Washington D.C. Day Three - Natural History Museum

James let me sleep in this morning!  It was so nice.  Of course I now understand in greater detail how loud our children are!  

We had a very late start today.  The kids were happy for much of the morning, they played with Legos and sat on the porch with Grammie.  Everyone was doing their own thing today so around lunch time James and I took the kids and headed over to the National Museum of Natural History.  We have been there many times and it is Will's favorite museum.

We parked between the White House and the museum and when we pulled into the parking lot the attendant asked us to open our truck and roll down all the windows.  As she walked around the car all the boys were smiling and saying hi.  Until she passed Jon who cheerfully asked "Are you looking for explosives?"  James and I burst out laughing.  

Four boys in front of the White House

Colin in front of the White House

Jon has trouble walking the streets of D.C.

Colin walking in D.C.

Once we were at the museum we went straight for the dinosaurs.  The way took us through a skeleton exhibit.  Will was in heaven.  He wanted to look at every single skeleton and read about each animal.  It was really cool to see the skeleton's of some of the animals we've been learning about in school like the capybara and the gharial.  Will was most excited about the skeleton of a cobra, Colin loved the huge leatherback turtle skeleton and Jon was very interested in the squirrel monkey skeleton because it had a very human looking skull.  

Will couldn't believe that he'd found a cobra skeleton

Colin enjoyed the Leatherback skeleton

Squirrel Monkey

Will really loved looking at all the skeletons

The dinosaur exhibit is still under construction and it looks like it will be another three years before it is fully finished.  But we were still able to see a Triceratops Skeleton and T-Rex.  Will, of course, wanted to see everything and took care to read each display.  It was nap time for Charlie so he was a bit grumpy.  He was looking at one display and when I came over he told me grumpily "I want to look at it alone!".  Shortly after he found a little movie about ecosystems and sat down to watch it next to a girl his age.  He told me "I'm watchin' the movie with a girl." and wouldn't budge until the rest of us had thoroughly exhausted that section.

Will is so excited to see the dinosaurs!

Jon is worried!

Colin in front of the Tyrannosaurus Rex

Jon finds a gross display

After that we learned about Egyptian mummies, insects, and strange rain forest creatures.  Did you know that termites have a queen and a king?  Or that there are scorpions that glow in the dark?  The boys enjoyed the exhibits then we went down for a snack at the cafe.  James has had terrible allergies (it is much greener here than at home!) which makes him really tired so he was in desperate need of some coffee.  

Termite mound

While James had his coffee the boys had cupcakes which turned out to be a mistake.  Charlie and Colin started bouncing off the walls and all the boys needed to run!  So we took them outside for a bit to climb on some rocks.  Will was upset at first until we told him that we would be going back inside.  The boys loved jumping on the rocks and Will was excited to discover a little worm (or is it a caterpillar?) which he thought should be in one of the exhibits.

Will in the air

Four silly boys

Colin in motion

Having spent some of their excess energy we all went back inside.  This time we started with a little Discovery room where the boys could play.  Colin put on a little lab coat and became a scientist so of course Charlie had to have one too.  Charlie went around with a magnifying glass in his lab coat pocket but he didn't quite get the hang of using it.  When he went to use the microscope he looked at it through the magnifying glass.  I did help him... after I got the picture.  Colin loved the microscope and really enjoyed looking at all kinds of different things.

Colin and Will at the Discovery room

Jon puts together a skeleton puzzle

Jon in a lab coat

Will investigates

We were running out of time but there was still so much to see!  We went to the mammal exhibit which the boys really enjoyed.  Colin was a little unnerved though at seeing a small movie about the birth of a kangaroo.  Charlie saw some little field mice and said in his high voice "Oh they're so cute!" right before he leaned over and kissed the glass.  I gave him a little lesson on sanitation and then went to see what Jon was doing.  He was very excited.  "Mommy!  I know how seals are protected from polar bears!" he pointed to a representation of blubber for children to touch "My teeth didn't even make a dent!" 

Will really wanted to see the Geology exhibit.  We had never seen it before because I didn't think the kids would be interested.  But it was very cool.  Will, of course, wanted to read everything.  He was particularly interested in volcanoes and I wish he could have had more time there!  Colin couldn't care less about volcanoes but he loved all the gems and minerals that were on display.  I never would have guessed but he was fascinated.  We had to drag him away because the museum was closing!  

Colin at the Gem and Mineral exhibit

Learning about geology

We had a really wonderful time at the Natural History Museum.  And there was still so much that we didn't see!  We passed through the Ocean exhibit but didn't have time to look at anything.  Although Charlie did see one fish that he called a baby dolphin and took credit for making.  Every time he sees something small (like a baby airplane at the Air and Space Museum!) he says "Oh it's so cute!" in a special high voice.  It is really adorable.

For dinner tonight some of us went to an Ethiopian restaurant.  James has wanted to go for years but I am not a very adventurous eater (although I would love to visit the country one day!).  So he went out with Papa, Joe and Elisa, Daniel, David, and Jon.  Jon loves to eat new things and was very excited to go.  Mom and I stayed home with the rest of the kids while Jacob went right to bed.  He is starting to feel better but is still very sick.  :-(

It sounds like everyone at the restaurant had a good time.  The experience was interesting (no cutlery!) and the food was very good.  Jon particularly enjoyed the unique bread and sauce.  I think he enjoyed being out late with all the adults too.  I am really glad that they were able to go.

Joe and Elisa at dinner

Daniel and David

Ethiopian food

Jon is skeptical

Joe and Elisa

Before bed tonight Charlie was sitting on the couch watching a video about the Blue Angels. He turned to Grammie and said "When I'm big, when I'm an adult I'm goin' to be a pilot and drive a really really fast airplane!" 

We are heading to the zoo early tomorrow so it is time for bed.  Goodnight!