A Day at the Musuem

 You know it's going to be a good day when you wake up to this.........

    Once a month, the History and Art Museums have a family day and, while we don't go every month, we try to go as much as possible. Even after years of going, the kids usually look forward to it every month. Rarely do they choose not to go.  This time, we took a  friend with us who had never been there before. It was fun watching the kids take her through a "tour" of the History Museum pointing out different exhibits. It was interesting to see all the different facts they've picked up and remembered over the years and which pieces of information have held interest for each of them. The pirate costumes are always a big hit and a siege against poor unsuspecting sailors usually follows. The trolley car with seats that can be adjusted to face forward or backward is exciting and always fun. Then there is the Miccossukee, Everglades exhibit where they pretend to pound grain, and cook vegetables under a shelter made from palm fronds. Another favorite is the early settlers exhibit where they don aprons, bonnets and straw hats, play with old fashioned toys and pretend to wash clothes. We've gone so often that most of these activities hold little interest for them anymore. These days, we usually stay long enough for the craft and then move on unless there is an interesting tour or something new. Showing it off to their friend however, we revisited all of these places and I got a special glimpse of the History Museum through the eyes of my kids.

 

      The craft of the day was beaded jewelry like the early native people used. We learned that they don't know much about the early cultures but what they have found is beaded jewelry that they used as currency and for social status.

Then it was across the plaza to the Art Museum......

........with lots of games and things to do.

 And, of course, arts and crafts............

     They made sand art, buttons and windsocks. Then, it was across the plaza again, to the library and back to the car, only a few minutes after my parking ran out.