Spring break day 5 the Temple, Hallmark Museum, Kaleidoscope, and Fritz's

We woke up to sunny skies again [Friday] morning. Even though it was pretty chilly and windy, the sunshine and blooming "popcorn trees" were lovely. 

I am so grateful I got to spend some time in the temple today. It is truly a place of peace. I left feeling empowered by the reminder of my divine nature and the spiritual gifts God has given me to bless and strengthen my home and family. 

From the temple, we headed over to crowne center. Our tickets for Kaleidoscope weren't until 1pm, so we killed some time exploring the mall.

We toured the Hallmark museum, and learned how cards and bows are made. The children scored some serious loot from the tour guides at this place. Scented stickers for days!

A little fun with the green screen on hallmark tv. 

There is a free fairy tale village play area at the mall with cute sets and interactive activities for the children to play out famous fairy tales. Super cute. It reminded me of the "village" indoor dramatic play area at A Children's Garden in Morgan Hill, Ca where I taught preschool many many years ago. I hope to someday have my own place like this.  HolleeAnn and I dreamed of creating our own "imagination station" for children to enjoy. 

We passed the entrance to Legoland on our way to Kaleidoscope and had one frustrated 5 year old. "You mean there's a LEGO LAND store?! There's an American GIRL doll store and there is NO American BOY doll store. That's no fair but the LEGO land store is like my boy store and I want to go in there. Please?!!" 

If he hadn't just had a bolting/safety issue followed with a meltdown in the road ten minutes before, we probably would've caved right then and there and bought him tickets. I'm pretty soft when it comes to things that interest Corbin, and he presented an excellent argument with the lack of an American Boy Doll store. We ran into a friend from school who passed me a coupon to get 2 kids in free. We might return tomorrow. 

Kaleidoscope was fantastic. And bonus: free! 

The children made their own die cut puzzles.

They explored and experimented with their senses with noise buttons in a sound room and glow in the dark wax paint in a black light room. Sloane was not a fan of glowing in the dark.

They painted with watercolors, and cut and pasted to their hearts' delights.

For lunch, we are at Fritz's. You order your food to a soup nazi from an old school corded phone at the table, then it is delivered from the kitchen by a model train that runs on a track suspended from the ceiling. 

Soren LOVED watching "Thomas" deliver food to the tables around the restaurant. 

What's lunch without dessert? We knew better than to settle for milkshakes when we could pick up frozen custard minutes away.  Soren started coughing and Sloane started screaming, then we hit traffic and Soren coughed until he threw up his ice cream. It was our "everyone is so done" moment and we called it a day. 

After a mandatory family quiet time, Aaron took the big kids for a dip in the hotel pool and I stayed back to feed Sloane. 

After Soren's bath, he ran over to the window and waved down to Aaron and everyone else in the pool.

He was naked. 

I rushed toward him with a towel in time to watch him pee all over the glass. He panicked, "I poop! I poop at the window! Wash it, Mommy!" 

 

Happy to, son. 

Luckily it was just pee. Still gross.

Lunch had been so late, aaron just ran to the market and grabbed yogurts, pretzels, and assorted fresh fruit for our dinner while I bathed the other kids. Corbin was out before Aaron returned. The girls and I watched Ella Enchanted on Netflix, then we had a show of Soren talking to the little boy in the hotel mirror. He talked and sang songs to his "buddy" for half an hour.  Sooo cuute!!!

Sloane and Corbin have been out since 6pm. I won't sleep tonight. Definitely worth it for this fun day.