Bode and the Dinosaurs

Anybody else love the book Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff? I remembered it from my childhood and have loved reading it to the boys. Bode has especially loved it. And more recently has a fascination for dinosaurs, which is a pleasant change from the years of trains and trucks (although the trains and trucks are definitely here to stay!). Bode had a "Digging with Dinosaurs" day camp one week in June and thus began this new interest.

So, oh yeah, we're in Virginia visiting family this week (minor detail) and i've been most excited about taking the boys downtown to the Natural History Museum (one of the Smithsonians). Today was the day. We got a late start, parking was packed at the metro (totally frustrating fiasco but we eventually got on a train after 45 minutes). The boys loved the metro. That alone could have been our main event. We could have just gone back and forth on the metro. Well, they could have gone back and forth. Me? Notsomuch. We got to the Smithsonian station and headed up the Mall. I pointed out the Washington Monument to them. OK. I LOVE being back in DC. Love it. I love showing them things i grew up around and drove past on my way home from work; etc. I know. They're 2 and 4 and won't remember, but i don't care.

We had a little lunch on a patch of grass on the Mall and then headed into the museum. We checked out the huge elephant in the rotunda and then went straight to the hall of dinosaurs. It was dark (and PACKED! HELLO! Summer tourists!). So we walked in and i said, "Bode! Guess what's in here?" He walked in and realized what he was seeing and the smile that came across his face was so great. A little bit of awe. A little bit of wow. We checked out the three main dinos--the triceratops, T-rex and diplodocus. We looked at diaramas and more bones. We looked at pre-Ice Age animal skeletons/fossils. We looked at prehistoric water creatures. And after about 30 minutes Bode looked at me and said, "Mom. I'm tired. I want to go back to Grandma's." And really, they were both beat. We were there when Keegen normally naps. Just getting there that morning had worn them out (I'll spare you any more of the parking-at-the-metro/RUDE-metro-"customer service"-people details). (AND a sidebar. Parking at the Vienna metro has probably increased 7-8 fold since i was in college and it was FULL. Gas prices?). Anywho. I tried to lure them into the mammal hall. But no go.

So we stepped outside, grabbed a couple of patriotic popsicles from the refreshment stand, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Walked back to the metro and headed home. They were totally hyper and obnoxious on the way home (after i looked at the angels they were on the way there and thought about how lucky i am to have such great little travelers!). Keegen eventually fell asleep sitting up.

We had a little stop at Maggie Moo's (because the popsicle on the Mall wasn't enough). Then we met my sister and her girls for dinner. And then the boys passed out in bed within minutes of getting there.

Sadly, this is the best picture of these four. i took, like, 8 shots.

I love how much there is to do here. Love it love it love it.