Getting Our Culture On - Field History Museum

Today we went to the Field History Museum, to get a bit of culture, with the D family.  Back story - Alicia called around 10pm last night and asked if I wanted to go w/ them to the Aquarium on Monday.  It was free all week.  With nothing but grocery shopping planned, I said SURE!  Alicia picked us up and we somehow got 2 extra car seats into her van and we headed to museum campus.  We waited in line OUTSIDE the Aquarium for about 15 minutes, barely moving forward, to get into the place.  We finally gave up and decided to go to the adjacent Field Museum, which was, thankfully, also free that Monday.  No line, no waiting.  Right decision.

Wyatt, Evie, Alicia, Zach (so charming!), and Kale w. baby Gwyn in the stroller

Their main attraction right now is Sue the dinosaur - smaller than I'd pictured, yet cool nonetheless

Snake exhibit (requested for DaU), and Evie sitting on an Alligator

Wy, Kale, Zach, Evie in front of a rhino

After walking around lots and lots and lots of exhibits, it was nearing time for lunch.  The Field Museum is great in that it allows you to bring your own lunch and sit at the picnic tables (unlike the Art Museum which won't allow you to sit at the tables w/out purchased food).  We all shared some lunch then hit the bathrooms (no small ordeal).  By that time Gwyneth was awake and ready for her lunch.  While Alicia was nursing her, I took the 3 big kids over to a small alcove w/ butterflies & insects in display cases.  Evie asked for the camera and took many many many pictures.  Here are the best from her series.

Pictures Captured by Evie

Butterfly pictures by Evie

Zachary and Kale - both wearing superhero shirts

Dynamic Duo

Lovely self-portrait

After the photos by Evie, it was time to move on.  We went to the kids section of the museum which turned out to be wonderful!  There were several areas where they could explore things and be interactive.

First Up: Dressing up like Woodland Creatures

Kale as a Redbird; Kale as a bat, Evie as a Skunk

Wyatt my cute baby turtle

Zach & Wy as turtles, Kale as a redbird, and Evie as ??

After woodland creature dress up, off to gather corn & turn it into meal

Zachary, Wyatt, Evie gathering rubber corn husks off the stalks

Lastly, a huge hit for my boys: the percussion room

Kale at the bongo, then Kale giving Evie the stiff-arm at the drum w/ Zach in line

Wyatt at the bells, then Wy at the drums

Wyatt & Zachary at the xylophone, then Wyatt on bongo, Zach on drum

Wyatt on the table, Evie on the bongo, Zach at the drum

It was a wonderful time; we hated to leave, but it was well past my kids nap time.  Wyatt started to lie down on the floor, and then later sort of lost it.  So off we went back to the minivan, and off towards home.  All 3 off us took a nap when we got home.  Exhausting, but fun day!