Spring Break - MSI

Spring Break continued with a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. I was telling Clark about the Wright brothers a while ago so when we got to the museum he was really excited to be able to see the replica of the first flying machine. That kid has an amazing memory.

We went to a special Earth Explorers exhibit by National Geographic. It was a super interactive exhibit where they were able to climb, touch, explore, and learn about five different climates. The boys loved it. Kara was along for the ride.

I was fascinated by the crittercams they use to take point of view video. They have one attached to the fin of this shark. It seems unbelievable that they would be able to put this on to a great white shark and get video. But they do!

The polar regions were another favorite - more penguins!

I think Kent loved having Clark home and doing fun things all week long. We don't normally have this many outings in a week!!

Spring Break - Children's Museum

Spring Break was a lot of fun! We had a wonderful staycation and got a lot of great use out of our museum memberships! First stop was the Children's Museum. 

Ha - I think this is hilarious!

Kara and I played by the blocks and balls while the boys worked on gears and building. It was so fun to watch Kara. She was determined to hold all three balls in her hands at the same time. She would have one in each hand and then get this determined look on her face as she stretched her little fingers as far as she could to pick up the other ball. So cute.

Then the three of them all worked on towers together. Building and then Kara-zilla knocking down.

The boys loved the construction zone. Clark built a bi-plane and Kent built a racecar. There may have been a slight mommy meltdown as Kent was building the car, but the wonderful people of the museum jumped in to help him out. Thank goodness!

Museum Day

Next time we think it's a good idea to visit MSI a few days after Christmas, stop us! It's crazy busy there and you can barely move! Even with our membership which gets us a shorter line, we still had to wait for almost an hour...and the sub tour sold out just before we got to check in! Ugh.

The boys had such a great time there though. We brought along Clark's friend which made Clark very happy! They loved the U-505 exhibit and the weather exhibit. We had fun looking at the Christmas Around the World trees. Cam posed in front of the Canada tree. I went to nurse Kara just as we were getting ready to leave, but I couldn't find a place to sit down. It was that busy! So I sat down on the floor in what I thought would be a very out of the way place. A few minutes later people start congregating around me and start asking, "when does it start?" I was so confused until I saw the snow coming down. Of all the places I could pick, I pick the indoor snowfall where a ton of people gather to see the snow. Not so out of the way...

Is it Science or Industry?

Days off of school seem so rare and precious! I'm finally feeling up to taking all three kids places...that is until I took them all to the Museum of Science and Industry! Haha! I know most of the exhibits are hands on, but I just wanted them to stop pushing buttons! Aghhhhh! We did have a great day though. Even if I needed a tranquilizer.

I'm so glad that Clark reminded me of our souvenir photo series. Here is the second photo in our series. You can find the rest of them (the other one with hopefully more to come) here.

We were also super lucky to stumble upon the "Bangs, Flashes and Fire" show. Clark loved it and participated every chance he could. He got a sticker for identifying safety glasses as protective gear...smart kid, haha! Kent hid behind me the whole time. Kara happily watched. The first thing they did was set some ice on fire. That was pretty cool, but we were wanting to see more than a little candle flame even if it was burning ice. So then they made some different color fires and we learned that the things they add to the fuel makes the different colors. Lithium makes pink and copper makes green. I can't remember what the super tall flame was, but it was high! The bangs came at the end when they blew up a hydrogen balloon. Then they filled a balloon with rocket fuel and blew that one up. I don't have a picture of that one since I had to cover Kara's poor ears for the bang!

The museum has SO much in it that I never feel like I even scratch the surface of what we can see. We walked down by the ships and race cars. Then went to the weather exhibit where Clark got to walk in the vortex. Kent didn't want to. Clark also wanted to step into a tornado and experience 80 mph winds. He's fascinated by tornadoes right now, so I think it's fun for him to learn the science behind them. We also went to the YOU exhibit where Clark was able to take a spin on the hamster wheel and Kent finally enjoyed something! He practiced with a Tai Chi master.

Jason stopped by the museum after work and joined us for the last half of the day. They had a special Disney exhibit there too. I was so excited to see some Mary Poppins stuff. The carpet bag was really like carpet - long carpet. I always thought it was a bit more like tapestry. I have to watch the movie again. They also had the prop storybooks from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. I thought they were really cool to see. They had a lot of information about the animation process which always fascinates me. I am always shocked at how much goes into making an animated film. Simply amazing. The last stop of the day was at the Animation Studio where they taught us how to draw Mickey Mouse - without an eraser! It was fun and most of the Mickeys turned out pretty well! I always love seeing Clark's drawings!

A Day with Grandma

Grandma's always up for taking the kids some place fun! She bought a Children's Museum pass and the boys just love going. On this occasion they were sent with specific instructions to come back with pictures with Grandma in them...they didn't follow instructions very well! Oh well, maybe next time! There are some fun ones of the boys playing and working together which I love!

Thanks Grandma!

A Day Without Mom

It's such a rarity that the kids get a day without mom, but I think they really like it! While I was off shopping and relaxing on a lovely hay sofa in a barn, the boys were hanging with Dad, Boompa, Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Melissa, Uncle Brandon, Jenny, and Uncle Darwin. They all went to the Museum of Science and Industry and had a splendid time. I'll say it over and over again that I'm so glad Clark has a camera. Now I have a few pictures to see what a fun time they had.

Jason loves these old time pictures. I think this is one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time...my little bank robbers. I'm not so sure how great their getaway car is though.

They had a great time at the museum. Of course they visited the John Deere tractors for Grandpa and the play lab. They said they didn't see too much though. Jason and Kent went inside the tornado booth (not pictured). I'm sure Boompa loved directing Clark on the crane.

 Some candid shots from hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's after the museum.

And the best part about having a camera...a million selfies!

President's Day at the Field

I always love a day at the Field Museum. The boys do too. Clark came into my room at 6:30 am completely dressed and ready to go. I hated to tell him that it would be hours before we would actually leave!

It's funny when I go through pictures of places like the museum or the zoo I see the same pictures just at a different time. Here's a previous trip and another one. You'll see a few similarities between those posts and this one. It's fun to see them growing up!

The boys think it is hilarious when we see rattlesnakes. So of course I have to take a picture.

Kent posing as a flamingo. The flamingo has become my favorite animal. When Jason and I got married, I found this really cool flamingo at Hobby Lobby that I just LOVED. That was the beginning. Every now and then I'd get a little flamingo thing from someone or I'd pick one up myself, but I tried not to say too much since that would mean I would be a flamingo collector...and that is a BAD thing in this family. Then I'd be bombarded by flamingos. Well, this year Jason and the boys bought me a lovely outdoor Christmas decoration flamingo. There's no closet collecting now. It's out in the wide open. Here comes the flamingo love.

Posing in the Apatosaurus footprint!

How did those ancient Egyptians do it?

Kent and Philip exploring the pyramid.

More fake sleeping...love it!

Clark among all of the animal mummies - falcons, geese, cats, and more.

Michele took this picture of Clark and I sharing a tender moment and learning that "Life on earth was nearly extinguished."

We finished up the day at the Play Lab. Kent only lay like this for a moment, but I really felt like crashing!

This is us at the museum.

Jason came up with the title of today's post. What do you think? Should I keep him around?

Kent and I went with some friends to the Children's Museum last week. I felt a small pang of regret when I didn't take Clark, but that quickly faded as Kent started exploring the museum. Besides...Clark got to do loads of stuff before Kent was born. I think I'm still trying to convince myself that it was okay.

Kent did have a lot of fun at the museum. What kid doesn't love a place that encourages you to touch and poke and move things around to your liking? This ship was a favorite stop for Kent and Philip. 

You could use the hoses to blow air at the pinwheels to make them turn. That is until the little pinwheel snatcher girl comes along and takes them ALL. Good thing we were able to play a little bit before she came.

Bubbles, bubbles are so much fun. Bubbles, bubbles for everyone.

It's like magic. The ball just floats. Amazing.

Ali loved the wind tunnel. And Kent loves following Ali. So here they are together. Happy.

Safety first.

I love fun with mirrors.

Kent humored me with these pictures of him in the magnifying glasses. Magnifying glasses are almost as fun as mirrors. When I showed him the pictures he actually cracked up.

A little bit of rhythm play

Some shadow play...he didn't really get this part. Though he did think it was fun to use the hand to give his shadow a high five.

Trolley Time!

And a Museum Trip?

Over Spring Break we went with the Wilde's on a field trip the Field Museum. I love going back to the same places to take photos to see just how much the boys have grown. Check out the last time we were at the Field in 2010. Clark fits nice and tight in the Apatosaurus footprint with friends. Now he spills out!

(Top to bottom) Cameron loves Egypt. That was our first stop. He's here taking a little snooze here on the Egyptian bed. Kent taking it all in (out of his stroller! eek!). The three of us at the Underground Adventure. Clark walked through the whole thing covering his ears. I'm not sure what loud sound he was afraid of. Zachery, Kent and Clark on a dinosaur bone. Clark trying to pull a stone as big as one used to build a pyramid. Cameron, Clark, Kent and Clara in the bugs. Kent did not like the bug exhibit very much. I tried to get him to sit in this bug and he clung to me with his death grip. Then Clara goes in there and he starts asking to be put in. Aye.

With Sue....