The Science of Losing your child {and your mind}

A couple weeks ago we made the insane decision to take all the kids to the Science Center.  Mostly this decision was made because of the T-Rex display and we all know who loves dinosaurs.  We went the same weekend of girls state basketball, so needless to say, it was a mad house.  But we stayed the coarse, for Riley's sake.

We (mom and dad) mentally prepared ourselves for the fiasco that was about to happen, but nothing could have prepared us for this adventure.

Pushing the double stroller through a crowd of well-nourished iowans is about as easy as rolling up a set of stairs.  I don't know how many times I got stuck and lost Ryan and Riley, because the crowd was so thick…no pun intended :)

I just kept telling myself "stay CALM and think of how much FUN Riley is having"

10 minutes into this visit and I was sweating…and Ryan put his hands on my shoulders and said "deep breaths mama…"

We FINALLY made it past the T-rex display, which was cool, Riley was amazed.

Next up was the dinosaur dig.  

By now Tate is having convulsions in the front seat of the stroller and Ryan took him and Blakely for a walk.  

The Dinosaur dig was a pit full of (screaming kids) rubber chips and dino bones.  The kids could put on goggles and use brushes to find the bones.  But all of the bones were already dug up and most of the kids were just using this place as a play ground, throwing the rubber chips and climbing on the bones.  This all made Paleontologist Riley a little frustrated.  He put on his goggles (which wouldn't stay on) and grabbed a brush.  He found the biggest bone he could, picked it up and carried over to an empty spot.  Then he covered it with the rubber chips and went off to find another bone to bring over.  But by the time he came back, some little brat had uncovered it and was sitting on top the bone.  So Riley worked faster…and surprisingly kept his patience.  Little by little you could see he was trying to build a complete dinosaur.  

This little girls face says it all "this kid is nutso!"

The kid with the crazy hands is about to bring on the BOOM!

Next stop was the play area…and we thought the T-REX was a zoo…oh boy!  Lots to do, so we decided to let Tate out of his restraints and let him run free.  BIG MISTAKE.  Ryan went with Riley and I was with Tate and Blakely (who was still in the stroller)  but it was so crowded, that when Tate took off I couldn't move the stroller to chase after him.  So Ryan took both the boys and I manned the stroller.  But Tate saw his window of oppurtunity while Ryan was trying to get Riley to interact with a fishing game…and TOOK OFF.

I yelled to Ryan from across the crowd "WHERE's TATE!?"  Ryan replied "I thought he was with you!?"  I then proceeded to shoot Ryan "the look"

Ryan took Riley and started searching towards the entrance (that, by the way, had an enclosed tunnel maze…fantastic… :-{

I took the stroller and plowed my way towards the back…and this is where the panic sets in.  MY chest started to feel heavy and I start thinking of all the scenarios…he could be anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then…I spied the red lightning mcqueen shirt…at the giant tubs of bubbles.  He was whacking all the kids with the bubble wand (that will keep the predators away)  soaked from head to toe.  I picked him up and Tate said "See Ya Waiter Guys!"

Tate got strapped back in the stroller.

You would think after all this, we would have gone home.

NOPE.

Next Stop…Discovery Zone

Riley had the most fun here.

He built a lego car...

And raced it down a ramp

He got to forecast the weather…

He built a rocket ship and launched if off an air gun.

And after 3 hours of intense stress FUN!  We were done and hungry.  So we went home.

I learned an important lesson on this day…vacations and trips to the zoo or science centers, are no longer fun.  Now I know why my dad always yelled on vacations "WERE ALL TIRED…WERE ALL HUNGRY!"  family trips and vacations, at this point, are selfless acts that we as parents do for our children.  There is a special place in Heaven for my mom, who planned family vacations almost every year.  Packed all our bags, the food, the itinerary…and most importantly kept our dad from reaching in the back seat and strangling us.

Was it worth the stress of the science center and crowds of inconsiderate people, just to see Riley's smiling face…?



…hold on, let me think
….I suppose…
yes it was…
weeeelll…
hmmmm…
okay…
yes it was. final answer.


Are you wondering what Blakely did the whole time…during all the chaos and loud noises…during the shrieks and cries of naughty children…during the clanks and bangs of all the displays…



She slept (smart girl)