museum, in depth

Um, I've got mixed feelings on this one. About two weeks before school ended, I realized with blinding clarity that I would be home once again with four very different personalities ALL DAY LONG. No break, nothing. I reacted, as I'm sure many of you would have, by self medicating with chocolate (I prefer See's for the really bad days, and m&m's for the daily strife-how I eat my m&m's is a whole post unto itself), by stockpiling crafts, and scouring the internet for something, anything, to do with the kids to keep them from pestering each other.

And in all that searching for local places that my children, ages 2-10 (in 1 month), would find entertaining, and that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg, I came across the Natural History Museum. It looked great, it was close, it wasn't too expensive ($80 for a year membership for a family of 6). I called Eric super excited, that this place was going to be our salvation this summer. I bought us a membership right away. When Eric got home from work, before I could tell him what I had done, he suggested that we go first before we buy ourselves a membership (darn that rational man!) Of course, I was too embarrassed to tell him, "too late". So I just smiled, and felt a bit fool hardy.

So we went a week and a half ago now, and I think I'm finally able to talk about it. First of all, I'm surprised that we haven't ever been before, the place it really neat. If you live here, or are going to visit, plan on going. (We also love the Science Center, but I wasn't up for the drive this summer).

It seems like half their stuff is hands on, some good exploration stuff, some fun science stuff, real dinosaur bones, meteorites, gold panning, and a jail. And they've got this amazing three story tall dinosaur mountain (w/flash floods every 20 minutes, or so). We were at the top just in time for one of the flash floods, it was pretty neat seeing the water crashing down the mountain into the pools at the bottom.

Here's where our adventure turned sour: Davin wanted to see the snapping turtle Bubba, but he was a no show. Aidan decided that he's afraid of heights after watching the water falling down, and after I told him we couldn't see the rest that day (for kids, there is a direct correlation). Eme, well, she found something to complain about on our way out. And Madeline, she was just unhappy to be back in the stroller for the walk to the car.

Even with the wonderful surprise of lunchables (!) for their lunch on the drive home, the trip was ruined for all (or, so they told me). I then got to endure 20 minutes of their complaints (lots of NOT FAIR), with the added insult of not having drinks for them (come on, we're less than 10 miles from home!)


I was so not looking forward to Eric getting home. Of telling him all about our wonderful adventure that everyone hated, but they would have to endure several more times over the summer to pay for itself. All because I acted impulsively, and didn't try it out first (darn those lessons stink!) But soon as Daddy got home, the kids regaled him with their wonderful adventure to the museum, and were all wondering when they could go back.

WHAT?!?!

So I guess they really liked it, they just needed time for their respective disappointments to mellow. Ah, summer.