Dylan's Fifth Birthday - In Pictures

Your birthday began when you, and "Puppy" jumped into our bed to wake us up.  You waited until 8:40! (THANK YOU!)

You had enough restraint to eat breakfast BEFORE opening presents!

You wanted to open Luca's present first! (the little boy I'm a nanny for)  Hmmmph!

I have to admit, it is a really cool present! 

We've played it several times already, and hey, so long as it's not Chutes & Ladders, I'm happy!

Considering the fact that you actually wanted to play hockey, BEFORE watching TV this morning, I would say this was your favorite present...

After opening all your gifts, we watched the video about Disney I picked up at the library, which was so ancient that I don't think it was a great representation of what we will actually see and do when we go.  Then, we watched "Word World", one of your current favorites.

After eating lunch, we headed to the Science Center.

We went in the "Sports Works" building for the first time, and had a blast!  (Why have skipped that in the past?!)  This was your favorite thing...

I'm not too excited about science, but I was excited about the sports!  Could you tell?

Even though we got a late start, we still spent several hours there.

After the Science Center, we went to Denny's so you could get your free birthday "Grand Slam" pancakes.  No picture, but this is how you felt about it...

We loved spending your fifth birthday with you!  Next... your PARTY!

Lucky For You, You Can't Experience the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE!

Dylan had "Go to the Science Center" on his To Do List for Summer.  He's been talking about it for quite some time.  Every time we were about to leave to go somewhere, he would ask, "Are we going to the Science Center today?!"  I have to admit, I might have been putting it off.  I didn't really want to go.  Ever since I became old, (when exactly did that happen?!), going to that place just exhausts me.  I leave with the overwhelming desire to take a very long nap.  

It was so crowded that I thought Jim was going to pop a blood vessel in his head just looking for a space to park.  Dylan was screaming, "YOU CAN PARK THERE...OR THERE... OR THERE!!!" from the backseat, pointing to trees, or grass, or imaginary parking spaces that only he saw.  Jim was yammering about "If there aren't any spots than WTH did the guy let us pay to get in here?!"  I was trying to maintain my breathing while being whipped around through the parking lot by an angry driver.  All that was before we even got in the five level building!  Once in, I was accosted by the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE of the masses of humanity, who were all SO excited to learn about science.  (I think I've mentioned I'm not exactly thrilled by the subject).  Oh well.  I survived, and although I really wanted one, I didn't get that nap.  At least we can cross one more thing off the To Do List... until next year.

Indecency at the Science Center

The girls I'm a nanny for were off this week. On Tuesday, their mom asked if I would take them to the Carnegie Science Center. If you've read my posts about taking Dylan there, you know that I'm convinced the place blows sleeping gas out the vents, because the place exhausts me. Truly. Nothing makes me feel older than a day at the Science Center. This will give you an idea of how my day went...

"Stay with me!... We have to stand in this line!... Stand right here!... Don't pull on that!... Stand back!... Don't get so close to her!... We have to do what she wants to do, too!... The line is right here!... Don't pull on that!... Stay with me!... Don't touch that!... Wait your turn!... Stop it!... Stay with me!... Does anyone have to go to the bathroom? Are you sure?... What the...Did you just pee your pants?! I asked you one minute ago if you had to go to the bathroom! We are gonna have to go down to the gift shop and buy a huge t-shirt for you to wear like a dress, because we have no spare clothes! COME ON!... Don't touch that!... Put that back!... No, I'm not buying you that! We are just here for the t-shirt!... Stand in this line! Stay with me!... Come with me, we have to go to the bathroom now! Put this on! Give me your wet clothes! Don't touch that! Let's go!... Back to the lockers for the third time! Stay here! Don't hit her! Yes, we are going back up to the fourth floor, where we were!... Stay with me!...A you're gonna have to be careful with your shirt - don't flash everyone!...Give that kid a turn!...Stay in this area!...A! Pull your shirt down!...A, stand up, you're showing everyone your privates!..."

Now loop that about 50 times. That was my day. By the end of the trip, even I was sick to death of the sound of my voice! The worst part was that I still had to drive one hour back to their house, and all I wanted to do at that point was take a nap.