Little Boy Nirvana

The “big city” (about 50 miles away from us), has a great children’s museum- I’ve been told.  I have heard about it practically my entire life, since I have lived in the general area since I was eight.  I never went as a child.  I never took any kids there.  I never went with any of my nieces or nephews. 

Usually something like this for me, never lives up to the expectations.   It seems like these types of attractions get talked up and repeated, until they are stuff legends are made of, and they can’t possibly live up to the hype.  Nothing can really be that great.

I officially saw the legend for myself today, with the boys, and all I can say is WOW!  I’ll sit down now.  🙂 

We met up with my sister and my adorable 14-month old niece, Maelin.  The first thing the boys saw when we got into the museum was the REAL FIRE ENGINE, that the kids could play in.  It had all the controls, a horn, and the steering wheel.  What more, could two little boys who are in love with fire engines want?  Fire chief hats, and fire coats.  I think we reached little boy Nirvana today.  I could go on and on, but I think these pictures say it all: (you can click on the pictures to see them larger)

         

Despite this museum being on a few levels, and having countless activities, the boys did not want to leave the fire truck.  They had some benches and I could have brought a book, or work, and sat there all morning while they played only on the truck.  I finally convinced them we should go look at some other things, but only after promising them we would come back to the fire engine.

We went to the smaller child area, where my sister and Maelin, were playing.  Cole seemed a little overwhelmed at first (or else he was just mad he wasn’t on the fire truck anymore), but he quickly got over it and had fun playing on the padded slides, and carpet.  We ventured further back, and found a play tree house with a kitchen.  There was also a play garden, store, and food.  Here is a picture I got of the three kids together (a small miracle, considering how fast they all moved around):

We also made it to the play grocery store, critter area, (where Ryan dressed up like a squirrel), and a train room.  Did I mention little boy Nirvana?  My sister had taken Maelin back to the small kid area, and eventually Ryan had to use the bathroom.  Of course the fire truck is right by the bathroom, so as soon as they saw the fire truck again, they were hooked.  I just sat on the bench, and knew we weren’t going to see any more of the countless rooms we hadn’t made it to.

I was getting hungry, so I told the boys we would go eat our picnic lunch outside that I had packed, and then we would come back in for a while. Of course, they said they wanted to play on the fire engine after lunch.

My sister had to get going, so after our good-bye’s, we had our lunch under a tree, watching the rides from an amusement park nearby.  It was a beautiful day- not to hot, or cold.  We were getting ready to go back in, when we saw a trolley car pull up, just down the hill from us.  We weren’t quite done eating where we could take a ride, but the conductor walked up towards us to place a sign, and told us they were every half-hour.

We finished lunch, and then the boys played at the playground, which was right there until it was time for the next trolley.  We took the ride around the area, and I learned a few interesting facts about the “big city.” 

The boys were so tired after this, that it was time to go home.  Ryan asked when we could come back and get back on the fire truck, as I was putting him in his car seat.  I was able to tell him very soon, because my sister told me that she got me a season pass!  She knew someone who ended up with an extra one, and she is generously giving it to us!  That means we can come anytime we want for an entire year, for free!

We are so excited.  I just wish we were closer, but I know it is something we will really look forward to doing on the hot days of summer, and in the cool days of fall and winter.  

It isn’t every day you get to see your children so happy and care-free.  I know with that fire truck at the museum, I’ll be able to see little boy Nirvana, a lot more often.