Mother-Son Afternoon Excursion

Dear Vinny,

I spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the children's museum with you. Daddy was feeling a bit under-the-weather, so I took you out for a fun mother-son afternoon.

We hadn't taken you to the museum in a while. In fact, the last time you were there, you weren't walking yet, so you didn't get as much out of it then as you did yesterday.

We started in the train room, where you could have easily spent the entire afternoon. There are lots of toy trains to play with there, and you were shouting "TRAINS!" with excitement. After at least twenty minutes, I was able to lure you to the next exciting room, the child-sized dollhouse. You enjoyed playing in the kitchen of the dollhouse but didn't try to go upstairs. Unlike the last time we were there, there were no other children in the room so you had the run of it to yourself. Then we went to the rainforest room, where you enjoyed running on the boardwalk and opening and closing the doors of the "research station." Another room you really loved was the bird room, where, if you go up on this deck, there are bird's nests under glass on the floor. You really loved pushing the buttons and turning on the recessed lamps in the floor, illuminating the nests. We must have done that approximately 8,423,986 times. But I could tell you really enjoyed it so that made it worth it.

It is readily apparent to me that you love two things above all else: wheels and lights. The wheels on the train toys were what made them so awesome. In another exhibit, there was an old-timey wheelchair and you studiously examined and tried out the wheels on the wheelchair. And I tried to get you to look at the plants and animals in the rainforest room, but you were more interested in checking out the lighting system. I taught you the word "nest" from the aforementioned bird room, but it's entirely possible that you think it means recessed lighting.

Altogether we spent about four hours at the museum. We took one short break to eat some goldfish crackers and drink some milk, but otherwise, the whole time was spent in the museum. You really had a great time and we'll have to take you back there again very soon.

Love,
Mama