We got our planetarium and rock climbing tickets and decided to hit the carousel while there was no line. Last time we went on it Tess was scared and would only sit on the lame bench seats. This time: a horse that goes up and down! Hey, she's a DisneyWorld alumni now!
Cole. Oh Cole. Always worried or whining about something. I've kinda given up on trying to make him happy because he just refuses to be. In his opinion, nothing I do is right, and he sure lets me know it. Instead, I'll focus on keeping him safe and out of trouble. This phase cannot end soon enough...
Then we went to through the little maze. I liked this mirror. What it says is a little random, but whatever.
And we enjoyed the fun house mirrors!
Finally it was Spencer's turn on the rock wall.
He was on the intermediate climb. He got a little higher than halfway but had to stop there. Poor kid - he was really disappointed about it. But of course he wouldn't admit it. Instead, he was sullen and uber-grouchy for the next hour. The joy!
We watched a 25 minute planetarium show which I may or may not have nodded off through... *ahem* But the kids really liked it. Then we hit the Hot Wheels experience.
It was a room full of Hot Wheels race tracks and games and activities - heaven for these kids! Here's Spencer, Tess, and Josh showing off their mad pit crew skillz. (Cole was too busy racing cars.)
Tess sure loved using that jack!
Then, of course, we had to take pictures in the mini car.
Because... mini car.
There was a digital sign thingy at the end that showed which order the cars crossed the finish line - the kids LOVED it.
At the winner's circle! Cole was grouchy because I pulled him away from racing cars. Punk.
Then we went to an exhibit about TV shows and animation. We found the Simpsons couch!!
They had a really fun green screen scene set up. I didn't get any pictures, though, because one of the very few camp groups was there and they were WILD. I have no idea where their leaders were, but I ended up having to get after the kids for a few things. Grrrr...
Then we made our way over to the set of a sit-com. Here they are on the TV.
And here's the set. Tess sure loved that tea set!
Josh is cracking up over something that Tess said and Cole is sneering and grabbing his crotch. Yep, that's about right.
We stopped for a few minutes at a talk show, too.
Then it was time for Josh and Cole to conquer the rock wall.
I think they both look so cute from behind!
Cole went first. I really don't think he knew what he was getting into - he just knew that since his older brothers were doing it he HAD to do it, too.
With a lot of help from the rock guide he got about halfway up and then decided he'd had enough. This was about what I expected.
Then it was Josh's turn. He got stuck in a couple of spots, but he was actually really good at it!
Every once in a while he claimed he needed a rest, but I think he just liked hanging from the rope.
Soon he was almost at the summit. Go, Josh! Go!
He did it! He made it to the top! He was really, really proud of himself. I was proud of him, too. Spencer was jealous and grumpy, Cole just wanted to go to the next part of the museum, and Tess was mad she couldn't climb the rock even though I know there's no way she'd ever even try.
We had a late lunch, which was uneventful except for Tess dropping her CTR ring into a full 12 oz bottle of Gatorade. She was quite upset when I told her she'd either have to drink it all or we'd just take it home and get it out; she wanted it out NOW. But then she decided she'd drink it all, and she sure did! (Guess who I had to fight about going potty later. Punk kid.)
After lunch we had to pose with the Ninja Turtles.
Because Ninja Turtles.
Then we went to China. It's this really great exhibit that I have really enjoyed in the past. But not this time, all because Cole decided it was time to turn on his Colish charm. Wait, not charm. Temper. And stubbornness. And grouchyness. And you get the idea. He was AWFUL. Throwing fits if anyone did anything he didn't want them to do (which was everything), yelling and bossing people around. I had to take him clear out of the exhibit for time out THREE times. This phase had better end soon - I don't think either of us can take it much longer...
The kids had lots of fun in the Chinese opera exhibit. Josh was the only one willing to dress up, though. (Cole stomped around and acted like a jerk. We did the only thing we could - ignore him.)
We took turns taking these awesome pictures of us in Chinese opera make-up. Here's Josh.
Yours truly.
Spencer.
And, my personal favorite, Tess. (Cole refused to participate.)
We ended the day walking through the dinosaur and train exhibits. It was so empty down there - it was great!
We were all tuckered out by this point. I love Spencer's yawning in the background.
Despite Cole's behavior, it was still a fun day. I feel really blessed that we live close to great museums like this. Do my kids realize how lucky they are? Not even close. But that's okay, hopefully some day they will and then they'll also realize how lucky they are to have such an awesome mom. And they'll feel bad for acting rotten and yelling at me and making me discipline them in public, which is every mom's most favorite thing to do. Cole, I'm looking specifically at you.
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