Wednesday

Brooke enjoying the warming sun early in the morning.

The Discovery Center in downtown Springfield, MO. We love this place!

Digging for fossils of a dilphosaurus

We spent hours building with everything from blocks to water dams to bubbles.

Scott and I attempted to play a game of chess, but someone (notice the adorable boy at work) decided the game would be more fun if the pieces were in a color pattern instead of where they belong for the game of chess.  Chess game fail.  Cody and Scott got in one of their many good mini-wrestling sessions here though.

Brooke will be an excellent project manager someday with her executive leadership skills.  She managed to try to coordinate everyone’s play within three minutes of arriving at the table.  I had to help her find other activities to attend to since not telling others what to do seemed an impossibility.

Brooke learned how to spin on a gyro-chair and then burned some energy off in a giant hamster wheel – twice!  Scott practiced his juggling skills while I juggled watching Cody at the water table and keeping Brooke away from the water table.

The high line bike!  This was Brooke’s first attempt out.  She loved it, but was not as adventurous as Scott who took the bike as horizontally as it would go.

Cody and Scott wrestling as they love to do.  Brooke tried out the Van de Graaff generator.  It made her hair stand on end a little bit.

This You Tube video is entertaining and shows the construction of a giant Van De Graaff generator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qgM1A3pgkQ

We spent a long time spinning balls and disks on this turntable.  The middle photo was of an exciting event outside the museum.  There was a kerfuffle outside the museum involving two guys.  One guy was pushed down by the other.  The guy who was pushed down looked through the window at me and mouthed, “Help me!”  I looked at my kids and then looked behind me hoping he meant someone else needed to help him.  Luckily a woman in a wheelchair came into the museum and shouted, “Call 911!”  At least six police officers showed up within five minutes.  Everyone left shaking hands and smiling, but it was slightly scary for a minute.

Brooke loved the news station studio inside the museum.  She read the script about tornadoes at least half a dozen times.

The news station became even more fun when Brooke made a friend from Arkansas with an adorable accent.  Cody spent at least an hour playing with shapes on the light table.

It was at the light table while Cody was still very immersed and content that Scot announced he wanted to leave. The kids and I weren’t quite ready to leave, but we slowly headed to the exit looking at everything we missed along the way. Then we heard an announcement about a hands-on science demonstration and discussion. The kids learned about vacuums, air pressure, and blowing up marshmallows and balloons with decreased air pressure.

Ed was quite the sport once again allowing himself to be the kids’ playtime entertainment.  Cody was loving the train table not far from where we were sleeping.

Thursday

Silver Dollar City!

I won’t say who, but someone has trained the kids that when you say, “Sun’s out!”  They respond with, “Gun’s out!”  They thoroughly enjoyed the train ride, out-law train robbing skit, and boat ride complete with gun action.

Everyone was smiling and happy before the tea cups started….  We had the Dads and little ladies in one teacup and the moms and the little gentlemen in another teacup.  The Momma teacup spun in a lazy day slightly tickling your tummy way.  The Dadda teacup, well let’s just say…

Ed needed a little break after the teacups.  The kids took the opportunity to jump on him while he was down.

There was an incredible house where you could shoot foam balls.  The kids could have easily spent all day in here.

Cody really wanted to ride this ride with Brooke and Scott until he saw how high it went.  Then he was quite alright with helping me take pictures.

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Brooke’s first real upside-down roller coaster! Outlaw Run was a fun adventure for Brooke and Scott.

We had a fantastic first family visit to Silver Dollar City!

Friday

Scott and Ed got in some time together at the shooting range at Bass Pro Shop while we hung out and just relaxed.

Cody created some art out of the crayons instead of with the crayons.

We had to get in our visit to our favorite park near Ed and Kayla’s.

Cody loves when Ed tries to put him in the garbage can.  I would like to explain how Ed started that, but hmm…. :-)

Kayla, Scott, and I rode 15.5 miles in a little over an hour.  As with Monday and Wednesday we had a few sprinkles, but we made it through without getting completely wet.   Today’s ride was the best yet.  And yes, Kayla often plans her bike rides with the help of her computer and trusty helmet while in the house.  Ed fed one of the family pets.  The kids loved waiting for the crickets to be gobbled up.

Even though their eyes were barely open these guys were up before 7 trying to get in a few last minutes of toy time.

Below are the words from I Am Small  one of our favorite books that the O’Toole’s shared with us to read at bedtime.

Thank you O’Toole family for sharing your home, laughter, and love.

I am Small written by Emma Dodd.

The world is big…and I am small.  The world is fast…and I am small.  The ocean is deep… and I am small.

The mountains are steep… and I am small.  The wind is strong…and I am small.  The winter is long…and I am small.

The sky is high…and I am small.The stars stretch far…and I am small. These things are big and long and deep,

and strong and high and far and steep…and I am small.  But you are BIG and you are KIND. When I’m with you, I do not mind.

I may be small, but I can see the biggest thing to you… is me!

This was one of our favorite books that the O’Toole’s shared with us to read at bedtime.

Thank you O’Toole family for sharing your home, laughter, and love.