Have I Mentioned How Much I LOVE Children's Museums???

This post was going to just be pictures of our latest adventure at a children's museum, but then I realized that not all children's museums are equal.  While that may seem obvious, I learned that it doesn't have as much to do with the museum as it does with the parents.  At the first three museums the parents were WITH their children, helping them, playing with them, directing them,  interacting with them.  At this last one, most of the parents were hands-off, just letting their children run around.  Now, in theory, that is exactly what a child should be able to do in a children's museum, but there are a couple of things (sharing with others and cleaning up after yourself) that a little parental guidance can help with, making things nicer for everyone.  All of that to say, if you take your child to a children's museum, go WITH him/her, enjoy it WITH him/her.
Needless to say, we had a wonderful time at our latest children's museum.

Now how does this work???

Your forecast today...thunder storms

I can hear you...

Stomp on the flashing light

Virtual soccer

Ever the engineer

Paper airplane flight tester

Paper airplane launcher...this was cool!

Fireman Collin to the rescue!

This was a stethescope that when put to a sensor on the body would make the sound (heart beat, stomach growl...).  He is laughing because he found that one that passes gas :)

Planting with KaKa

Every time we are in town my mom has a yard project going and Collin is always excited to help.  This time they were planting new hibiscus plants around the pool.  Collin was a little apprehensive at first when my mom told him he might find a worm.  Ha!!  We had to tell him that worms were cool before he'd stick his hands in the dirt.  Then it was on.

So, I missed the show (I got to go shopping ALONE), but I am told that he was covered in dirt and mud from head to toe.  He chased two frogs around the yard until they got away.  Then, when asked to water the newly planted hibiscus he watered the plant and my mom.  Needless to say she returned fire and the fun ensued. 

The only way to top it all off, a swim in the pool.

Party Time

Inspite of the fact that we are currently a good ways from home, Collin still received an invitation to a birthday party.  He was very excited to be going to a party, especially when he learned he could wear his swimsuit (which meant water) and that there would be cake.  So, off to the Tangled party we went.

Collin had a great time!  There were 10 children all 4 and under...whew!!  I was tired when we left and all I did was watch them play.

It was wonderful for him to have the chance to play with some other children.  Small children are funny, it doesn't take them long to warm-up to each other and become best buds.  Every other child there had known the others since birth, and yet here they were, taking Collin in like he'd been around for years.  I so often wonder, when I watch children play, why adults can't be the same way. 

Children's Museum

I absolutely love a children's museum.  While they are all different in size and what they offer, they have one HUGE thing in common, they are child friendly.  Children can touch, talk loud, play, explore, run, experiment and just be kids.  They can do all of this without a single adult telling them (or their parents) not to touch or that they are being too loud.

Collin drove a race car (Lightning McQueen, in case you were wondering),

flew a spaceship

tested his strength,

worked on the farm,

got to be a cowboy,

made some music,

tried his hand at dentistry,

climbed a summitt,

played with the lilypads,

and finished an incredible day with a trip to Burger King :)

Playtime with Nana

I've known for awhile that when traveling with a child it is important to bring toys, his toys.  What started as a small bag with some rattles, rings and balls has turned into something that looks like an equipment vehicle for a high school athletic department.  Instead of a small bag of toys we bring: a set of golf clubs, a bag of baseballs, a glove, a bat, a kickball, a bike and a plethora of cars.

Fortunately, Mommy doesn't always have to "help" play with the toys.  Nana was on-hand for a golf lesson...

...some batting practice and a game of kickball.  Collin had a great time playing on the farm.

We grew french fries!!

On our Easter visit to the Wickers' Collin got to plant potatoes.  He and Stella had a great time playing in the dirt and learning how to hoe and plant.  He was a little confused that the actual potato would become a plant, but when we told him he was planting french fries, all was well.  So, he and daddy put the potato pieces in the ground and covered them up.

Then, it was back to check out the results of his handywork.  Inspite of the heat and complete lack of rain potato plants had grown.  Collin wasn't quite as interested in the work of pulling up the plants as he had been just dropping a potato piece in a hole, but he helped.

The potatoes were a bit small, because of the weather, but there were just enough to make french fries for dinner.  So, into the kitchen with Nana to learn how to fry homemade french fries!!!

He did a GREAT job!!

Cousins and Friends

They are like two peas in a pod; only 11 months apart and equally matched in opinion and spirit.  While the latter of that leads to some interesting confrontations, these two love each other as much as any cousins ever could.  They always look forward to seeing each other and have such a great time together.  So, it only made sense that we started our southeastern tour in Columbia. 
 

We got to spend a few great days with Erika and Stella.  We went swimming at the pool, bouncing at Bounceriffic and had lots of fun just watching the two of them play.  Stella even got to come and spend some time with us at the Wickers'. 

Both children love to cook with Nana.  Their most recent creation, french fries (more on that later).  So, in the spirit of all good cooks Nana found aprons for both kiddos. 

"CHEESE!"  Boy, can they ham it up!  "Now, what can we cook up next?"