Saturday, March 24, 2012

Gramma Mindy & The Air & Space Museum!

A few weeks ago, we were graced by the presence of Gramma Mindy! We had an action-packed weekend, since there was actually no one that was sick, and we had no actual plans...so we made it a point to get out there into the world and DO SOME STUFF! First up...my first trip to the Air & Space Museum! This is a huge museum devoted to showing off a lot of stuff from the history of (Duh) Air and Space travel. Everything from old advertisements of airlines, to the actual planes and space rockets themselves!

Being in the main hall with all the huge air and space vehicles was overwhelming!
Even going to the upper level so that we could look down at them was still a crazy thing to behold!

They were such gorgeous planes and things, but SOOO big! I was even a little nervous about how safe it was to be running around beneath these things....I mean, just how strong are those wires that are holding them up, anyway?

No matter...any hesitation melted away as I continued my quest to join the Guinness Book of World Records ranks as "Longest Period of time Running from everywhere to everywhere" by visiting some of the aircraft on display. You actually got to go inside some of the old planes.
Gramma Mindy showed me the old pilots uniform, here encased behind plastic so we couldn't get our hands on it...I guess they didn't trust us to "look but don't touch"

Mom told me all about some of the planes that were hanging around us...she's a pretty smart lady.
Dad showed me some cool old lunchboxes (I think we're supposed to call them "retro" to be nice to the older generations) he likes lunchboxes.
Dad found me this pretty cool flight simulator. It had three different types of steering controls set up for three types of planes: The super old school Wright Brothers type of plane, then an older but more modernized than the Brothers plane, and finally a modern completely electronic plane. As you moved the control levers, you got to look up into the transparent case above to watch how your control movements affected the simulated parts of an airplane. It wasn't just some computer simulation, you actually got to see the moving parts. It was really cool.
There was a display about what kinds of things people take in their luggage...I quickly identified with a small suitcase that was theoretically packed by a child....can you think of any reason why?
We found one plane that we got to go up and into, and then back out and around...I did this about 427 times...Mom and Gramma Mindy followed me for a bunch of them, and then they used the opportunity to rest, while Dad kept an eye on me...
Later on, after exploring the museum for some time, it came time to eat lunch, and so we all took a break to grab some food from the McDonald's in the museum...much like the highway rest areas we frequent on trips to visit my family in Connecticut, the museum delights in giving you the same food for double the price...HUZZAH!
Regardless, we don't do McDonald's all that often anyway, so it was a nice treat. I had some chicken nuggets, apple slices, milk and fries. I also looked pretty cool doing it...
Dad was kind enough to share some (OK...most) of his shake with me...it was capital D-lecious!
So far the weather had held up, and we had a lovely day at the Museum...we saw so much stuff (Including lots more airplanes, and some film reels highlighting the use of airplanes in old movies) and it was a very full day!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Boys and Their Construction Toys....

And just when I wrote about the lack of snow...Spring apparently pounced on us a little early! The weather has been gorgeous and we really have been enjoying it as much as we can. Hopefully we'll get a bit more snow to play in next winter....regardless, we're all excited that the weather has perked up a bit...it's sunnier, warmer, and the days are longer. Earth is a funny little planet...

A few weeks ago, when the weather was warming up, but still a bit rainy, Dad and I got to go on a little adventure!

We had to bring something downtown for Mom at a work function, because she forgot it at home, and needed it for the function...we packed up, and drove on down to help her out.

Before we parked, I noticed that there were lots of cranes doing some construction work in a huge lot near where Mom was working...I asked Dad if we could stop there and look at the cranes work, and since he is also a little boy, he said yes right away!

We got out of the car and I got to run down the street singing "Singing in the Rain" with my umbrella (which I really use more as a prop than s method to keep myself dry in the rain) it was fun just walking from the car to the hotel where Mom's work conference was happening...
After we handed off the stuff, we walked over to the construction site....there was SO much to see, and a lot of cranes doing work. They were lifting things, and moving things, and doing such a cool job with it. They even lifted this huge thing that held a lot of cement so that they could lower it down into the deep deep pits and get the cement down there where it needed to be.
I walked right up to the fence with my umbrella, and watched the people working.

I got a really good view, and got to see lots of cranes all working at once on this huge project that they are calling "CityCenter"
I was a little concerned at all the noise, but there was no way you could pull me away from there! I was simply having too much fun!
The cranes were all working together on different tasks, and they looked really cool framed against the cloudy (and only slightly drizzly) sky...
We managed to get there when several shifts of workers were stopping to have lunch, so I asked Dad about that a lot...It was cool that some people packed their lunch, and other bought lunch from several food trucks that were set up on the construction site. Wow! Your very own food trucks! How cool is THAT!?
After staying and watching a lot of work getting done (even though it didn't look like a lot happened, since this was such an immense project) Dad and I crossed the street and had a nice lunch together at a little place downtown....he and I shared chicken strips and fries, and it was pretty good. A lovely time, indeed!

Within the next few days, there was yet ANOTHER instance of some cool construction work going on...this time in my own backyard! (Or in this case, on my roof!) The building we live in was having its air-conditioning system replaced...They had told us a week in advance about this work, so we were prepared for it, but nothing can quite get you ready to actually see that big old crane right outside your window!!
The picture below shows the old air conditioning unit getting carted away...it was pretty old and rusty, so we were happy they replaced it with a brand-spanking new one! It looked great and I looked very forward to it keeping us cool this summer...
I was so excited to watch the crane lift the giant pieces of machinery in front of our window, and up on to our roof. We truly had front row seats! I can't even tell you how fun it was to be right there watching it all.
Above is a rare blog video, showing just how excited I was at being able to hang out by the window with Dad and watch them lifting this stuff up on to the roof...it was really REALLY cool! (Dad thought so, too...he wanted me to tell you all that)

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Our lame winter so far...

February...we hardly knew ye!

Where did the month go!? After a crazy busy batch of posting in December and January, I went quiet in February since I was pretty worn out...but that doesn't mean I wasn't doing anything...Let's take a look, shall we?

As the title of this post should have told you, it has been a lame winter for us down here. While the rest of the country gets pummeled with snow, we have actually had sunny days, warm weather, and a bit of rain. We got some snow back in October during that freak snow storm, and a few weeks ago got a little bit more...just enough to play in!
I got all bundled up in my new snow pants...
My jacket, hat (and matching froggie gloves) were next, and I went outside to have some fun with Mom! After playing for awhile in the cold, snowy weather, I came back in with a very red, windburned little face....
I did get to hang out and watch some TV with some hot chocolate and Mom...but other than that, NADA! No snow! What kind of winter is THAT? No kind of winter for me, that's for sure...

Coming up....visits....furniture...adventures in construction both at home and out in the world...and MORE furniture...