know and trust.  Thanks Miss Brittany!             

Fire Safety

Gillian and I picked up John from school today.  We noticed that there was a plastic fireman's hat in his backpack.  I asked John if a fireman came to school today.  He said "Yes!  We learned about fire safety."  I asked him to tell Gillian what that means.  He said to Gillian "You can't play with matches or lighters or fire.  You know why?  Because then you would lose everything that you love the most.  You know what that is?  You would lose your Baby!"  Gillian said "I no play with fire!"  He said "And Mom, you know what?  In the kitchen, you should put a rug in front of the oven.  And then you should tell Gillian that she can't play by the rug.  And you know what?  You should also put something on the handles of the pots.  That way Gillian can't get hurt.  And you need to not let the candles go to the ceiling!  And we should clean out the garage.  We need to make sure all the matches and stuff that makes fire is put away."  He kept going, and I said, "We should remember about the candles."  Gillian said "Yes.  The candles."  I asked Gillian, "Do you remember what do with the candles?"  She said "You put them in the cake!"  Everything always goes back to dessert with this one.  But John didn't miss a beat, "No, Gillian, we need to make sure the candles don't go up to the ceiling.  And we should only use them in case of emergency.  And only adults should light them!" 

When we got to the house, I was able to tape John telling me some fire safety tips.

    
When Daddy got home, John told Daddy "I got to see the inside of a fire truck today!"  Daddy asked him what you are supposed to do if you get caught on fire.  John said "First you stop (and he stuck out his arms).  Next, you drop (and he fell to the ground).  Then you roll (and he rolled all over the floor)."  John truly enjoyed having the fire department visit his school and he learned a lot today.

Firefighter

I made chicken tonight. Some of the pan drippings hit the bottom of the oven and the kitchen quickly filled with smoke. It also set off the smoke alarm. I had Daddy help with the smoke alarms while I called the kids for dinner. John came upstairs, waving his hand in front of his face and said "Can we turn the fan on?" He then pinched his nose with his hand and sat down at the table. Gillian, on the other hand, said "Oh come on Mom!" As if I stink up the house every night. I told John that it wasn't necessary to hold his nose. He said "It's like you burned down the house!" Daddy didn't miss a beat and  said "John, you need to get used to this if you are going to be a fireman when you grow up." John said "You mean firefighter! Girls and boys can be firefighters." He then proceeded to lecture Daddy on calling people firefighters verses firemen. Gillian listened to this entire discussion and said "I be a princess!" Yes, Gillian you can be a princess when you grow up.