The Zoo Takes a Field Trip

The Assistant Zookeeper and I decided a few weeks ago that we wanted to get out of Dodge for a few days. Read "a few days" as "Friday night and Saturday." Anyway, BODIES the exhibition is currently at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh and we thought it would be a great item to go see. Add to this that we have family friends who wanted to see the exhibit as well - and you have a trip!

We picked up all the Heathens around 3:00 and headed for Tarentum - about 1.5 hours by car. It put us only about 25 minutes from the museum. Friday night we had a great time! When I booked the hotel, my only stipulation was that it HAD to have an indoor pool - I have three Heathens, need I say more? I made reservations for Springhill Suites. Turns out the hotel was right beside an enormous mall - that had both a WalMart and a Borders bookstore.

Upon our arrival in Tarentum, we drove past the hotel and went straight to WalMart. We needed junk food for the night - and did we buy it! We left WalMart with 5 bags - full.

Then we actually checked into the hotel. Because we hadn't taken the kids anywhere for a while, and because I wanted the pool for them to swim, the hotel was a little pricier than we would usually do. As we were pulling up into the driveway, Assistant Zoopkeeper and I were joking about how we would be spotted as the "white trash" immediately by what our kids would say and do. We were making comments like "Wow, look at the wallpaper, it's ain't even peelin!" and doing it will a southern accent. I'll give you two guesses what Heathen #1 said at the top of his lungs when we got into the hotel...

We got settled into our room and then headed for the pool. We've decided that we want a room like that on our new house. The pool room was very pretty and it was beautifully lit. The room was big enough that you could have added several picnic tables and had quite a party. And the hot tub was in the same room in the corner. It was lovely to soak in the warm water and watch the Heathens try to drown each other just a few feet away.

After we were all thoroughly pruned, we headed back out to go to Borders bookstore. After everyone picked a book, or a "kit," we headed out into the main mall to take a look around. It was huge - and it was packed.

After leaving the mall, we headed back to WalMart. We'd discovered the fact that we hadn't bought the kids anything to drink to go with their snacks. And we had no way to watch a movie - so we bought a really cheap DVD player.

Back to the hotel! We watched "Surfs Up" with the kids - but I didn't make it through the entire movie awake. I remember the beginning, have vague recollections of the middle, and nothing after that. I did manage to sleep until after 3am before Heathen #3 ended up in our bed. After that, it was dozing in and out until 9.

At 9 o-clock, I jumped in the shower and started to rouse the Heathens. Heathen #3 was already doing his "I hungy" chat and I figured the other two weren't far behind.

At 9:30, the Heathens and I headed down to the lobby for the continental breakfast. Assistant Zookeeper stayed behind to shower and start picking up the debris since check out was at 11.

The Heathens enjoyed making teddy bear shaped waffles - although they didn't eat them. We decided to make Assistant Zookeeper an egg muffin with sausage, which went over really well when we got back to the room.

After 30 minutes in the car, we parked at the Carnegie Science Center and got our pre-purchased tickets. The boys had a fantastic time. I've put all of the photos I took into my web album. Assistant Zookeeper was set on getting an arch built in the one activity - and, with a lot of extra hands, finally managed it!

At 1pm, we met the Law Family to go through BODIES together. It was fascinating. Unfortunately, the boys were all bored. The traffic moved too slowly for them. Had they been able to move at their own speed, it would have been better for them!

After the BODIES exhibit, the Law Family headed back to Johnstown. Their newest family member is Buster the puppy - and they didn't want to leave him for too long.

The Heathens headed into SportsWorks. Tristan tried this thing that spins you in circles.

Gavin tried a bungee-cord trampoline thing that shot him up into the air.

And Landon went for a smaller-scale spin you in circles item.

We also visited the USS Requim that is on loan from the US Navy.

Finally, we headed for the Zoo around 4:30 pm. And we pulled up behind the house probably around 6:45 or 7. The Heathens were exhausted and so were we, but it was a great trip!