Iowa Children's Museum

Our Summer to-do list is doing a lot of one day trips in Iowa.

Today we trekked over to Iowa City

for our first time at the Iowa Children's Museum.

We all needed an indoor mini-vaca after working a LOT 

in the HEAT of the week on our house and projects outside!

We had an early lunch at home, skipped naps and headed out.

We definitely will be back...next time with FRIENDS Aubrey says.

Skipping naps and ready to go!

We got there at 1:30

Daddy "trying" to teach the girls about money, but

"Dad, just let me play!" was Aubrey's idea.

Avery taking flight

Aubrey piloting the plane, too

So much fun was had by all by just

climbing the steps, then sliding.

repeat. repeat. repeat.

a flight simulation 

We ALL had fun with this exhibit-

putting balls and hankies into wind tubes/tunnels

 Daddy trying to catch the flying objects

Mommy's miserable attempt ;)

Good try, Ave :)

(a little dark)

Aubrey and Daddy assembling a stomp rocket

to demonstrate

PIZZA PLACE!

(acting just how she thinks Grandma Van Grouw works)

Aubrey LOVED this exhibit

Avery had a grand ole time walking around the market

and actually "eating" all the play food.

banging those drums in the music room

and the piano, our musical gal :)

Aubrey quickly made friends at the Grocery Store -

she would fill her cart and they would scan and check out for her :)

Avery on the phone in the ambulance 

pretending to be sad and injured in the hospital exhibit 

EMT Avery driving the ambulance 

patient Aubrey probably needs a cast - oh no!

Aubrey said this was her FAVORITE part - crafts/coloring

delivering the mail in her postal outfit

Daddy liked this one the best!

A lot of experiments with golf balls and ramps.

Daddy's first chance to race cars down the track with his girl :)

Mommy and Avery taking a snack break

(since she was about ready to crash and burn at 5:00)

Finally, a stop at the lego room

We stayed a total of about 3 1/2 hours, it really died down

around 3:30 and felt like we had the place to ourselves

the last hour and a half we were there!

What a great little place to go!

We loved that it was in the mall - so we could quick

grab a bite to eat at Chik-Fil-A before heading home.

Aubrey never did fall asleep, but Avery was out before

we even left the parking lot!

What a fun day!

We will be back for sure.

PS - the very next day, there was a shooting at that Children's Museum

from a harassment situation and the gal working there was shot and killed!

SO SCARY!