NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center

 Not far off 295, I-95, and I-495, in the land of parking lots and office parks, lies a gateway to the final frontier - the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.  Though most of Goddard is off limits to the public, they have a lovely Visitor Center that's perfect for an afternoon or morning excursion - and despite its small size is high on our list of favorite places for the toddler set - and despite it's lack of a playroom, the play area and the rocket garden, I would classify the Visitor Center as one of the top play areas for the (well-supervised) preschooler in the D.C. area.

The inside of the Visitor Center houses a number of exhibits about NASA and space exploration.  The area is currently under reconstruction, so things are changing.  There are a number of cool interactive displays that are surprisingly (well-supervised) kid friendly.  The curator has done a magnificent job at explaining ideas in simple English rather than jargon.  I also give thanks for my smart phone since the exhibits always prompt more questions - and it's been a dozen years since I took a science class.  

Of particular interest are the models of NASA's various manned and unmanned space craft.  Though the shuttle seems as retro to ChaseKBH's cohort as the Gemini capsule seems to our generation.  My  first and most vivid childhood memory was standing at the edge of the roadway, watching a 747 carrying a space shuttle on its back.  I remember my Dad explaining how the shuttle could fly into space, but couldn't fly cross-country.  I think I was also promised a flying car and tourism to the moon, but I digress.

But the draws of the Visitor Center are more the mere models of spacecraft.  On our three trips ChaseKBH has learned about the Big Bang, the colors and noise of space, and how very, very small the Earth really is in the great cosmos.  We've also learned a lot about tsunamis and global warming from the science on a sphere presentations in the theater - I can't wait until he's old enough to attend lectures from people who can answer his questions a whole lot better than I can.

Of course the favorite exhibit is the model of a Gemini capsule which visitors can climb into and marvel at the tight space.  The Big Bang seems totally plausible compared to the idea that any person could spend two weeks in this tiny space without any comforts whatsoever. We had to explain why there was no video screens, nothing that ChaseKBH would consider a computer, no touch pads, no keys, and none of the basic technology the kid takes for granted every day.

The rocket garden outside houses some fantastic pieces.  It's also a nice outdoor space where small people can wiggle - and it's very stroller accessible.  On the first Sunday of the month, rockets are launched in the rocket garden.  It's a nice history of the American space program.  However, its rather difficult to explain the history of the space program in the context of the Cold War to people who post-date communism, have never lived a day without a major military operation, and who fear acts of terror rather than nuclear holocaust.  

 The play area is fantastic, if small.  There is a crate of space related toys, books, and puzzles.  And most importantly, space helmets.    You simply cannot properly pretend to be an astronaut visiting Mars then flying through Jupiter without a helmet. There is of course also a gift shop where more toys can be purchased - and one that has lightened my purse considerably.

As children both Jamie and I had a fascination with space and astronauts - but I think we were the exception.  Somehow the excitement of the space program skipped our generation.  I think ChaseKBH's generation will pick up our slack.  Almost every morning that I drop him off at preschool some child excitedly tells me what s/he saw from Curiosity that morning, what to do when going to Mars, or how things fall around the Earth without falling into it.  If the moon is mentioned, a good handful follows up and asks to which planet's moon the ignorant grownup refers.  They also have a wonder about how the world works that I can't remember having - they know that its their natural right to understand the entire universe as immediately as possible.

Building Rockets

 I begin this post by acknowledging my many, many failures in life and as a parent.  First, my many failures with physics and my thought that its laws were suggestions.  And the fact that my husband and I, not exactly the model parents, think its appropriate to all the three year old's hobby to include explosives.  However, it is incredibly, incredibly cool.  The good folks at NARHAMS Model Rocket Club # 139 hold public launches at NASA Goddard's Visitor Center on the first Sunday of the month, at 1 p.m.  We stumbled upon this after visiting on the first Saturday of the month.  Jamie has been bugging me about letting ChaseKBH build model rockets for about a year, however, I vetoed previous attempts because we had no reasonable place to launch.  And our family has issues with fire.  NARHAMS and Goddard  to the rescue.

We built two simple Estes model rockets for the launch, purchased from Michael's, using standard Estes engines.  ChaseKBH's rocket is a Estes Riptide, adorned only with his name in black Sharpie.  He chose it because it was blue.  The Riptide deploys a parachute to cushion its landing, after ejecting its nosecone.

In our house, these items are referred to as "fire pressure" rockets.  Previously, ChaseKBH launched some air pressure rockets.  We explained that these rockets are launched after a spark ignites the engine, which burns and provides energy to launch the rocket upwards.  ChaseKBH invented the term fire pressure. While I don't think he exactly gets the physics, he does understand ignition --> fire --> push the rocket heavenward.  Not terrible for someone who doesn't yet have a preschool education.

National Building Museum

We've made a couple of trips to the National Building Museum which, despite its name, is not a public museum.  This place is toddler heaven - fun exhibits, age appropriate activities, and a great playroom.  It's an easy ride from suburban Maryland on the red line, with free parking at several Metro lots on weekends.  Add in the fact that the onsite coffee shop is Firehook, allowing a harried parent to have some decent caffiene and to take home some bread and pastries for dinner (or for Dad who was stuck in the office), and it makes a great half day out.  

The National Building Museum is housed in a historic government office building that once housed the Pension Bureau.  The Great Hall is gorgeous, though it feels a bit like a Harry Potter movie.  As shown above, ChaseKBH was particularly enamored with the fountain.  

Most of the exhibits (which were not available for photographing), were above ChaseKBH's head - but would be interesting for an older child, and were interesting for BeaABH who, at four months, was merely toted around in an infant carrier able to stare at cool pictures.  The life of an infant.

We had great fun building the arch in the Great Hall, along with about a half dozen of our newest friends.  As ChaseKBH was able to explain, or more accurately parrot, an arch is two stacks of blocks falling on each other.  In this case, its two stacks of numbered, shaped blocks that are placed on two wood pedestals.  Of course, the arch tends to push out at the base, so every arch construction ended with a shower of blocks.  Then again, it seemed that every arch construction began with the children putting together the arch and ended with the adults playing.  The kids generally lost interest before the project was completed.  

Though the three year old did not particularly understand the point of the arch, it was great practice to have him read the various numbers and figure out some ordering.  And he got to place the keystone a couple times, often lifted by perfect strangers.  It's a fantastic interactive project, and unlike many of the activities I've seen recently, seemed to really excite parents and create a senses of shared purposed and community among people.  It took at least three adults to put the arch together, and often quite a few more.

When we visited last, the Lego exhibit was still up.  Half of the exhibit were models of various famous buildings around the world, and half was an area where people could play with Legos among more interactive models made of Legos.  And of course lots and lots of subliminal advertising for very, very expensive Lego sets.  As much as I love the museum, the gift shop is seriously dangerous.

ChaseKBH's favorite Lego model was one of a Metro station on Halloween night.  Each time we visited he insisted on seeing his favorite Legos, and stared at it for uncanny lengths of time, or at least uncanny lengths of time for a three year old.  Given his general attention span of seconds, it was nice to see him stand still.  Though I think I got tired of hearing about the tunnels.

Of course, the exhibit allowed visitors to play with Legos.  I have no idea what ChaseKBH actually made.  All I know is that he talked about how he was building it, frequently.  And how he was displaying it.  And how I should buy more Legos.  And how his sister could eat Legos, or at least pretend ones.  And that's exactly why I try to avoid Legos in the house.  Not to stifle the older one's creativity, but I live in constant fear that the older one, while trying to be the best big brother ever, will end up feeding the younger one something dangerous when my back is turned.  We already have epic fights at Starbucks when he wants to order her a "pretend" hot chocolate.  I'm also a terrible because I give him treats to him but not the baby.

The museum has a fabulous playroom.  You get a wristband and specific time entry to the playroom, and they do ask you to limit your visit to a reasonable time when there are others waiting.  Its very much geared towards little people, with trucks, blocks, books, trains, tracks, and similar.  There's a focus on building and on tactile play activities.  I will say that there is very little comfortable adult seating or nursing seating - which can make it a little more difficult to take a child solo if you have a younger sibling in tow.

But Super Nerd Dad managed to shepherd two children sitting on the floor.  I think he was tweeting about it at the same time, or perhaps just Facebooking.  

There's an interesting mini golf course.  When we visited with the kid's older cousin, we played.  At least, I think we played.  I'm not sure if we managed to actually play the game, but we did hit a ball around with a golf club.  We think.  BeaABH enjoyed it - she got to track balls in bright colors.

One tip for non-walking children - bring a carrier of some kind to wear the baby, since much of the museum is very not stroller accessible and you will want access to your hands.  Take the Metro to Judiciary Square - there's no reason to drive here when the station is literally right across the street.

Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park

We finally did something for BeaABH.  The poor child spends her entire life being carted after her big brother.  Its the curse of being born to two oldest children.  The Puppet Company, resident in Glen Echo Park, holds "Tiny Tots" puppet shows specifically aimed at the zero to four crowd.  Lights are partially on, doors stay open, the puppeteer is visible, seating is on the floor, the shows are limited to 30 minutes, and the tickets are cheap.  

We saw "A Teddy Bear Picnic" joining Baby Bear and his friends as they sang and danced.  I'm not actually sure there was a plot.  BeaABH loved the music and loved tracking the puppets with her eyes.  ChaseKBH threw a fit before going, then asked when we were going back.

Getting to the puppet theater from the parking lot is a bit of a hike, though it is all stroller accessible.  It was particularly exciting for me, as my Dad had a hand in designing some of the roadways and bridges in that area, and I remember seeing a lot of it as construction sites.  ChaseKBH liked climbing over the bridge.  He was a bit creeped out by the amusement park section - which is just what it sounds like, a giant defunct amusement park.  The carousel is restored and active, and runs until September 30, and the bumper car pavilion is used for dances.  There are art studios in yurts.  It's actually pretty cool, but a little surreal.

There's a playground near the theater - very much geared to very small children (as in the three year old was bored), but great to run around in before or after a show.

Air Pressure Rockets!

Air pressure rockets to be exact.  This was a third birthday gift for ChaseKBH from friends who I think actually bought the rockets for Jamie.  Regardless, ChaseKBH enjoyed sending these high into the air.  We have been talking about air pressure for a bit.  He knows that there are zillions of air particles pressing down on him.  Unfortunately, that also means that, on occasion, he yells at the air particles.  I'm not sure how well we're understanding science here.  We do like things that go boom, and we definitely like things that fly.  Thirty pounds of toddler doesn't really get much flight, however.   

The setup itself is super simple - take the stand out of the package, then click it together.  The box came with four foam rockets to launch.  There's a squeezable air reservoir attached to the launcher with a tube - jump on it, and the rocket goes off.  ChaseKBH was a bit terrified of the actual set up.  It took a couple attempts to get him to jump onto the reservoir.  Poor BeaABH just got to watch.

A fancy [wading] pool costume party

Mo Willems has to be a geek.  He's just too awesome to be lame.  We are devotees of all things Elephant and Piggie, so of course for ChaseKBH's third birthday party he wanted a fancy pool costume party.  Not actually having a pool, and not wanting to rent space at a pool for a hurried, stressful party, we decided to follow the book to the letter and set up wading pools.  Best party ever.  Well, since the kids are three, pretty much anything that involves a cupcake is the best party ever, so the bar is set rather low.  Regardless, it was easy, fun, and I haven't been blackballed by the other parents yet for failing to do the requisite party place party.  I think the booze helped.  

We set up a couple of wading pools in the backyard, and a sprinkler.    We gave each kid a  top hat and a couple necklaces of Mardi Gras style beads - both items came cheaply from a party website.    When they needed a break from splashing, they wandered over to the make your own mask table.  I cheated and got a kit off Amazon, but if I was more organized probably would have used leftover craft supplies.  The masks were a huge hit, and keeping the glue and gross outside, then hosing the little devils off before they came inside, was useful.  Did I mention that all children are disgusting by nature?   A good bit of glue was consumed by the attendees.  I gave each child a copy of I Am Invited To A Party in a little canvas tote bag, which was just large enough to slip in their mask and beads.  They wore their top hats out, naturally.  I'm sure some parent somewhere thinks I'm cheap and evil not to do the usual goody bag full of stuff, but again, I'm a lazy mother and  I hate toy clutter.

We did a backyard barbecue for dinner.  there's really no reason to show this picture except there are awesome flames coming off a five foot grill.  

Sesame Place

I will admit the horrendous truth - I'm really not into Sesame.  In fact, I find a lot of Sesame quite annoying.  I appreciate the work Children's Television Workshop does worldwide, but I really don't find Sesame Street terribly interesting.  Despite the fact that he watches very little Sesame Street (at the grandparents' house), ChaseKBH does love several of the characters, though he inexplicably wants to punch Grover, and is convinced Cookie Monster will eat him (he chose a Cookie Monster toy to give his little sister when he first met him, and somehow this has transformed into Cookie Monster wanting to protect BeaABH and eat ChaseKBH).  Of course, living anywhere near Philadelphia, we did have to make the obligatory Sesame Place trip at age three.  We went with another family from ChaseKBH's preschool, which made it easier, as the kids entertained each other, and the parents had some distraction and amusement.

Jamie, however, loves Sesame Street.  He has fond memories of watching Sesame Street as a kid, and apparently Count von Count is responsible for his entire life's work.  As well as the inspiration for last year's Halloween costume.

This explains the trepidation some of his students have when taking his classes - he'll spend hours giving them extra help (usually unwanted since they're undergrad non-majors who just want to check a box and graduate), but his goal is to instill a lifelong love of math, which rarely happens.  Of course, he's trying to do the same with the kids, which might be going a bit better.  Anyway, back to Sesame Place...

Half the park is a water park, which ChaseKBH enjoyed splashing around in, but wasn't all that different than the pools at home.  When he's a bit older the slides and such might be more exciting.  The other half includes dry rides.  ChaseKBH rode his first roller coaster - the Vapor Trail - a dozen times.  The lines in the summer, however, are insane.  Absolutely crazy - there are lines for rides, lines for food, lines for bathrooms, lines to meet characters, and lines that seem to have no actual purpose whatsoever.  The park offers a pass to bypass lines for $30/per person per day.  I'm not a fan of the idea of such a pass, I don't like what it teaches kids, and the execution of it at Sesame was less than stellar.  However, the second day I broke down and bought them - and ChaseKBH did get to ride the roller coaster over and over.  If we do go again I'm going to try going on a weekday during the shoulder season with fewer lines and less heat.  The food is overpriced and pretty terrible, even for a theme park.  They do allow you to bring coolers and snacks, so the obligatory granola bars, cheese sticks, and milk.juice boxes were liberally consumed.

At 3 and 9 p.m there is a parade.  While the kids seemed to like the music and dancing, I did notice that the parents seemed to be connecting with the characters and reliving their own youth.  Its interesting as a shared cultural experience.  Of course, I was too short to see much, but ChaseKBH was seven feet tall.  I wasn't organized enough to stake out parade space and wait that long with two very small, squirmy kids.  The ride lines are also fairly short after the parade, so its a good chance to do things that are super popular.  Sesame Place doesn't open until 10:00 a.m., so unfortunately the advice to "go early" isn't that much help with small kids - they all seem to get up at the crack of dawn.  One big value, however, is the "preferred" parking - at $18/day, its only $3 more than the standard $15/day parking, you don't have to cross the street to get to the park, and its practically as close as the VIP $30/day parking.  It was worth it to skip a locker the second day and it was nice to have an airconditioned escape with the baby if needed.  The tickets are the same price for one day and two days, and there are reasonably cheap hotels in the area, so it really is worth it to stay overnight.

ChaseKBH was completely worn out before leaving the lot.