OCM Take 2

After a really bad night, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I had to smile when a friend sent me a text at 8:30 asking Asher and I to meet her and her son at the Omaha Children's Museum for a picnic and to play. How did she know that I needed to get out of the house on this gloomy day? I mean really, who can cry at the Children's Museum?! So I texted back..."We'll be there!"

Yes, we were just there on Friday. But, since then, the new display, "Itty Bitty City" opened up on the top floor. Asher could not wait to check it out. So, after a little indoor picnic lunch, the boys went to play in the Itty Bitty City. How cool!! They have everything up there! They have a mini airport with a really cool little airplane, runway, and control tower. They have an ambulance, police car, bus, semi truck and a fire station. There is a pizza parlor, a vet (that Addison would LOVE!), a bank with play money a drive through fitted with a tube system, and a play working ATM! Asher and Will made their very own super hero capes and Asher made a mask, too. It was so quiet at the OCM!! It was a 180 since we were there on crazy Friday. Funny, there were 4 moms there from Shadow Lake out of maybe 20 moms total (maybe, that is probably pushing it!). Crazy! Anyway, Asher had a blast before it was time to return home to get the girls.

Although I was not giddy happy (perhaps I needed some of my Dad's scotch today), I could not help smiling watching Asher have so much fun. Thank you Krissa for pulling me out of the house! Love ya!

Kids Day off Take 1: OCM

That's right, due to parent-teacher conferences (I believe), the kids had Friday and Monday off of school. I really considered taking them to the Lake to see the Lake of the Ozarks in the Fall. I bet it is beautiful there. However, Chris could not break away, and I am too sane to drive down there and back alone in the car (at least for just a weekend). So, we decided to stay home and make our own fun.

On Friday morning, we visited the crazy Omaha Children's Museum. I mean CRAZY! They had to be over capacity when we got there 5 minutes after opening! The line was going out the door, no joke. With the upstairs area not opening until Friday night, it was quite over crowded. My friend who had to stay home with a sick kiddo said it best, "I'd rather be home cleaning." Yeah, me too. But, the kids had a blast. Addison invited her friend Kaitlyn, so that added to the fun. The visited the Halloween display, painted pictures (for well over a half hour), ran around and were just kids. We left just before noon. Two hours of noise was quite enough for me.

In the afternoon, Asher his friend Cameron over to play for a while before our next outing...to get the kids their Flu Mist vaccines! I have to make a note to schedule those every year on these days off! It worked perfectly. The kids just chilled until our final outing of the day.

Kids Day Off

The girls had the day off of school today. So, I asked them yesterday what they wanted to do, the forest? The Omaha Children's Museum? The zoo? The Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City (my choice)? They all said the Omaha Children's Museum followed up by the slides at the Gene Leahy Mall.

This morning the plan changed, at least a little. Alivia, who is now 8 going on 15, did not want to go. She wanted to stay home (with Chris in his home office), read and catch up on her drawing. I caved with Chris' permission and allowed her to stay in. The girl deserves a little peace and quiet, too, if that is what she wishes.

Addison excitedly remembered going to places with Asher alone when she was smaller while Alivia was in school. They were both excited.

We arrived to a somewhat quiet Children's Museum, but it quickly changed to its loud and normal place of fun. The upstairs exhibit was closed until the next one, so there were limited things to do that were new. The kids had fun running around exerting all their wound up kiddo energy. I looked around and watched as parents played on their smart phones and read books. Funny, if I stuck my head in a book or in a smart phone (something I do not have...yet) I would have lost Addi and Asher for sure!

After a morning of loud noise and play, we went to the Gene Leahy Mall for a picnic followed up by going down the big slides. The air was crisp and somewhat cool, the geese and swans were actively fighting, and it was the perfect spot for a picnic. There were kiddos on the slide with their wax paper, making the slides speedier than normal. Addison and Asher had a blast.

It was a fun morning. Asher even thanked me for taking them to the Children's Museum and to the slides (such a sweet boy!).  Alivia enjoyed her morning alone.

Now, I must plan something for the next day off that does not include working that night!

Children's Museum: Take Construction

On Friday we met some friends at the Children's Museum to check out their latest display, the construction zone. Come to find out, everyone had the same idea. We even saw Grandma Kathy there with Asher's cousins!

We arrived shortly after 10 to a bus pulling up front. Really? I guess that was not the first of last bus to arrive on Friday. Sigh.

Anyway, we started on the main level, but the boys wanted to check out the Construction Zone upstairs. The construction zone is fun and dusty. It is different from the previous construction zone they had a year or two ago. Asher liked playing in the sand (which turns out to be very dusty rocks) and going through the tunnels. There are bulldozers to ride on and sit on, a big play semi, foam to build something out of, etc. The room is full.

Asher and Xander went over to the Richman Gordman Animals to find Grandma Kathy again, with tickets to ride the carousel. The boys had a lot of fun riding that (Thanks to Grandma Kathy!). That was quite an unexpected treat.

We played downstairs a bit before making our way in to have our indoor picnic lunch.

The boys had fun together in spite of the indoor madness. I still say Tuesday member's hour is the best time to go. Next time, our visit will be on Tuesday at 9!

October at the OCM

Last Tuesday morning (ya know, before we got lost in the woods), Asher and I hit the Omaha Children's Museum for members hour before making our way outdoors for some fun in the warm sun of fall.

Asher loves the dino exhibit at the OCM right now. We played up there a while. Asher likes to have friends come along, but on this day he did fine playing with Mommy. We then went down stairs a bit while we waited for the carousel to open. He selected a bunny to ride on and absolutely loved it!

Mommy was then getting antsy as it was too warm outside to be inside. So, we headed to the Gene Leahy Mall to slide the slides. Asher loves those! He went down them a dozen or more times before he was getting hungry for lunch. We said Hello to Mr. Squirrel before we made our way home.

What a fun morning! Gotta love Mommy and me time, too, right Asher?!

Spring Break...Day 2

Yesterday was the beginning of Alivia's spring break from school. However, Addison is still in school...which complicates things a bit.

Sunday night the kids spent the night at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bob's house. Although a little hesitant at first, it sounds like the all had fun. So, yesterday afternoon was spent watching movies and just chilling since they all seemed a little tired without naps.

So, what to do today? After taking Addison to preschool, Alivia, Asher and I met friends at the Omaha Children's Museum. We arrived for member's hour and let the kids decide what to do. They made interesting art, played out a short play, played in the play room before moving to the ball room. It became quite busy as it was time for us to go. And, lucky for me, we arrived to pick up Addison right on time.

What a fun morning! We can't wait to see what else we will do during spring break.

Back to the Big Backyard

Yesterday we decided to visit the Omaha Children's Museum after taking January off. I guess someone (and a whole lot of child care centers) had the same idea!

We met some friends and then saw Addison's friend Lauren from preschool there. Addison and Lauren played quite a bit. Asher was a little hesitant because the place was just nuts. I have to say, there is a time when the OCM is not safe, and yesterday it was not safe. I actually saw a little boy, maybe not even 2 years old, with a phone number taped to the back of his shirt. Seriously? That is just crazy!

The kids got out of the house and released some trapped winter energy, and that is all the is important. As for me, my excruciating headache was fixed after nap time and some much needed Motrin.