This morning we slept in (sort of). We were up by 7:45 am and headed down to the dining room for a nice hot breakfast. The dining room was packed, so I found one chair for Briton, made him a waffle and got him some juice. Then someone left so I got Cooper a table. The older boys came downstairs a few minutes after me, as they were folding the laundry we had done the night before.
They found tables and then helped me get breakfasts for the other two little boys. Soon everyone was done and we headed back upstairs for a few minutes rest and relaxation before we hit the road. Actually, I had to put down last nights blog story and was not willing to bring in more adventures til it was done!! I knew we had plenty of time to get all I wanted done today, so there was no harm in them watching a little tv for an hour, while I blogged!
Once done, we headed out to the van and hit the road looking for the Royal Tyrell Museum. It would have been smart if I had asked for directions before I left. Actually I did, but my 15 year old son figured he had the answers. He didn't. So we ended up pulling into a gas station and getting directions. We finally figured it all out, found our way and began our next learning experience.
Comparison of the little boys to a T Rex foot. Quite big!
This is the lab where they work on the fossils that they find.
See how big the T Rex head is compared to the boys? A man used the boys as models to compare with, also.
Is this not just the most radical picture!!! I took this of the boys facing towards a beautiful water display that was behind glass. I am going to have to blow this up as it would look too cool framed.
This next picture is so cute. We entered a display where the ground was glass and there was 'water' underneath. There were fish and other sea creatures there. I teased Briton when I stepped into the room with him and told him, "Don't get your feet wet." He then very carefully skirted the room on the edge of the wall. Even when he stepped onto the glass (away from the wall) he was very careful and you could see by his face that he thought he might get wet.
Finally his sweet older brother rescued him and carried him through.
Briton's Buddy
We went through half of the exhibits and then at noon we stopped and had lunch in the cafeteria. After that we continued the exhibits until 2:00 pm when the boys were doing to do a fossil casting workshop. When we got to the meeting place and I put the paid bracelets on all the children the woman asked how old Briton was. I was *hoping* she wouldn't ask, as he is not four. I intended to make him a fossil if necessary.
I told her he was three and she said he was too young to be in the lab. I then looked at her with a humble face *smile* and asked 'ever so nicely' if there was any chance I could just sit on the side with him, so the other kids could go in? She had just informed us that an adult would have to be present with children making casts. Problem! How could I be out with Briton and in with them?
They were *ever* so nice and broke the rules *just this once*.
While the kids were waiting to go in, she asked them what their favourite dinosaur was. Each gave their answers. Smart little Briton knew that he couldn't answer the question verbally, so he got out his shopping back and pulled out his Tyrannasaurus Rex and showed her. She was impressed with it. *smile*
When the children went into the lab they started with a classroom session where they were taught all about fossils and how to make casts. They were each given a rubber cast of an actual fossil that is in the museum.
I was amazed at how much two of those little boys knew about dinosaurs. Not really amazed, just impressed. It proves the point that I fully believe in: children will learn what they are passionate about. Therefore, follow their passions and interests and *feed* those interests! If you had listened to two of those little boys (one of about 7 and one about 11), they sounded like scientists. They kept that teacher hopping with questions and answers! And the seven year old was from Singapore, therefore English was not even his first language!!
Briton then cooperatively sat on the sidelines while the boys worked hard on their fossils. He finally fell asleep before the class was over and I had to carry around this 32 pound lump for a while.
Funny Little Scrunchy Smile
Pouring His Cast 
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