Nature and Science

Yesterday I went with Mauri and her class, AND their first grade buddies to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Out of all the places that my kids have gone on class field trips, somehow I seem to always attend this particular one.  This was probably my fifth or sixth time.  We've gone a couple of times with our cousins, but field trips are different.  Although fun, they are not as fully enjoyable as when you get to go at your own pace, see what you want to see, and don't have to keep track of 10 kids you hardly know (except for your own, which is why you would even consider chaperoning a field trip in the first place).

The class got to wear their tie-dyed shirts because... well... they were DONE.

In the Expedition Health area, Mauri waited patiently (at least 15 minutes) for her turn at the Age Your Face display.  For kids, it was great fun.  For me, there is no possible way I would ever want to even try it.  I already look old, for goodness sake.

Above the display there was a collection of age progressive pictures with 5 different stages of aging.  I definitely fit into the 4th category.  Reality check.  I'm older than I think.

(Mauri and her buddy Phillip.)

We got to see the movie Hubble on the IMAX screen. I love movies on that huge screen, but I really struggled to stay awake after such a vigorous morning-after-a-late-summer-night. If the backs of the seats had been high enough rest your head on, I would have been out. Like a light. 

After snapping this pic on the way home, Mauri dozed off on my lap.  
(And you can see what I mean... no age progression necessary for me.)

I felt a little guilty as I talked to the kids in my group while we ate lunch outside, underneath a big tree.  I hate that feeling.  Several kids were talking about how they had recently been to the museum with their families.  Guilt twinge.  When was the last time I took Mauri to the park?  to the museum?  to the zoo?  She gets to go when her school class goes.  I used to take my kids to places like that all the time.  Back when I had to plan something just to get out of the house.  Now I just want to be home.  And I want my kids to be home.  I long for a day with nothing to do and no place to go.

But the museum was great.  We only saw a tiny bit of it, since we had a time schedule.  Maybe I will plan a day to go back with my kids.  Squash the guilt.

And we had a little nature going on right outside our front door this morning: