The Children's Museum with Mommy...

After we dropped Grandma and Grandpa off at the airport, Brody and I dropped Matt off at work. We then went back to our apartment so Brody could take a short morning nap. Then we headed out to the Children's Museum in San Jose. The museum is about 10 minutes away and only costs $10 per person. When we arrived there were tons of kids on a field trip running around with their chaperones... he he.

Brody and I started to explore up stairs first with the "Wonder Cabinet" area. This area is for crawlers and toddlers. All of the activities are at their height and everything is interactive. For a mommy it is cool to see Brody experience all this for the first time and as a teacher I love how it encourages curiosity.

I love throwing the balls into this...

This little wall is so neat...

you stick a black/white ball into the opening and it sucks it up.

Then you can watch it roll through the maze.

a view outside...

Another area within the Wonder Cabinet is a small sand table. Provided at the table are scoops, funnels, containers, and different scales. Kids are provided the opportunity to explore their curiosity about sand.

scooping the sand...

sharing with the other kids...

What can I do with this funnel?

Then we went down the hall where they have this old car for kids to explore. Brody loves cars so he loved being able to climb into car and drive it....

Then it was off the explore the main floor of the museum. We went to the bubble room. We ate lunch. Then we found the water room. The cashier advised me to save this room for last because well most kids leave soaking wet. The museum provides smocks for the kids to wear as they investigate water. Brody liked to pick all the balls up from the ground, splash in the water and throw the balls.

Trying to carry as many balls as I can hold...

If only I could get one more....

Throwing the yellow ball....

All the tables are at the kids height....

In the main pool, there are these metal railings that allow you to roll the balls down. Then the ball encounters a stream of water that launches it into the air. The ball will either stay floating on top of the water, be placed into a plastic container or fall down. Following are a series of pictures illustrating the process...

put the ball here...

Give it a little push...

wait for it to hit the stream water...

watch the water launch it into the air....

SO COOL!

There is a smaller section of the water room only for toddlers. They have a funnel set up for the kids to explore... It encourages the kids to watch the little balls get sucked into the funnel.

Put the ball into the water...

and watch it get sucked down....

Brody and Mommy...

After we left the water room we investigated circles. Wheels, compasses, orbits and arches.... oh my! On display was this big truck tire. I really wanted Brody to get into the tire so I could get a picture... not in the cards for today. But you can see how wet he was from the water room.

I am drenched!

Luckily I packed a spare outfit. So when we went back to car new dry diaper, dry clothes and fuzzy blanket.

I am so tired....

Soon after this picture was taken..... ZZZZzzzzzz's!