We went to the Perot museum today! What a blast! It's a MASSIVE museum with all kinds of exhibits and activities for people of all ages. Lia, Austin, our kids and I spent most of the morning and afternoon just wandering the halls and being amazed and delighted by pretty much everything we saw. Our first stop was the solar system, then we checked out the dinosaurs (Oh MY GOSH! COOL!) and the birds and a few other exhibits before we found the children's play area. The boys had a blast playing with flowers, a water table, a construction zone and a farmer's market especially. When we walked in, the museum employee at watching the door told me that the play area was for kids 5 and under, but as long as my kid (Derek) didn't climb on the outside of the play equipment, he should be fine. I replied with the usual, "He's only three" and got the usual look of disbelief and suspicion. I'm used to it now. ;) Bryce and Emeri checked out the infant play area and made some new friends. I thought that was really neat. The last exhibit we saw was the sports exhibit. It was so neat! There was a huge screen all along one wall (see video at the bottom) where you could race a T. Rex, cheetah, football player or Olympic track star. The T. Rex was by far the most popular with the kids. The very last thing we did before we left was check out a meet-and-greet with animals brought by the Dallas Zoo. Unfortunately, trying to keep Bryce quiet and keep Derek corralled was a little more than I could handle at that point. Derek even got up and dashed to the very front of the room to check out an armadillo up close. Ugh, kid. Aside from that though, I can't wait to go back again!
The boys loved playing with this RGB light producer. You turned the knobs they're playing with and make different percentages of red, green and blue light combos. Pretty cool!
It's the little things in life, like rotating a wheel to lift a ball up to roll across a frame and drop down with a satisfying thunk, that makes little boys happy (and would've entertained them all day).
When the boys saw this T. Rex skeleton, they started yelling, "Cool! Wow! Look, a T. Rex!" A nearby volunteer said they were the cutest little kids. Independent confirmation of what I always say. ;)
Not everyone can pose with a mammoth and look this cool!
Everybody say, "T.REX!"
Pachyrhinosaurus. That bit of mangled rock to the right is the original skull found near Dallas.
Liz and Isaac resurrecting T. Rex
Almost got it!
Troodon, one of Derek's favorite dinosaurs right now.
Liz, Andrew, Derek and I designed a prey animal that had to defend itself in a virtual battle against a predator designed by Austin and Isaac - they ate us.
Archelon skeleton I didn't even notice til I got to the second floor
Why, hello, Alamosaurus!
Picking up different items with tools shaped like various bird beaks. Cool!
Derek's wingspan - about 4 ft.
Deinonychus... apparently they act like this.
Why Derek is holding a bouquet of flowers, I still don't know.
Had to snap this one of Derek sitting on Isaac's lap to drive. Isaac invited him to sit there.
What a sweet face!
Not quite the St. Louis arch, but Derek walked back and forth for a few minutes just enjoying himself.
Derek loved this water table.
He sits! Unfortunately, I started looking at pictures and he fell backward, but he did a great job!
He desperately wanted to taste the camera.
Construction worker Derek drives the big truck.
Bryce has always loved mirrors. Now we found one on his level. He was fascinated.
Smiley face!
He was so excited to tell the baby-in-the-mirror all about how exciting that flower wheel was.
Somehow they got in a toe jam! ;)
Bryce doing his little flying pose when he gets excited... feet kicking and everything
"Here Bryce, let me make you pretty."
Squish!! She's so proud of herself. Bryce is still in the act of trying to fly away. lol
My turn, Aunt Kadi! Gimme that camera!
Bryce was NOT happy about the flower in his hair.
Derek racing the T. Rex
Eurasian Eagle Owl - he did a fly by just over our heads
I was more than a little concerned that this three-year-old alligator didn't have his/her mouth taped up.
My favorite of the day: the two-toed sloth
Getting ready for the dismount into her crate
Checking us out - look at that face!
See no evil - Derek!
Say no evil
Home Alone?
