Natural History Redux

Perhaps you remember the "lip heard round the world" when O found out the dinosaur wing of the Natural History Museum was closed. Today we went back.

Late start because Sponge Bob was having a marathon.

Now, I'm the first to admit, Sponge Bob is not my favorite cartoon. You might even go further and say "gee Sarah, didn't you say you hate him with the burning intensity of a thousand suns?" Yes, yes I did. "What happened?" you ask. It's one of four tv channels we get and Noni said it was okay.


All I can say is I can't wait to get home. They can sleep in their own beds, I can wean them off gelato and jolly ranchers and purge their mind of the Sponge named Bob..

I digress.

So we ping up to the museum taking the train to a new tube stop. Pop up twenty feet from the museum. And walk up to a line that is three times as long as last week. Down the front, zigzagged around the lawns. All we wanted to see are the dinosaurs. P's reaction "who are all these people". First time we've seen kids O's age. But it moved fast.

Might I comment (again) on personal space? If you can see my freckles on the back of my neck and I can feel your creepy moist breath -you're too freaking close. If your child keeps whacking me with their stuffed animal and I happen to turn around and look at you on your cell phone, feign interest at my annoyance and at least mouth an apology- goodness knows I've had to multiple times in the past. If you come from a country that doesn't 'line up' yes, I'm trying to tell you something when I link hands with my children and not let you push past.

I will now take off my cranky pants.

We were in the museum saw all the dinosaur stuff. It was fantastic. Lots of bones, a great animatronic t-Rex. There's not much really else to say, but I'm not the Dino fan.. And for the record we did see a Gallimimus fossil. Spoiler alert, looks like a big chicken, with a tail.

We peeled out maybe thirty minutes after we arrived. Had carmel gelato on the grass while I soothed my nerves with a latte.

We walked thirty feet to the Science Museum. You could feel the air vibrate with child glee. We headed to the IMAX counter to see what was playing, I thought a space adventure sounded good but was shot down for orphaned elephants and orangutans. That settled we went to get lunch. (yes, the sequence is correct, gelato then lunch) Between juggling three plates and drinks I had no energy to assess the lunches until we got to the table. Fries, pizza, cheese sandwich, yogurt, two desserts, two different apple juices.. > than stellar.



Oh.. And the dinosaur? Let me go back..thirty or so years.. My mom purchased a 'dinosaur stick' (basically a dinosaur head that you can manipulate its jaws with a trigger control.. on a stick) for a 4 year old Pete that he traumatized unsuspecting airline passengers, waitresses and NYC pigeons. We found a replacement and had a great time with him all day. Oh, and he likes fries.


And pizza.

Happy full cherubs.

We hit the IMAX, show was wonderful.





And the glasses..speak for themselves. Jackie O eat your heart out.

We walked out into a fantastic museum space with airplanes





Space crafts


Cars

And a huge room much like that of the Exploratorium. We caught an explosive show for kids that was perfect. Freaked out enough to keep checking on me and yet thrilled that things kept blowing up. At one point the performer had Barbie stuffed in a cannon giving the audience a choice of chanting "fly Barbie fly" or "die Barbie die". Unfortunately, the cannon didn't light. :( <-- my very sad face.

We walked through the floors all over again and into the gift store, overwhelmed by the choices the kids were paralyzed. I was loosing my mind. So much so temporary insanity took over and P was allowed to buy a flute. The only saving grace is that it has to be filled with water and therefore can only be used in the tub.

By five thirty we were over done, but mission accomplished showing P all museums aren't boring.

We coordinated with Dennis to meet in Richmond for dinner. Hit a book store (P picked up her eighth sticker book) and asked the clerk for a child friendly place. Giraffe Cafe complete with plastic giraffe's hanging on the edge of the drinks. Perfect ending to a long day.

I haven't figured out tomorrow. But we'll let you know what we're up to ;)

Mas love,
Sarah