Field Trip to the Children's Museum

AA and I took Norah on her first trip to the Children's Museum last Wednesday. It was actually a first for all three of us, but I definitely think we'll be back soon. Norah loved it from the instant we arrived.



The museum has a pathway of large, brightly-colored hands, and Norah preceded to give each and every one a "high five" before allowing us to enter the building. (Honestly, it was pretty amusing to watch, so Amanda and I didn't really mind the wait)


Once we were inside, one of the first things that caught Norah's eye was a dress-up station. (And yes, I let my daughter try-on, with wild abandon, I might add, potentially lice-infested hats and other public-domain clothes & shoes...I'm just wild and crazy that way.). She loved it...but then she spotted something even MORE exciting...


Loads of gooey, wet paint, there for the taking. Norah had never painted before, so this was truly a new frontier. She donned a smock (that's right, more public-use apparel), and set to work on her masterpiece.


She took to painting like a fish to water...but I noticed she was using a LOT of paint, and we'd be there all day long waiting for her work of art to dry if I didn't intervene...


















So, I stepped in, and taught her a new technique...finger painting!



After she got over the fear of getting in trouble for touching something so gloriously cold, wet, and gooey, she really got into it...






Then suddenly, it dawned on her.
"What have I done? I'm a mess!"






...then she realized that with this mess, came power. People would run to avoid her frigid, "green mark". (Sadly, mommy stripped her of her newfound abilities shortly thereafter, by washing her hands thoroughly with soap and water)




Finally, the work of art was hung on a line to dry. AA took Norah over to admire her handy work.


























Here she is, intently listening for her crayon muse while experimenting with a different art medium. (The VW bug in the background is there for kids to paint! The museum staff cleans it off every few months or so to give them a new "blank canvas")















Next, it was on to the chalk wall. Norah opted for a strange, behind-the-back drawing technique, but she seemed happy with it, so we didn't interfere.



Our next discovery was a "toddler zone" designed specifically for kids 2 and under. Maybe that's because they figured they were the only kids in the whole place who wouldn't notice that this switch didn't even turn on the light bulb...





We quickly decided we were way too cool for the confines of the "Toddler Zone", and so we ventured out to the best exhibit so far...MUSIC! Norah didn't waste any time, and dove right in, trying the xylophone.


I'm ashamed to admit that in spite of my adamant love of all things musical (with the possible exception of jazz...another blog subject entirely), I do not know the name of this particular instrument. Norah wasn't overly impressed with it's dull sound either.



"Norah, this is called a tambourine. Hippies and gypsies like to play them...and I'm sure some other nice individuals do too..."



"I need more cow bell!"











Mommy's sober drum solo...













Followed by Norah's lively improv...









The bongos were really fun, too...











but the wood block got the award for causing the strangest reaction...something about it made Norah decide to bust out with a scary impersonation of Steven Tyler!




Here's a shot of her experimenting with the wind chimes (or maybe it's just an excuse to show off a lovely profile of my enormous belly)

Of all the instruments, I think the piano was her favorite. She might have stayed there all day long if we hadn't bribed her with the other lures awaiting us in the museum.



Our last stop? Down the rocket-ship tunnel with AA. (This was a big hit, considering Norah's newfound love of "Little Einsteins")


Finally, here we are leaving the museum-- valuable, "first-edition", original artwork in-hand. (We've decided it is a "turtle" surrounded by "high fives", and Norah is very proud to point him out to anyone who happens into our kitchen to take a gander)

It was such a great day. Thanks, AA for coming along and taking such fantastic pictures...and for being such a fun aunt. We'll definitely have to do it again sometime!