Suessibration at the Winston-Salem Children's Museum

A few weeks ago, Luke and I went on a Mommy Date to the Winston-Salem Children's Museum to celebrate Dr. Suess.  Luke was super excited to meet the Cat in the Hat but little did he know, he would have a ton of fun doing other things as well.  

Luke and I haven't been to a museum in several months and it was amazing how much more Luke was interested in EVERYTHING this time. Instead of me initiating what we played and built and explored, Luke led me around everywhere. By being a little older, he was more into pretending, building, creating, and interacting with other children. We had the most fun that we've ever had at a museum. 

Luke LOVES the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  When he was younger, I used to tell him this story at bedtime EVERY night.  So, when we visited the home of the 3 bears at the museum, Luke was in 3 year old heaven.  He tucked all the bears into their matching beds. He even crawled into the bed with them to give them hugs.  Then, he grabbed the Goldilocks and the Three Bears book and sat beside of me (with his tiny hand on my leg) and listened to me read the whole book two times.  He was so engaged - there were kids running around everywhere and Luke and I were both in our own little Mommy and Luke reading world. It was a mother's dream!  :)  During the second time that I read the book, Luke did the three different bear voices with me - it was adorable!  :) 

Here are some pictures of Luke at home with the 3 bears...

 And, a random picture of him riding the horse...

 After we left the home of the 3 bears, we went fishing. Luke pretended to cast his line and reel in the fish.  He was SO EXCITED when he "caught one."

 See that excitement? I love that face of pure fun!

In between exhibits, Luke had a BLAST climbing the huge beanstalk in the middle of the museum.  He climbed that thing SEVERAL times! He also climbed on the big twisty climber that the museum has.  He climbed and climbed and climbed.  I was tired watching him!

After story time, Luke had a chance to meet the Cat in the Hat and get his picture made.  While he was talking to the Cat and the Hat, he made sure to tell "him" that the "Cat in the Hat knew a lot about that."  (He got that phrase from the TV show.)

 More fishing....

 In one of the rooms, the museum had several Dr. Suess themed games.  One of the games was putting on a Cat and the Hat hat and playing freeze dance. He shook his hips with a lot of spirit.  :)  Check out the video....

 At one point, we went upstairs and played with all the props that go along with the letters of the alphabet. His favorite was the S prop - jump ropes to be used as snakes.  He wanted me and him to chase each other around the whole place with the snakes....so we did!

I love this picture of him as he looks at me wiggling my snake....

 More Cat and the Hat fun...

Playing in the T - for Turtle shell...

 There was a room with huge blocks and tubes. Luke had so much fun in this room. He quickly began building things.  He built a water fountain and then (with my help) built a fort.  Here he is sitting inside his fort BEFORE another little toddler knocked it down....his face was priceless as the fort tumbled.  He was NOT very excited!  I thought to myself - this is just a little taste of what is to come when his new brother/sister arrives.  Poor thing! :)

Luke also spent some time putting the scarves in the big tubes and watching them fly and he played in the large sand box for a long time. They had dump trucks and big buckets and shovels and there were several other little boys there too to help him dig.  :)

Our museum adventure was one of those days that goes in the book of highlights of a Mommy's world - it was simply perfect!  I can't wait until summer time - we will have a ton of these Mommy date opportunities! :)

Have a terrific Saturday everyone!  If you haven't read any previous blogs - you might want to keep reading - I posted some exciting news yesterday.

Toddy