Weekend at the Museum

So Friday was a day for Parent-Teacher conferences at James' school and Doug took off work so I could do that! Thank you!!! The conference went great and Toni just loves James. And interesting fact - Toni went to Auburn so James has a HUGE Auburn fan as a teacher :) She loves that he wears orange and blue (it's for the bears) but she pretends it's for Auburn - she said she's going to get him some socks or something and perhaps teach him "War Eagle" - I told her she had my blessing because we have no particular allegiance to any of the SEC since Doug and I went to SMU :) Anyway, Toni said that James is doing wonderfully and actually spends an average of 10 minutes per work in class. This is a long time for little guys - even adults - he has the longest attention span in the class. He also persists at works longer than his classmates. This really made me proud. James loves the water play in class, cleaning the mirror, painting, play-doh, and loves when the librarian comes to read and when the music teacher brings her guitar. James and his classmates get snack all by themselves and know the routine - wash hands, get a glass, a plate, pour themselves water, get themselves snack, sit down, eat, and then put their dishes into the sink. He's doing this even at home now too. We put his milk in the door of the fridge so he can just open the fridge and get his cup when he's thirsty.

Anyway, Doug took the opportunity to take James to the Chicago Children's Museum which is actually just a few blocks from us - right at Navy Pier. James and Doug had a blast. It's nuts but we've never been there. We loved it so much we became members and all three of us went today - members have a special hour on Friday mornings and Sunday mornings from 9-10. Both days we were there until 11:30 though - there is so much to do. There are so many photos so I just tried to pick the ones that best illustrated what a wonderful place this museum is and what a great time we had there.

James took the cones out and put them all in a line

Putting out the fire

All the wheels and switches for the water on the firetruck 

Driving the firetruck 

At the switchboard with the phone to the mayor's office :)

The poster was so cool - it has the emblems for all the engine companies in the city  

Water play 

The water painting wall 

On the walk home - Doug took this - I was out on the balcony waving hello! :)

This was cool - the screen reacts to your shadow - the pieces collected on Doug's arm and then ...

Fell down right as he let go  

Filling up the car with gas

And more filling

 And more filling ... Doug washing the windows

Going for a ride

Doug the bus driver :)

Back in water play - painting :)

Building dams and watching the water flow right through

Building pipe systems for the water 

Doug and James working the pump to get the water to spray 

In the little things museum - the curator's collections 

In the invention lab 

Roadwork!

We built a bridge - when Doug and James went on Friday, they got a building permit and built a building - if you want to see the building and their little story you can email me :)

The bridge!