The kids didn't want to go at first - complain complain complain! (Well, Spencer and Josh. Tess and Cole are still young enough to be happy to go just about anywhere.) The neighbors got a trampoline that they wanted to spend all day jumping on and there were computer games to be played! Mean mother that I am, I made them go anyway. And, surprise surprise, everyone had a great time!
I realized that afternoon that my family is getting old enough to make outings like this quite enjoyable. Sure, we didn't last all day, but we were there - and everyone behaved - for a good five hours. Life is good.
We started out in the Discovery Station that showed what life was like in Indiana in the early 1950's. The kids had a great time because everything was very hands-on. They could touch and look at everything!
Josh testing out an old-timey radio.
Tess checking out the old-timey fridge. All of the kids were more impressed with the fake cake than with the fridge itself. My dad said he grew up with a fridge like this.
Playing with electrical circuits - Cole particularly liked this. We're pretty sure he's going to grow up to be an evil super villain some day. Or an engineer, one of the two.
Spencer was pretty proud of his three-way circuitry.
The kids quite liked the hot air balloon section. We didn't go on the balloon ride - it was ridiculously expensive - but I did get an actual picture of all four kids together in this pretend balloon. Miracle!
True story, the first airmail took place in Lafayette, IN. Pretty awesome claim to fame.
Then we checked out the animal barn at the Conner homestead. We all got a kick out of this goat who kept sticking his head into the very middle of the hay. We're easily amused.
We were also amused when Josh put his head into the place where you put sheep to shear them. We need one of these for haircut nights!
Cole and Spencer playing some checkers at the tavern. All throughout the park were actors who did a great job at staying in character; the tavern owner was pretty fun. For a minute we couldn't find Tess and he told us if she was asleep upstairs we'd have to pay for a room for her. (A whopping 12 cents!)
Tess was upstairs, but not asleep. She was just testing out all of the beds, just like Goldilocks. This one was too soft.
This one was too hard.
Ah, just right! (Not really - it wasn't tight enough and she could barely get out!)
We moseyed down to the Civil War section and saw some cute oxen along the way. We agreed we all liked them better than the smelly, hairy pigs we saw earlier.
We tried to get a family picture, but apparently Spencer and Josh didn't want to be part of our family just then.
Apparently a little town in Indiana was raided by Confederate soldiers at some point during the war, and this was what this section was about. First the boys had to enlist and get their uniforms and supplies. I went a little crazy with the pictures, but they were just so darn cute. Especially Cole in his sunglasses.
I think Spencer was enjoying himself, but he wouldn't really smile for the pictures. I guess enlisting is serious work.
So cute with his glasses and cap!
Soldiers had to carry a lot of stuff!
That boy in the sunglasses. So cute!
Standing at attention! (The actors here were really great.)
Getting ready to go to war.
By this point Tess had a full belly from lunch and was ready for a nap. Not that she would nap, but she sure needed one!
Next it was time to learn basic drills with their rifles.
Cole could barely hold his rifle - it was as tall as he is!
They weren't the most disciplined of soldiers, especially with the quarter turns.
It was a great day and we all had a lot of fun. (Josh told me several times throughout the day "Mommy, I'm having so much fun!") Thank you so much for the great family outing, Grandpa and Grandma!
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