Kindercity

The kids have been such tremendous sports as we dragged them from store to ticket counter to store to office--we decided it was time we did something especially for them. We gave them a few options, and Ella and Alex decided that this weekend would be Alex's to chose.  He picked Kindercity, a children's museum to the east of us.  The kids, they loved it.

I took many pictures, but none of them came out very well.  For some reason (I'm not sure if it was environmental or economic) the lighting was very poor throughout the museum, and everything had a sallow tinge to it.  I'm afraid it made everything seem kind of grubby.  But all of the exhibits were maintained well enough.  Half the museum was sort of sciencey (about health and physics)
and the other half was mostly indoor play structures, perfect for exhausting children.  (Alex, at least, got worn out.  He closed his eyes as soon as he hit the pillow.  The other two have been holding out on sleep, and it's already past 8:30.)

Dennis and I enjoyed the people-watching while the kids played.  We were interested to see that we were, by far, the most hands-on parents there. Well, there was one exception--there was a dad who was egging on his children, sword-fighting with them with some large plastic building blocks.  Ella grinned and dashed off to join the battle, but we called her back before she made it over there.  "But mom, a GROWN-UP is doing it!"  The rest of the grownups were just sitting back and observing as their little Lord of the Flies experiment unfolded.

Well, that's not fair--the kids weren't really that bad, or else we wouldn't have stayed. It's just that the kids were all left entirely to their own devices. Dennis noted: "All of the adults are so laid-back here.  I wonder if they just get it out of their system when they're kids?" It seems to go with the general laissez-faire attitude parents have here, letting their 4-year-olds walk to school unattended and so forth.

We couldn't believe how empty the place was on a weekend, and we felt quite lucky.  I have a feeling that many people are up in the mountains doing snow sports right now.  We'd be doing the same, but we still haven't gotten our crate from customs.  It's cleared inspection, however, and hopefully it'll be delivered next week.  Dennis got a second-hand sled from work, so we're all set for some playtime next weekend.

There, I just sent Miss Ella back to bed once more.  I have a feeling she has some things on her mind, tomorrow being the first day of school and all.  I think I'd better go sit with her a while.  Think of her tomorrow, and Alex too.  Man oh man, I hope it goes well.