**Whilst exploring the smoke-filled casinos & hotels of Las Vegas last weekend, we learned many new things.

**Never, EVER sit in a jacuzzi that has pubic hairs still in them. (Luckily, I noticed them, prior to setting one toe or even running the water in the overly-large tub!) Mostly, I wanted to vomit when I saw them. Can I just tell you what I think about hair? Let alone pubic hair? SICK! Next to being spat upon, having a hair that belongs to someone else near/on me (or especially in my food) makes me want to hurl. The older I get, the more OCD tendencies I seem to have.

**As a family, we have been watching the series 'Stargate.' It is a movie/series - the IMDB.com summary is: "An interstellar teleportation device, found in Egypt, leads to a planet with humans resembling ancient Egyptians who worship the god Ra."

So, in the Luxor, there are a lot of hieroglyphs on the walls. Rob said to Noah, "Hey, Noah! Is that the writing that is on the Stargate?" Noah responded, "No, Dad. It is Egyptian." He couldn't believe that Rob made that mistake!

**Hoover Dam is an amazing civil engineering feat. It was so great to see such an incredible structure. I really enjoyed seeing the art deco style. I never really liked that style before, but now, I think that it has its place in my little world. In case you are wondering, no one is buried in the walls of the dam. If so, it would loose its integrity. Apparently, it will withstand an 8 point earthquake on the Richter Scale.

**Yesterday, we were talking about the millennium and how the lions will not eat lambs, peace on earth, etc.

Jacob wanted to know about us eating cows and how that would fit in with the whole peace-on-earth thing. I told him no, we will all get along. (My guess is that humans eating animals isn't really fitting that description of peace.)

He was disappointed. He said, "I was hoping that we were going to have a barbecue with Jesus!" I think that, that is a great idea. I can only imagine Jesus pulling up a seat next to our kids and eating a veggie burger. Sounds like a fantastic time to me.

**I really am tired of the blog template that I have. I found one I like, but just as I was ready to click save - I had a message that my archives will be deleted. I kind of freaked. Those of you that have been doing this for eons longer than me, do you have any advice? Is it really going to delete my archived blogs? I was thinking that I need to copy and paste my past blogs into a Word document - do I?

Noah received a microscope for Christmas this last year. I am amazed how much time he (and Rob) spends looking through that device. It is really cool to see life in a different perspective. I thought that I would include a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment...

The first is sugar and the next two are feathers (with different lights illuminating it).









A few weeks ago, Noah was in the shower and started screaming for me. Of course, I have thoughts that he is hurt or has shampoo in his eyes. No. He just was uber creative with his cleansing accoutrement.

As you may remember, Rob's cancer came back. The doctors have been stumped as to how it got there in the first place, let alone returned. After countless tests, hypotheses, and the proverbial head-scratching - we now know what has caused Rob's cancer.

Let me back up a bit before I let you know the etiology of the cancer. Yesterday, we were sitting in an office of a social worker to determine whether my children needed any additional sessions. (I have been worried that they needed to see someone to discuss their worries.) Out of nowhere, Noah tells the short-but-sweet-story of Rob, the sculptor.

Daddy used to have a studio for his art. A giant came along and squashed the studio into little pieces. After that, he squirted cancer all over him.

So - to sum up the confusion that has gripped so many medical professionals: giants are real and they cause cancer. Their modus operandi is to squash art studios & wield cancer-squirting weapons.

Next mystery?

Noah had a conversation with Rob yesterday regarding his birthday wishes for any presents he may receive.

His first request is for a microscope that 'can see the little holes in leaves." Just a little history here...Noah received a really, really cool microscope for Christmas. It can see the little itty bitty bugs in plant water. Apparently, that is not powerful enough.

Rob told him that, that might be a little bit too expensive at this point in time and asked him if he had a second request.

Without thinking about it, Noah replied, "I would like bricks."

Huh???

He explained that he wanted bricks so he could build Mam (that is my mom) an underground house in our backyard.

Honestly? I cannot even begin to tell you what a wise old soul Noah is. He is always thinking such deep thoughts.

Jacob and Gabrielle are doing well - in case you were wondering. They don't say as many cute things as Noah. They are doing well in school and are having fun with their friends, etc. Sorry, kids. You need to start coming up with some really great one liners...