Science Center

Because going to D.C. wasn't crazy enough, we decided to spend the very next day at the Maryland Science Center.  I got a killer deal on a membership there and figured it was time to put it to good use. And to make things more fun I added an extra kid to the mix: Seth's friend and co-op buddy, Brie (I owed her mom one for taking Seth to the potato chip factory when Aaron was tiny). 

We met up with some friends, enjoyed our lunches along the harbor (the kids fed 80% of their food to the ducks, including an entire clementine, which the ducks did not deign to eat), and then braved the hoards of middle-schoolers who were there for a field trip. 

Digging for dinosaur fossils

Catherine can fit comfortably inside a dinosaur footprint

Seth was completely entranced by the video of volcanoes/tornadoes/earthquakes.

Who cares if it was on a repeating loop?

He would have sat there all day if I didn't drag him away to see the rest of the displays.

"Mom, did you seriously drag me on another adventure after making me suffer through D.C. yesterday?

What kind of horrible, unfeeling mother are you?"

Catherine (surprisingly) braved the pulley chairs.

She couldn't pull herself up, but enjoyed having me give her rides.

Seth did a little better. He actually moved himself up several inches.

Pleased to be at the top (with Mom's help)

It was a little overwhelming trying to keep track of four kids in the middle of a swarm of big kids. We finally decided to head to the Kid Room, which is only for kids up to age 8. MUCH CALMER. We spent at least half our time in this area.  

Creating a track for the balls with Brie

Catherine even participated in a research study while we were there.  She had no idea what was going on and answered completely randomly, but at least she participated (only while on my lap, of course). 

After about three hours, we hit this point: 

The kids had a great time, we survived our last day alone without Jon, and Aaron only screamed for the last 10-15 minutes of the drive home. Not too bad, all things considered! Next time we'll try to plan better and avoid attending when there are field-trippers attending, too.