Science Center Sunday

It's hard to believe sitting here on this lovely 80 degree day, but last Sunday it was 45 degrees and raining buckets on us. We really wanted to go to the zoo last weekend, but an indoor activity was a much wiser choice! So, we settled on the Carnegie Science Center as our alternative! Aunt Cedes and Uncle D decided to join us, so even more fun! I wasn't too sure how much of the museum would be appropriate for nearly-3-year-olds, but they enjoyed it a lot. I can see them enjoying it MORE in 3 or 4 more years, but it there was certainly enough fun stuff to keep them entertained.

We started our visit in the "air" exhibit where you could make parachutes, fly rockets, bang air cannons, and other fun stuff. Uncle D was explaining a few things to Colin. I love how Colin looks like he's intently thinking about things, but really, I think he was picking his chapped lips!



Off to fly some rockets! This was really a favorite with both kids; they came back two or three times to fly them.


Next up was the robot exhibit. It ended up being Daddy's favorite exhibit, but I think the kids will like it more in a few years. They did check out these guys:



They have a little digital planetarium inside the Science Center and we were just in time for a 15 minute show about the stars in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood! Sadly, the kids have no idea who Mr. Rogers is; our PBS channel only airs his show maybe once a week. But, they liked the trolley and the characters and the MOON! Waiting for the show to start:

They did well sitting and watching, but I think we'll wait a while before we attempt a feature length film in the theater!

Next up was the Ocean and fish exhibit; basically it was a few big aquariums and a pretend submarine to explore! That was fun. Although, there wasn't a Nemo fish, so that was disappointing. We did find Dori though.






The next floor up was the "exploration" zone. It was a bunch of hands-on exhibits where the kids could build houses and "earthquake" them or pretend to be a weatherman or there was lots of water play! In the "Junior Explorer" section they had a bunch of machines set up to transport balls to the top of a shed thing and then pour them back down on the kids. That was a lot of fun! We spent a lot of time doing that! (Oh, and G liked the water play, which necessitated a wardrobe change!)

The Earthquake table!


Ball Machine!



After lunch, we headed over the "SportsWorks" portion of the museum. It has a health, fitness, and activity focus, but most of it was too old for our kids. Gillian had other ideas though. She wanted to do it ALL. Like the Human Yoyo!


Up she goes! She really did a nice job with this. She loves to hang on stuff, like monkeybars and chin up bars.


Ok, Mommy had to take a turn too.

So fun. But I admit, I was sore for 3 days afterwards. So old. So out of shape.

Then, Gillian spied the trampoline. And not just a plain ol' trampoline. A trampoline with a harness so you can do FLIPS. She had to do it. I warned her the line was very long, but she didn't mind. And, that girl, she sat in line without making a peep for at least 30 minutes. (Colin was done by this point and went back to look at the robots with Uncle D and Aunt Cedes). When Gillian decided she wants something, she is going to DO IT. And nothing will get in her way. Someday that will come in handy. (Right?) Anyway, when it was FINALLY her turn, she did great!!!


She didn't attempt any flips. But that's ok. Daddy and I were so proud of her patience and her bravery!

We caught back up with Cedes, D, and Colin at the submarine and went through the "Junior Explorer" stuff again. Gillian wanted to play "Operation":


Oh, and to climb all over Uncle D.


All in all a fun way to spend a rainy Sunday. I'm sure we'll be back! Gillian wants to trampoline again!!!