If I had toast for breakfast, I would say that the day started like a typical burnt toast morning.
The camp director was late and didn't have the agenda ready. The camp kids were out of control and had driven their dad to his office with an "I give up!" until the director said:
"Uh-Oh..." (love and logic style) "You are both draining my energy...We can't leave the house until all the chores are done. That's clearing the table, emptying the dishwasher and vacuuming the floor."
A cup of coffee later, a Google search on free Austin activities and a quick selection led Mama Camp to the LBJ Library and Museum. It has Free Admission and Free Parking and has an exhibit about space. Done. We are there. Well, after the floor gets vacuumed.
The camp kids are dawdling. It's time for lunch.
1:30pm
Two kids, snacks, one light stroller and a full tank of gas. Mopac, 183 and I-35 are running smoothly, exit Manor, right on Manor, right on Red River, and left into the parking lot full of school and charter buses. The entire building is surrounded by construction gates, signs and work men. Is it closed? The small sign "YES, we're open!" convinces us to park.
The toddler has fallen asleep and the Pre-Ker is cooperating and sticks close to the car. We traverse the construction zone and follow the signs to the entrance. So much for admiring the architecture of the building.
Once inside we are met by a wonderful visitor's guide and are instructed to the locations of the restrooms and a description of the exhibits on floors 3, 4 and 10. (There are 10 floors to this building?) We are five minutes into the "To the Moon" exhibit on floor 4 and the Pre-Ker needs to use the restroom. (Ha! good thing we know what floor that's on!)
Back at the "To the Moon" exhibit, we stand through a Hollywood sci-fi movie montage, fly a flight simulator, get a little dizzy at the space walk simulator, and finally see the moon landing display where I explain that "No, that's not a gun...it's a video camera so that Buzz Aldrin can record Neil Armstrong on the Moon."
It's 3.30pm and I know from past experiences with low-blood-sugar kids that it's time for a snack break. Because of the construction we have to go out of the building, around the construction, around more construction, and down the ramp onto the green grassy area in front of the large fountain that rhythmically splashes water onto the overflow pool. The fountain is almost as tall as the library and the wind catches the mist to cool the surrounding area down from 90F to about 85F. We sit under a large shady tree and find a dry spot, just right to spread out the blanket (that I forgot back at camp headquarters - oh well). With both boys awake and the snacks devoured, they slip off their shoes and run up the hill, and the Pre-Ker rolls down the hill until he's red in the face.
Because the toddler was napping the first time through, his brother insists that we return to the moon exhibit and show him what he missed. Practicing patience we return and have another go.
Testimonials
The Toddler: "No...I don't want to gogo!!"
The Pre-Ker: "My favorite part was rolling down the hill"
Camp Director: "I loved that the museum guard asked me with a smile 'Are they enjoying the museum?' as she watched the campers run two steps, stop, walk four steps, and repeat all the way down the hall. She even stopped to explain how the animatronic LBJ statue worked when the Pre-Ker inquired. She was also impressed that the toddler did not cry (like most she'd seen) when the LBJ statue started talking."
Epilogue: The Pre-Ker fell asleep on the way home...a first. Score!
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