Jackson is all of seven years old, and Jackson has decided to take his Grandmother to the Phoenix Children's Museum. If only Grandma would drive just a little bit faster, we would get there a little bit quicker. "Hurry, Grandma, Hurry!"
FINALLY! We're here, and the first thing inside the museum is the "Climber"! The Climber is HUGE. The Climber is colorful. The Climber is all imagination, creativity, active children and breathless parents. Jackson is excited but discriminating. It is his character to look a situation over, study that situation, figure it out, and then carefully approach. As he begins that process with the Climber, he spies...
The nearby "WHOOSH!" A maze of twisty-turny flexible clear plastic tubing, the Whoosh! is connected to a small wind machine which sends light colorful scarves flying madly through its innards before spitting them out where you least expect, from whence they drift ever so slowly to the grasping hands below. Openings in the contraption itself allow the kids to insert the scarves and/or change the geography of the tubes and thus, the eventual scarf exit locations. The kids are fascinated. The Moms, Dads, and Grandparents are fascinated. Everyone wants in the game.
"Grandma...This is Awesome!"
Suddenly, we spy a smaller contraption, designed to be re-designed by the kids, and which (because of air power) will float a ping-pong ball a few inches above itself, or--if you're really clever and turn it sideways--pop the ball out and scare your sister.
In a flash, Jackson decides it's time for the Climber and off he runs. Not only is the Climber appropriate for...well, climbing, it's also perfect for sailing a striped boat that, quite handily, walks right onto the beach when you're close to shore.
And, for flying around the world again and again and again in the shiny white bathtub magically equipped with huge and detailed feathery wings.
"Mom--Dad! What's upstairs?" "Hurry, Grandma!"
The Children's Museum was originally the Monroe School, built in 1913 with great wide stairs and hallways, and now we're exploring one of those spaces. Did I mention Jackson loves music? Did I mention Jackson especially loves drum music? Did I mention Jackson flew to Phoenix immediately after seeing a theatre production of "Stomp"? In Jackson's post-Stomp world, everything is a music maker.
Especially polka dot soft-ish rubbery meant-to-be drums!
But, when presented with a "Noodle Forest", even the most dedicated drumming music maker quickly moves on. After the briefest of pauses, Jackson determinedly entered the forest, while his daddy followed enthusiastically. Jackson's mommy, after some hesitation, sidled through the blue barrier and, finally, Grandma, muttering "What the heck", took the plunge. Despite the hordes of short creatures darting here and there, laughing, shouting, and squealing, we emerged intact and went back for more. In Jackson's case, dozens of times.
Then, it was time for a quick "Pit Stop", Tricycle Wash, Races and more and more and more...
Until we discovered "The Market." Jackson weighed beans...
Unloaded the delivery truck...
Stocked the shelves...
Before ringing up his Mom and Dad's purchases. Whew! That was awesome!
Unfortunately, closing time came much too soon...and, as with all good things, our adventure came to an end. Good-Bye, Phoenix Children's Museum.
And, so, now we know how you take your Grandmother to the museum!
Thank you, Jackson!
(It was awesome!)
1 comment:
Love this! Sent it to the Children's Museum in Phoenix and to the group in OKC working to start a museum. Jackson also got to show it to his whole class and was very excited to tell them about every picture. So fun!
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