Museum of Nature

November 18, 2008

one of the things that i wanted to do once i became a stay at home dad was to go to the museum of nature with the kids. but i told myself that i would save the visit for a rainy day (literally). well, oddly enough, I've had great weather or other plans on the few bad weather days.

so today, after one previous failed attempt (forgot that the museum is closed on mondays) i finally decided that I would not wait any longer and just go... even though the sun was shining.

it was a fun visit, but because of the construction that has been going on for years, not all the exhibits were on display... so I didn't get to see some of the things I'd been looking forward to seeing. (i.e. all the earth science stuff... rocks, minerals, etc..)

so, i think i will have to wait until the construction is finished (2010 was the completion year) before making a return visit.... especially since I have an annual pass for 3 other museums.

the exhibits currently on display

samantha wants to make sure that i saw the puffin

the entrance

samantha is so excited that she is running to get inside.

all the birds that can be found in canada were on display here

sam playing one of the many games for kids.

they even have a fake wild bird clinic

sam is off to rescue some birds!

a tufted puffin (I will have to see where in canada they live)

sam showing off the regular puffin
(if you haven't guessed... i like puffins)

some large birds

the great aulk

sam is checking out her weight equivalent in birds...
1 wild turkey or 9 mallard ducks or 118 blue jays or 3547 humming birds!

museum of nature... those don't look natural!

sam is learning which birds are in our area during the different seasons

in this game... you listen to the bird call and then record your best imitation of it.

next level... the art exhibit... sam wasn't that interested.

next level... the mammals.
sam with a moose.

sam doesn't want to get too close to the skunk

hare today... gone tomorrow!

looks like we are in bear country now.

a polar bear just waiting for a seal to pop it's head up!

yikes! looks like sammy might become lunch if she is not careful

time for an animal puppet show!

next level... dinosaurs!

sam was more fascinated by the touch screens than the dinosaurs overhead

whoa! that's a big head.

oh no! they have surrounded samantha!

a motherly dino protects sam.

rrrrrrroooarrrr!

christopher thinks that if he just doesn't move... that he will be ok.

the kids decide to team up and help each other.

giant turtles swimming overhead

christopher was happy to get out of the back carrier...
but i'm not sure how much he could see from his height.

the kids got dizzy running around in spirals.

by pumping this machine, it would simulate the noise of a dinosaur

strolling around and checking things out.

time for a well deserved rest.

but now we have to run... the dinosaurs are coming after us!!!!