Boston's Museum of Science

We spent as much time at the Museum of Science as we spent in the car to get there and get back (four hours), but it was so much fun! First up was the Mirror Maze (the real reason why we made the trek all the way to Boston). Granted, we've been to a better one in San Francisco, but the kids loved it either way (I guess kids are less picky when it comes to mirror mazes). And because it was early in the day, we didn't have to wait to get in, so we did it twice.

The second time Evan went on his own, and Joan and I went together. I caught this picture of Joan in her most favorite skirt she bought with her own money. It shimmers and shines, she likes to pretend she's like the disco ball at the party. And everybody, and I do mean EVERYBODY, compliments her on her skirt, so obviously, money well spent.

We then proceeded to explore the symmetry exhibits that accompany the maze, and then tried to do as many challenges as possible in the Hall of Human Life exhibit. Gotta love giving scientists free data! But hey, when they offered to tell us how high our foot arches are, how efficiently we walk, and how good we are at remembering faces, we were game!

There's so much to do here. We probably only saw a quarter of the exhibits. We also kept to exhibits we didn't visit last time we were there (a couple years ago). And it was, not surprisingly, very crowded. So there were lines for everything, and you had to move along quickly to let others explore too. I don't think it's ever not crowded, though, it's just such a great place. Here, they're exploring magnetism. 

And this was definitely one of my favorites: rainbow shadows. As you move, you move between colored lights projected on the wall , and you can get shadows different colors depending on where you are and if you're overlapping your shadow with someone else's. I love Evan's shadow in this picture!

We had lunch there, then got to visit the Discovery Center, an area for kids 0-8. That's the only place that's not crowded, because it has a very low maximum capacity. So you leave your number and they text you when there's room for more. And it is full of awesome stuff to explore. We're definitely going back there next time, because we were in there less than 30 minutes, as I wanted to leave early to avoid traffic (ha ha). Much there was left unexplored. We will definitely take on the drive again this summer!

A note on the drive. I always think the Maps estimate to Boston (or back) will be fairly accurate, but I also always forget that in the time it takes to get to I-93, everyone will come out to greet us there. It's really only supposed to take 1:10! Yet, more often than not, it's more like 2 hours. (Actually, there was the one time last week when it did indeed only take 1:30. That was a good day. Especially because I had to make it back in time to pick up the kids at the bus stop!)

 

 Maps said it would be 1:21 when we left the museum. It also didn't show any red sections, which I found suspicious. This is 20 minutes later...

On a funny note, here's a conversation on the way back from Boston, as I questioned aloud if I was in the right lane (I was):

Me: "Oh, shit"
Evan: ::whispers to Joan:: " She said 'oh, shit'"
Kids giggle, I apologize. 
Evan: " we don't mind if you say "oh, shit"..."
Joan: "...as long as you don't say it to us, which you would never do"
Evan, pondering: " I don't know why people start saying "oh, shit" instead of "dang it"..."
Me: "wait, this is the first time you hear ME saying "oh, shit". I think I deserve some credit for that"