The McWane Experience

I recently volunteered to be a chaperon. That, in and of itself, is dangerous enough. But this particular school filed trip was to the McWane Science Center.
Now, Jaiden and I have been there before, and we had a really nice time. But this was a completely different experience.
Just imagine a multi-story building packed with hundreds of loud, bright, hands-on exhibits with thousands of 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade boys and girls -- runny noses, dirty hands and all -- racing around, screaming, crying, tripping, laughing, hitting, coughing, burping, etc., etc.
I guess the kids had a good time.
Me? I should have stayed home.... ;)
At any rate, the photos show Jaiden and her classmates having lots of fun!

Amazing how exciting blocks are when they are not at your own house.

This was pretty cool, but the little boys weren't as patient as the little girls.

Ah, yes, it's not a visit to McWane without playing the giant piano. (Did I say playing? I meant banging out dissonant chords and auditory mush.)

Hmmm... broken escalators on the day the place is completely overrun with little, sugar-hyped people? How convenient.

Fun with sand art on a spinning wheel.

Jaiden made a circle. Ooooohhh! ;)

The Da Vinci exhibit was really cool, but the kids raced from piece to piece in a fuzzy blur of yellow shirts.

Believe it or not, this fish was the favorite of most of the kids. (I think we just need to build a giant indoor playground, lock 'em all in and let them climb, jump, swing and run around until they pass out.)

McWane Center Sillies

I actually took a day off from work not too long ago, and mom and I took Jaiden to the McWane Science Center. Fun place! We checked out four floors of interactive, hands-on exhibits and watched an IMax film about the Colorado River. Jaiden's favorites, though, seemed to be blowing a ball around with air or floating a ball in the water fountains... and playing with the miniature car exhibit, where she and some other little girls changed tires and fluids and replaced a muffler (with velcro)! We also played with those silly plastic things that you can push out to create designs... like your hands, or you face. You can see mom, Jaiden and me in this picture. (I am making a kissy face, Jaiden is smiling, and mom's glasses are centerstage on her face!)