San Diego Children's Museum-it's new and improved?

I was feeling like a good Mom yesterday...rather than sitting at home bossing the kids around (as Lexie would say) or making them work harder than any of their friends (per McKenzie) or listening to the random rants, screaming, "I don't want to's" and "but why's" that float around our home, I hauled ALL six monkeys off to the 'new & improved' San Diego Children's Museum. Curt was out of town so I figured that as part of this 'stay-cation' we would experience a bit of the cultural San Diego. You notice how the blog doesn't get updated very often lately? I'm a very, very, busy stay-cation mom these days. Very busy.

Whenever I go into public with my kids...all of them at once...my trick is bribery. It's the only way I can assure that there will be no squabbles and that my children will appear to be the perfect little...well, BIG bunch even though we all know that is a lie. I can get them to act like perfect little angels for say, a 50-cent package of skittles...not too shabby! Before we EVER exit the car I dangle their reward then warn them of the consequences if they misbehave...set the rules and expectations so that it leaves no one in doubt and then follow-through. Consistency, it's the key or they won't take me serious. Kind of like with Curt (sorry hon). And he wonders why they're perfect little angels for me (sometimes) but for him, only on rare occasion. Even Vivie--the moment Curt walks in the door she starts to cry as if to say, "You left me, Daddy, shame on you--I'm gonna make you pay." And then she does. Clingy, Daddy-lover Vivie. (disclaimer: Oh, but you CAN be that way, oh, Princess Viviana, and it's okay...we're just blessed to have you in our home and you went through SO much to get here...but just do it to your daddy, not me.) When she whines and starts acting like some of the other kids, I say "no" and then ignore her (mean mommie). But it works...sometimes. Daddy is just a sucker for that kind of thing and they have him all figured out. (Love you, hon!) And Vivie was a little angel for me at the museum...strapped into the stroller and all.

So back to this post....a couple of my friends had been to the museum last week and discovered that a yearly pass only cost 75 bucks per family...no matter how many 'family' means. Those opportunities to not feel 'gouged' don't come around too often, especially in California, so I had to check it out for myself. Either $10 per person /per visit or $75 per family/per year. No brainer. I'm all over that!

If you like mattress-lined walls and floors for a full-on pillow fight, or a climbing wall, painting studio which includes a real deal VW bug to just paint at-will. I came home with a big splatter of paint on my poor shorts and had to dodge a couple of blue hands that about made prints on my shirt. It only took about 20 minutes to wash BLUE off my kids after they were done. Then there's this clay station to make more messes, but you get to bring home a beautiful masterpiece--if it makes it the whole ride home without crumbling into pieces.

All in all, I was actually NOT very impressed...for a California museum it kind of bites. LA and Salt Lake City Children's Museums are like masterpieces compared to this one. But looking back and seeing the pictures--we really had a great time. The kids LOVED it and that's what counts. We even saw the cute Timmerman Family there taking advantage of their new passes too. Oh, what we do for our children.

My favorite part? The car studio. We made these great racing cars out of random wood pieces and colored electrical tape--no gluing, weights, painting, decals, drilling, or sanding involved. I REALLY think the Cub Scouts should take a hard look at how this museum does their cars and adopt it as their pinewood derby. Especially for Dads that are not like Tim-the-tool-man-Taylor...cause darnit, even four-year-olds can actually make these themselves. Who would have thunk it? Colored tape and wood. No tools needed. SWEEEEET! Although, I am the tool-lover in the family.

So we'll be back...the Coaster Train even runs right by there--even more fun to take the train from North County. And I'm even thinking about upgrading my pass to include a bunch of other museums in the nation. Lookie there...I'm feeling like a good cultured mom.