So, I haven't blogged in a little while, and to be quite honest, I haven't been very positive lately and so didn't want to blog all negativity, so I just stayed away, but as with everything, this too shall pass right? Yesterday was a day for Stella. Wednesday's are my typical "day off" and so lately I've been trying to do things with Stella that are different, but not expensive, but stuff she hasn't done before. And, I always try to make it a surprise if I can. This time I decided to take her to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum. Now, you can't really sell science to a 4 year old, but you can excite them by telling them that they can TOUCH EVERYTHING. That was enough for her, she was ready and went right off to bed the night before knowing my threat of "if you keep getting out of bed, we're not going tomorrow."
We arrived and while trying to park, we nearly got into an accident, I was totally in the wrong, but the man beeped as long and loud as he could and just kept staring at me angrily. I mouthed to him "sorry, but you don't have to be an a$$hole." I think he got the point, I know I did. In the car as we sat there and I calmed down, my very wise and perceptive 4 year old says to me "now momma, don't be upset, don't let us have a bad day." What can I say, the kid really knows me. So, we start heading to the museum, but are intercepted by the man who we almost hit and he apologizes to me for getting upset and I to him for being an idiot. All is good and I stopped to tell Stella what a nice thing that was for the man to do, he could have just gotten more angry and started yelling at me, but I think once he saw Stella he was like, "oh." So, we walk to the museum about 3 blocks from where we parked. She loves walking and even more than that, being where lots of other folks are walking, makes her feel like she's a part of something I think. In trying to find the entrance we discovered that the building is housed in and around the Fire Station, which Stella found all the trucks and gear to be and I quote, "CUTE!" So, we spent a ton of time in there, I think there are 4 floors, all varying in entertainment value and age appropriateness. Most of what you see does require reading, but for the basic 4 year old, there are plenty of levers, wheels and buttons to operate that that didn't matter. And, her favorite, water tables. She loves to play in the water and will spend an hour or more playing at grandma's in the sink. Anyway, and there is a rock wall to climb, a piano you can play with your feet, you can try to pull this hula hoop dipped in bubbles around you to try to encase yourself in a bubble and all kinds of interesting things for the adults to learn about science and the environment and going green and such. There is so much more, but those are the things she seemed to enjoy the most. It was so cool to see her looking at me as if to say "I can't believe you aren't telling me to stop or put that down and that it's ok for me to touch anything I want." It was one of the most relaxing days I think I've spent with her since she was a baby. So, starving, I pull her out of the museum and we walk about 6 block to the Parthenon restaurant on Main Street. Yummy greek food and of course she had grilled cheese and loved every bite. Then she told me that she wanted to sit somewhere and talk, so we left the restaurant and walked a little more and discovered where the road had been blocked off to film the new movie "Youth In Revolt." We didn't see anyone famous, but it was cool to see what a real Hollywood movie set looks like. She could've cared less. Then we found a place to sit, in the 90 degree heat and talked for a bit about silly things, baby things and doing my hair. She's my sweet little baby and I regret every moment I don't spend with her just listening to her talk or ask me questions, because very soon the day will come that she's yelling at me telling me she hates me. But, then we'll make up, go shopping and grab a cup of coffee and talk about silly things, baby things and doing my hair?

Here are a few pics from the day: