It's Hot at the Harbor...

but nice and cool at the Launch Zone!!

It hit 104 on the car thermometer today... What the heck????

We didn't know what to do - Smithsonian... Indoor Mini Golf at NBM... Union Station...

We figured we get out of dodge to see if it was cooler at the National Harbor... it wasn't cooler but it wasn't crowded and it hit the spot!  It is about 30 minutes from our house right across the border in Maryland but not North - South... which I find quite interesting...  

We had been to The Launch Zone before for one of their Toddler Tuesdays programs and it was fun (see here).  They were hosting a Red, White & Blue craft day and Imagination Playground.  Both inside the very nice and very cool play room at the Harbor.

Jonah and Vera had a great time!

The Imagination Playground is basically all these big blue "blocks" that you put together and then roll balls around.  There were kids all ages and my two jumped right in.

They also did the craft project - which was making firework art.  They had these pipe cleaner spider looking things and you dipped it in paint and onto your paper and voila!  Fireworks.  Jonah & Vera weren't so into it... they did it and then moved on...  since there was a ton to "move on" to...

• The Dollhouse (Jonah spent some time there narrating superhero scenarios)
• The Puzzles (Vera loved these)
• The Cars (yep Jonah found those...)
• Coloring Stars
• The Chalk Board (both of them love that!  just like last time...)

After the Launch Pad we met Mama for lunch at Potbelly's.  With shakes!  Yummy!

And then I trekked us all to see the crazy "Awakening" statue... (see here).  I just had to get us down to the little "beach" to see it.  It was CRAZY hot, we stayed like three minutes took our photos and were outta there!  I remember seeing the Awakening when it was back at Hains Point in Washington DC.  I saw it on another super hot day in late October 2000?!?! I was running the Marine Core Marathon and it was so hot at the end of October just days before I turned 30 - I almost didn't finish the run...  A lifetime ago!  But the "Awakening" guy - he still looks the same and he does sparkle in the sunlight!

We managed to stay cool most of the day... have no idea what we are up to tomorrow!  Where is that kaleidoscope?!?!?!

Imagination Playground!

doll house super heroes!

Puzzles!

chalk!

coloring!

Jonah & Vera's Firework Art!

Lunch!



The Awakening! (some shmutz was on my camera lens...)



Late for the Launch

This past Tuesday was playgroup but it was canceled because the host had a house full of sick kids.  A few of us decided to meet out for a modified playgroup at the National Children's Museum's temporary space the Launch Zone at National Harbor.  We had never been and they were having an event, "Toddler Tuesdays" focusing on things prehistoric (aka dinosaurs). 

We got there around 11:30, only about an hour late.  But in toddler time, that is an eternity.  It might have had something to do with the fact I waited to get Vera up from her morning nap till 9:55 (she was actually up then) and thought I could get out the door in 5 minutes.  Who am I kidding?!?!

We made it over there.  It is a very cool place, the National Harbor, but it is a bit of a drive.  We found our buddies right away.  True to form Vera was happy to check it all out and Jonah is on this new kick that he is afraid I am going "to leave" - which meant he wouldn't leave my side - he was like my shadow.  He just kept asking me, "Mommy are you leaving, don't leave, please stay" - Oiy... Of course his little buddies were off having a great time...

The space is very nice and they had a few very cute activities.  Drawing your foot print in the dinosaur's foot print.  Making dinosaur foot prints in clay from plastic dinos.  Making rub art of various dinosaurs.  Lots of dinosaur books and plastic dinos.  A dinosaur matching game.  Plus they had all the regular play stuff too - and guess what Jonah found?  The cars!!!  Vera found the chalk board and went at it.

We spent a fun time there with our buddies (despite Jonah being clingy) and headed out for lunch at Potbelly's.  Jonah insisted on sitting by me and Vera and not with his buddies, but both of my kids ate all their lunch!  Celebrate the victories where you get them!  Jonah was really happy to play with his buddies at the Launch Zone and at lunch.  We walked around a little bit after lunch with our buddies - then it started to rain and we made our way back home.

When we got back to the car, Jonah started screaming at the top of his lungs that he wanted to go back and play with his buddies (screaming their names). First he is holding on to my leg for dear life, then he is screaming to go play with his friends. 

Yes, both kids fell asleep in the car on the way back home... but got up before I could get them in the house...

Thumbs up for The Launch Zone (we'll be super excited when the museum is up and running).  Thumbs down for mommy's tardiness. 

Overall is was a good day and I was psyched to see my mommy buddies! It always makes adventuring and kaleidoscoping more fun (especially makes it easier when you need a diaper change or bathroom break and there is another set of eyes to help out! - Thank you mommy buddies!)

We traced Vera's foot in the Dino's foot!

She liked the brontosaurus

Jonah making dino prints in clay

Vera doing rub art

hard at work

Jonah found the cars

Vera found the chalk

Jonah & one of his buddies - contemplating life, watching the boats and holding a bag of chips

Vera is on the map!  (her favorite word, her first word - thank you Dora!)

Jonah on the map too!