Staying Cool in the Discovery Museums

After 3 days of being trapped n the house watching all of his prized possessions getting packed away, Mr. No was getting antsy, freshy and completely sick of being cooped up.  We decided to make Thursday an all about Mr. No day.  Mr. No decided that he wanted to go to the kids museum with the dinosaur. The Discovery Museums in Acton, MA has a large brachiosaurus outside so that's where we were going to spend our afternoon.  It was a good idea since it was going to be in the mid 90s and humid.  We decided to start our day with breakfast out at the Veranda Cafe. Good sized portions of yummy omelets, home fries and toast for little $$$ and we could eat outside with our noisy little monster.  Then we were on our way to museums.

We didn't stay too long in the kid's museum because it was just too crowded and the rooms are small.  Mr. No gets a little nervous (and I get claustrophobic) with a lot of people in a small space.  He did hand out tickets at the train station and visit all of the rooms for a little while.  (Just a note: I played around with the editing and textures on a lot of today's photos. ) 

Get Your Tickets Here!

playing with the sharks

There was a little road set up outside for tricycles (in the sun so it got too hot very quickly)and ships to play in.  Even Mr. No was uncomfortable in the heat and quickly wanted to move on to the science museum.

I love this one...not sure why

proud that he climbed up all by himself

Mr. No absolutely loves the science museum.  Magnets, water, stacking, balls, musical instruments, it's his dream world!  I could barely keep up with him and of course H was off playing as much as Mr. No was!

Exploring the lower level:

he loved the magnets!

excited by the water tornado

trying to catch the ball he tossed

and he got!!!

having so much fun!

sand art

Exploring the middle level:

I love this!

This is a simple wooden box with 2 mirrors.  Mr. No had to put a hand on each side and look into the mirror on one side and then lift the other hand.  Of course, the illusion is that the other hand is still there (in the mirror).  This illusion amazed Mr. No and he spent about 10 minutes switching hands and moving around trying to see what would happen.  It was amazing seeing him so impressed by something so simple.

He was so good in both museums and listened so well that we did let him get something small in the gift shop.  He picked out a dinosaur dig kit and then of course we had to dig out the bones right away outside.  He had the patience to get all 26 bones out...with only minimal help from me and H.

After the dino dig was completed, we decided that ice cream was a wonderful idea!  Of course, poor Mr. No passed out as soon as he hit the car seat.  I hated to wake him up but if we didn't stop for ice cream after we promised (and for once he was excited), he would have been crushed.  And honestly, Kimball Farm ice cream is worth waking up for! Mr. No and I shared vanilla peanut butter cup ice cream, well, until he accidentally dropped it on the ground and all over me. Apparently while we were in the restroom cleaning up, H dropped his as well trying to drink it.  I can't take these 2 anywhere. Seriously!

enjoying some ice cream before it hit the ground

showing off his he-man action figures

asking for uppas so we could go home

Flashback Friday

Just found this idea and thought it was super cute.  I love looking back at baby photos of my growing far too quickly Mr. No and so love sharing how cute he was with everyone!  Then I found a bunch of scanned in old photos and there were a few of me as little one with my Gram and my Grandpa and thought that would be such a better idea.

I loved sleeping over their house!  Gram would play 500 rummy with me and munch on peanuts in the shell.  I thought she was so amazing because she could catch peanuts in her mouth. My sister and I even spent a summer there one year and were there for her birthday, well the day before since either we were going home the next day of our cousins were.. We managed to sneak down to the store with our cousins and bought a bunch of food to have a surprise party for her.  I remember her being mad because she found the receipt and thought we had spent our own money on snacks. She was truly surprised when we brought her to the basement for her party.  Gram's 91st birthday would have been this week so it's fitting to have a photo flashback about my wonderful Grandparents. 

baby me with Gram

kisses!

Grandpa had the most amazing garden and we'd have fresh yummy tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. I still eat tomatoes like apples sometimes. And tasty green beans.  And my Gram would make delicious fried battered squash flowers. I remember him sitting in his recliner with his paper singing along to old Italian songs on record. And when we were little, we'd dance with him with our little feet on his feet.

birthday girl with Grandpa

beach fun!

I'm just glad my son got to meet his wonderful great-grandparents and am so happy that he has grandparents who are just as wonderful in his life!

Mr. No in the hospital meeting his great-grandma for the first time

so adorable all in stripes

Waterbaby!

Finally! Mr. No is becoming a waterbaby!  It's so hard from a water lover like me to have a husband who couldn't care less about being in the water and, until now, a son who was afraid.  Apparently he's just afraid of waves and not water which is understandable for a little person. We went back to Hopeville Pond today and this time brought Mr. No's bathing suit. He made a beeline for the water!  I actually had to stop him from going in too far. It was like a whole new Mr. No. Next time we'll have him wear his life jacket as well so I won't be as worried...not that I was or will be any farther than an arm's length away but still.  I was so afraid he was going to fall face first into the water.  We definitely need to get him swimming lessons. Especially since now I think that he'll love them.  He was a very good listener and had so much fun playing in and out of the water. 

contentment

so happy to be in the water!

Finally I have someone to swim with!  Well, sit and play in the water with.  We're going to have so much fun at lakes and ponds! It's just a matter of time until he has fun in the ocean, too.

Photo Challenge: Black and White

I'm not very good at black and white conversion but here's my attempt on a photo I love.

Crazy Days of Summer: Critters

This my favorite critter photo.  This little guy was so cute and tiny!  He's pictured here on Mr. No's little hand so you can tell just how tiny he is.  I'm the one that caught him and gently placed him on an overjoyed Mr. No's hand.  We never take our little friends home.  We always place them gently back where we found them.

A few more favorite critter photos:  a hermit crab friend I waded out into the ocean to find and bring back to Mr. No.

I couldn't find the photo of the bumblebee mooning me but I did find this poor guy that I followed around one afternoon.

And 2 butterflied from the butterfly gardens.  One lives at Magic Wings and the other lives at the Butterfly Place both in MA but opposite ends of the state.

from The Butterfly Place

from Magic Wings