Our trip to the Portland Children's Museum was a big hit. It had it's high points and low points, it's sticky points and its sweaty points, but all-in-all, it was a triumph. Here's a blow-by-blow:
We left around 10:30 but by the time I stopped to get gas we were just too hungry to go on. I busted out the PB&J and the kids went to town.
When we got there it was raining with a mix of snow. We ran in and quickly realized that we weren't the only one to have the clever idea of going to the Children's Museum on a soggy Spreak Break Wednesday. The place was packed to the brim with tiny kids suffering from some serious Ritalin withdrawal and their pampering lumbering grandparents. It was like a commercial for Playskool meets Depends. Very strange.
The kids thought the building section was a little dull. Ash Lee liked the hats and the older kids liked running to the top level to bang down on the portholes at us.
The boys ran off to find the digging pit while the girls explored the medical area. There was an ambulance with flashing lights, a working receptionist area and anatomically correct baby dolls. The girls found a little fold out couch and got comfy.
We made it in time to "Jam with Johnny." We sang Wheels on the Bus, If You're Happy & You Know It, I've Been Working On The Railroad, Miss Mary Mack and many other public domain songs ...along with some Original Works (available on CD in the gift shop). It was...long. It only lasted half an hour but Johnny managed to make it feel like a whole week of wholesome family entertainment. We even had to take a potty break. The kids really liked it though and the best part was when Ash Lee & Scout got up and danced in front of everyone...they did the Robot. It was RAD.
Next we went to the Twilight Area where the kids colored with LEDs onto glow painted walls. It was really cool. I took a video so you could get a better idea of what was going on. The flash makes it look bright and shiny but it's actually really dark.
The video is Scout and Ash Lee. Scout says "We are bad bad children, we are coloring on the walls" and Ash Lee says "I'm coloring a picture for my mommy."
The kids all got into the trees for a picture but Ash Lee decided that was a little too dark for her. She went over to the theater section and got her make up started while we finished up the tree pictures.
At this point we
lost Ash Lee. I was drawing the butterfly on Williams face (his choice I swear) when Scout took off back toward the trees. Troy went after her and when he got back seconds later, Ash Lee was no where to be seen. Talk about panic time. We were both grabbing kids and running in opposite directions. Troy was giving orders to Random and Savannah who were splitting up and I was YELLING her name (lost child time is not the time for worrying about causing a ruckus). The staff at the Children's Museum was AWESOME. A lady came up to me with a radio and said, "How can I help?" I described Ash Lee (all the while still running around calling her name). She radioed all the areas and followed me around getting more descriptions. All the areas radioed back to her and she was this little command central checking off all the areas ("Clay area clear" "Water Area Clear"). They found her just around the corner from where we were on a stage with a group of other kids having a blast. Troy and I recovered from our cardiac arrest and thanked those people who were
so fast. The whole thing lasted about a minute from the time we looked up and didn't see her to having her back with us. After that we gave Savannah the job of holding Ash Lee's hand and Random the job of holding Scout's hand.
Next we went to the digging area (only one exit!) and let them dig around in the rubber chips. They had their painted faces at this point.
Finally, we ate the rest of our lunch at the snack area. Everyone got to pick their own drink. The kids were so well behaved. I took them one at a time to pick out their drink while other kids (aforementioned ADD kids) were running around pushing the buttons and the change return (on our vending machine while we were trying to order and their grandparents just watched with this haggard expression), they just waited patiently and were joyfully grateful when they got their treasured drink.
It stopped snowing by the time we left but it was still drizzling. The ride home was uneventful and now the kids are watching Pete's Dragon and eating crackers...I think I need a nap!
I had to run up to the Scout Office to turn in some paperwork today and on the way home I was contemplating what we were going to do once we got there. It would be 1:00...the usual Circle Time. Looking out over the hot asphalt, waiting in traffic, I reconsidered. It's too hot and too nice to sit inside!
