MN Children's Museum for the Win

Last weekend we got to do something that everyone has been telling us to do since day one - we visited the Minnesota Children's Museum. The name doesn't do it justice; it is more of an interactive theme park than a museum. It's huge, it has tons of different rooms and exhibits and heck, the teller at the bank today said he goes with his wife every now and then and they don't even have kids. It is an interesting place for all involved.

 

 Joe the ant, Riley the turtle. Dave and Christian the...Native Americans? The "official RV of Native Americans" made up a curiously large part of the Native American exhibit. We knew not what to make of this.

Riley at the face painting station

Fun with light:

Joe scurried from one water table to the next like a mad scientist who was having the best day of his life. Those other guys were also excited. Way down deep. Oh and what's with that lady braiding Chris's hair? 
 

How about those windows?

As luck would have it, the museum is around the corner from Mickey's Dining Car. We were all starving after our fun afternoon so there was only one sensible thing to do.

We ate.

Oh, just a lil' diner I have been dying to visit ever since we moved here. Dave forgot he was wearing Riley's hat on his hat till we were half way through dinner hahaha.

 Nummy num! Shakes. Burgers. Fries. Creamer packets that explode across the aisle when Joe bites them. Umm...may I just say parenting is a very active sport. And a contact one at that. I got side-tackled while I was nursing Joe today and uh, it was a little touch and go there for a while.

When we left the restaurant, there were church bells crashing in the church next door, completing the experience. Maybe it's my love of Dickens, but I do love church bells. I wonder why we don't have any in our churches, you know? Maybe because if we did, and they all went off when time for church, no one in UT valley would ever enjoy a Sunday nap. And people would probably go deaf.

I should probably title this post "Dave walking away." Or perhaps, "Pictures of a cute behind."

Joe returns to escort me across the square.

The End.

It was a good adventure. I must admit, those babies are much more adventurous than I. When we ended up having to walk almost a mile in the snow to get the the museum, I was sorta wrathful. On the other hand, the babies are all like, "Chill, Mom. Let's kick some snowdrifts." They are much more "Joy is in the journey," like their dad. But it was a very memorable day and everyone had a good time.

And we are glad we got to spend it with Christian. Send him army crawling after Joe through an ant tunnel maze that smells like people feet...let him pack around the diaper bag...you know, "good uncle stuff." He came for the weekend to babysit for us, because he can now that he has had arm surgery and can't work for a while, so he has some time off and Riley and Joe were so happy chasing him around all weekend. Thanks for visiting, Chris! And THANKS for cleaning around the house while we were gone - that was really nice to come home to! You got class.

Theeen it was Monday and we had our neighbor friend over all day, who Riley and Joe adore. Here they are eating Kugel, a Jewish dish his mom brought for us to have at lunch and it was delicious. Riley and Joe and their friend played together and ate together and were exhausted by the end so that bed time was a cinch.

And that is a good way to end and start a week.