Winter Break

Jake still had a week or so off of school when we got home from New Jersey, so we took full advantage of our time getting to have Dad at home with us.

First on the agenda was the aquarium. Carder has been obsessed with aquatic animals for a while now, so we knew he would absolutely love it.

This is Carder's 1st ever library card (it just melts my heart to see how he writes his name). He is very proud of it and loves carrying it around in the little case they gave him. Here is an example of the kinds of books he comes back with after going to the library...the nonfiction fact books with paragraphs all over the place like a middle school  social studies book. Honestly I think I have learned more during bedtime reading with him then I did in all of BIO 100 at BYU. At one point I asked him why he didn't just want to pick out picture books (I'll admit it, I was getting a little tired of all the books that I couldn't pronounce a good portion of the words, I didn't think that would be an issue with my 4 year old), anyway he says back to me "But I just love learning Mom." What could I say back but "That's great honey" and we continue to read and study the pronunciation guides and know all the species and evolution of fish from the beginning of time up to the present.

There was all sorts of great things to see at the aquarium. From glow in the dark jelly fish to the gigantic Golaith fish that Carder thought were so cool.

We knew Carder was going to love it but were surprised that Brenn loved it just as much. She would pass by all the tanks and point to the fish and do her pucker her lips thing that she does for the sound of a fish.

There was one tank that the glass came down pretty low and the kids could stand up and look into it. Brenn loved standing up and checking it out all on her own.

There were some hands on exhibits where you could touch some of the creatures. Carder warmed up touching some hermit crabs and sea cucumbers so that he was ready for the Mac Daddy of the hands-on exhibits...

...petting the rays and Sharks! It took him a little bit to muster up the courage to stick his hand in there and touch those slimy little guys, but he finally did it and was quite pleased with himself.  (We even had to go back right before we left so he could do it one more time).

Brenn had been asleep when we touched the rays the first time, but she was all over it when we went back before we left.

After the Aquarium we had some delicious Boston Clam Chowder and Boston Cream Pie at Quincy Market.

Quincy Market has served as an indoor pavilion of vendor stalls since the 19th century. Today it houses what I would explain as a giant food court. It is delicious and so fun to go and explore. We have learned you can never go wrong with the Chowda.

Another day that week went to the Museum of Science. Carder absolutly loved his time there when we had went with Mimi and Jaxon back in November. He had been telling Jake all about the exhibits ever since then. We had a great day exploring the museum as a family.

Brenn building Carbon Molecules

Carder mastering the mathematical principle of scale. He loved going around to all the chairs feeling like he was growing and shrinking.

The kids got to see some really  cool stuff. They had a worker out doing a demonstration about the heart. They had a real sheep heart for the kids to observe. Carder thought that was one of the coolest parts of the day. There were also baby chicks pecking their way out of their shells that afternoon. The kids liked checking it out for a while, but didn't have the patience to wait for the whole hatching process to happen.

Brenn was all over the place. Lets face it, that is how she is most of the time when you take her somewhere. But we did find these magnetic tiles where you could use colored chains on them to make pictures. This held her attention quite well. We are going to need to replicate these at our house one day and incorporate them in a playroom or something, they were genius.

The kids also quite enjoyed the thrill of experiencing hurricane style winds.

Carders most favorite thing he did last time was the "Kill a tumor" exhibit in the medical area. We looked everywhere for it, but couldn't find it again (I'm thinking it was being repaired or something). His spirits were perked up once again as he tried his hand at radiology. At his last doctors appointment with his pediatrician she asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told her a doctor or a chef. She let him know she likes to cook too, so he could be both. He is sure showing interest in both of those areas as well as building/engineering, so it'll be interesting to see what that little guy sets his sights on.

Gotta love how Carder insisted on being in the picture but refused to look at me due to his grumpiness. He fell asleep on the car ride home...and this is why we always keep a pillow in the car :)

At the end the week we went to the Boston Children's Museum with our friends the Webbs. (They have two boys right around Carder and Brenn's ages). The kids had a blast. They have a toddler area which I ended up in with Brenn while Jake took Carder all over the rest of the museum (he gets quite excited to check it ALL out, and loved that one on one time with Dad). 

We ended the night with Five Guys and Pinkberry (both of which will forever make me think of the Webbs). Carder demolished his burger (he's definitely his father's son in that respect.)

We had a great week exploring and getting to experience a little more of Beantown.