Caut!on & The Bean

Back at the the first part of Feb. Collin brought home an assignment from his third grade class. A Science Project type of assignment that was required for all third graders. The assignment: Build a catapult that will launch a small load "like that of a mini candy bar, like a Snickers" - Yes, those were the actual words on the paper.. Catapult due on Thurs, 19th of Feb. so as to be ready for Competition on Friday the 20th... hmm. "Competition?" Apparently the goal was to launch said candy bar the farthest or the highest and places were to be awarded for each. That put a whole new twist on the project...

Collin and I finish his catapult the weekend prior to due date and test it a few times... It's launching fairly well, and I'm feeling quite proud of my amateur carpentry skills... Then, at one point Collin informs me that his buddy, Boston and his dad built a catapult that is as tall as Boston... "Hmm, well ours is only about 3ft long and 1 foot and a half tall" as i just kinda looked at Collin, wide-eyed and slightly dejected... "uhhh..." Then he says to me "Thats ok Dad, mine will probably still look the coolest.. I don't care if I don't win" and again I look at him wide-eyed, "thanks kiddo, but let's see what else we can do with thing to make it launch better" as my heart grew 3 sizes right then... A couple of extra pieces of wood, some more paint and an extra bungee cord later and we have come the end of our modifications. "Well, that's the best we can do with what we've got"...

Thursday rolls around and Collin is extremely proud of his black and orange machine as he walks up to the school... The only black catapult in the entire third grade!

Then.... FRIDAY! and as Collin tells it "DAD, DAD I got third place OUT OF THE WHOLE THIRD GRADE!!!" (thats probably 70-80 kids at least)... "I Beat everybody in just my class to go on the finals, with the best of the whole third grade!!" as he grins from ear to ear...

...me, i'm smiling and thinking...

...hmm.. Must've been the carpentry skills my Grand-dad taught me, back during that summer I spent in Virginia when I was just 10 or 11...