Our New Pals
It's been a full two weeks since our return from Disney World. I've never taken a trip to Disney without wishing the magic would continue, and this trip was no different. We had a blast from beginning to end, even with the to be expected dinner time meltdowns (it's your guess as to who had those meltdowns). This is a long post and I'm simply giving the highlights, not a full play-by-play, but I hope you are able to look past the length and experience the Magic of Disney along with the Pattishalls.
Day 1: Airplane Ride and Downtown DisneyGrandma and Grandpa joined Steven, Edmund and myself for this latest Disney excursion. We began our journey on a Southwest airplane, Edmund's second ever plane ride. In the month leading up to the trip, the plane trip got almost as much attention from Edmund as Disney itself. Edmund did great, but decided there would be no napping on this plane. Our first stop after landing in Orlando was Downtown Disney, a shopping area with various stores and restaurants. We decided to have our first meal at the T-Rex Cafe. There's no better way to acclimate a toddler to rides than having him eat in a restaurant surrounded by animatronic dinosaurs and indoor meteor showers that occur every 20 minutes. After the first meteor shower, Edmund decided it best to retreat into the bathroom for the following one. Going to the bathroom became the excuse Edmund used the rest of the trip anytime he wanted to leave something, which was bit humorous since he'll generally "hold it" to avoid leaving something. The restaurant was a hit, especially since it had a little area for Edmund to go digging for fossils. After fueling up with food we headed to the Lego Store. We never made it inside because Edmund spent most of the afternoon racing a little Lego car. He'd send it down one side of a racing track, retrieve it, then do the same on the other side. He had a blast and would have stayed there for hours if he could have. We finally pulled him away and ended our first day by taking a balloon ride on the world's largest helium balloon. It was a peaceful if
somewhat windy trip, and we were able to begin our vacation by surveying the Magical World below.
Future Paleontologist
Day 2: Magic KingdomWe got up bright and early for our first day in the parks. Edmund wanted to head straight for the castle and so we did. He didn't seem to mind there wasn't anything to do in the castle, and simply took in the view. After walking through the castle we came to the carousel. Edmund has always loved carousels and will now finally sit on a horse. You may recall that last summer Edmund was all about the carousel benches. He's finally taking a few risks in life. From there it was on to Dumbo, a must-do. The line was long so Steven, Grandma, and Grandpa took Edmund to the teacups, which had a very short wait, while I staked out a spot in line for the coveted Dumbo ride. Based on the reports it is safe to assume Edmund loved the teacups and fortunately made it back just in time to ride with mommy in a large elephant. The nice thing about Disney is that children can ride in parents' laps. This really enabled Edmund to enjoy the rides more. If you ask Edmund what his favorite ride at Disney World was, you'll most likely get the reply "Dumbo", with the teacups getting thrown in there occasionally too. The next two attractions may or may not have established Edmund's whole outlook for the rest of the trip. First up was the 3-D movie "Philharmagic." As soon as the movie started Edmund began screaming "it's too dark." and "it's too loud." Somehow we made it through the movie, but we decided there would be no more movies the rest of the trip. After that we tried a Pooh Bear ride. We thought it would be child-friendly enough, but this was Pooh on the blustery day. Again darkness and an inside ride. Scratch "It's a Small World". Steven and I did get to ride "It's a Small World" while Edmund finished dinner with Grandma and Grandpa in a restaurant overlooking the ride. He had fun waving to us as we went off in our boat. I guess I can't blame Edmund for not wanting to ride on it. It took me years before I would ride anything that went through water in a building including "It's a Small World", and I have no idea what started that fear in the first place. Edmund rode several more Dumbo type rides, such as the flying sleighs, er magic carpets, at the Magic Kingdom and loved them. We ended the day on a high note and hit up the spinning teacups again. The day was a success.
Whee!
Day 3: Animal KingdomI think this park often takes too much slack. It's one of my favorites and can easily be covered in a day. I absolutely love animals, so maybe I'm biased. We began our day with a safari. The safari ride is really neat in that you get to see a variety of African animals up close. Disney works their magic to make it seem like the animals could come right up to you, but in actuality uses natural barriers to keep the animals enclosed. As long as we distracted Edmund from the ride's bumpiness he really enjoyed himself. After the safari we walked through the African animal exhibits, which is much like a zoo on Disney steroids. One of the best parts of the day was seeing the meerkats here. We learned about the meerkats' "changing of the guard." This happens quickly and is unpredictable since it is simply determined by the current "guard" needing to rest. Amazingly we were able to witness a "changing of the guards," a once in a lifetime experience. For two days Edmund did without a nap and it was showing. Grandma and Grandpa kindly took Edmund back to our townhome, which left Steven and I free to wander the park on our own. We were able to enjoy a fun African themed lunch and ride on some of the faster roller coasters. We also went on a rapids ride and got drenched. We apparently picked the wrong seats. Edmund is still telling people about how mommy and daddy got wet. He just doesn't understand why we would want to do that. After Edmund's nap and changing a flat on the rental van, Grandma, Grandpa, and Edmund returned. They found a wonderful, dinosaur themed playground that Edmund couldn't get enough of. A perfect end to the day, and because Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks, we were able to go home and rest up for the next day's adventure.
Safari Trek
Day 4: Universal Studios and Disney's Hollywood Studios
Steven and I went to Universal Studios alone while Grandma, Grandpa, and Edmund did some family history exploring in a nearby Florida town and cemetery. For our 5th anniversary I wanted to go to the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal, and this is how the whole Disney trip came into fruition in the first place. Steven and I had a blast. We got to eat some delicious English food (if indeed English food can be described in this way) and tasted Butterbeer, a drink much like cream soda. My favorite part was wandering the halls of Hogwarts to get to a rather fun, yet motion sickness inducing ride. We did a few other things at Universal, but mainly were there for the Harry Potter experience. We left in the early afternoon which gave us time to quickly explore Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) that evening. The place we wanted to take Edmund the most here was the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground. Edmund enjoyed this almost as much as the dinosaur playground at Animal Kingdom. The movie this attraction is based on is a bit dated now, but the concept is fun no matter what your age. Edmund loved sliding down the large leaves and exploring the oversized toys. His favorite was the play-doh. However, he was a bit confused by the large roll of Kodak film and kept asking what it was. It's a bit difficult to explain film to a child born in the digital age, but I kept trying. After the playground, Steven, Grandma, and Grandpa went to a car stunt show while I decided to beat the heat in "The American Idol Experience." I was surprised when Edmund and Steven greeted me at the end of my show as the stunt show was supposedly longer. Apparently Edmund lasted a whopping two minutes before the shouts of "it's too loud" ensued. Strangely enough, the rest of the evening he kept asking to return to the car show. Oh well! Our time at Hollywood Studios was short-lived when a large thunderstorm hit. We decided to weather the storm at a restaurant, but this particular storm would not let up. It was for the best though, as Edmund decided this night was perfect for a dinner time meltdown. We got back to our vacation digs and were able to get a good night's sleep while listening to the soothing sounds of rain.
Sliding Down a Leaf
Day 5: Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center was a nice change of pace from the crowded parks. While the rest of the Pattishalls had been there already, it was a new experience for both Edmund and me. We especially loved the large outdoor "rocket garden." Edmund was able to see what it was like to sit in a cramped space module and had fun running down the ramp that allows astronauts to enter the shuttle. After this we took a bus tour to see the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), shuttle runway, and other assorted space things. Edmund has been very into tour buses these days, so this bus ride made his little heart flutter. If you ask Edmund about the space center he may tell you about the "huge doors" (raise hands in air for emphasis) on the VAB. I have to admit they were impressive, but even more impressive was the length of time it takes to simply open the doors. Another fortunate happening during this trip was being able to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor on the launch pad. Edmund may be a bit young to realize the significance, but when he's older he'll get to say "I was there when...". The rest of our time we explored the Saturn V rocket, touched a moon rock, and even saw a Space Snoopy. We were hoping to get to see the launch of the Endeavor on Monday, but it would have been cutting it too close with our flight home. We did, however, get to hear the Endeavor from our townhome and Edmund probably watched the launch forty times from every possible angle on Grandpa's IPad. Edmund's a space boy, so this day was a special treat for him.
Astronauts in Training
Day 6: Epcot
The Magic Kingdom is special, but I've got to say this is another park that needs a little more loving. I never feel I have enough time at Epcot. Between the World Showcase and all that Innoventions has to offer, one could easily spend three days here. Edmund found a fun game at Innoventions called "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure" which sends you on a spending/saving adventure with your own piggy bank in tow. Edmund decided to save for a college education (smart boy), but even with Grandma and mommy helping out, we didn't quite reach our goal. We'll have to work a bit more on diversifying. Another game that the entire clan did together had to do with recycling. Edmund and mommy worked together to push the very heavy recycling truck from station to station where we each helped participate in planet saving challenges. We all did a pretty good job on this one if I do say so myself. We decided to take Edmund on a ride at Epcot about living off the land. All I remembered from our last trip was the amazing fruits and vegetables being grown in greenhouses. Apparently that's all Steven remembered too or we wouldn't have gotten on with Edmund. Of course before showing these amazing fruits and vegetables, one must be shown the way the earth works to produce plant life. This means thunderstorms and darkness. Edmund had a fit and starting saying "where's the station?" This became mine and Steven's catchphrase the rest of the day anytime we rode a ride that was a bit dark. "Where's the station?" we would say. Just so you know, we did these rides without Edmund and chose no more dark torture for him the rest of the day. Edmund got to have fun on other things such as two small playgrounds built for the Epcot garden show. While with Grandma and Grandpa he also may have had the most fun of his trip playing with the jumping fountains. I think the pictures Grandpa got here capture Edmund's excitement better than any I've seen. What a great way to end an incredible trip! I leave you with the following picture to sum up Edmund's very first Disney experience.
I Love Disney World!
Daddy and Edmund at Elmo's World
The Pennsylvania wedding Steven, Edmund, and I attended last week was in Langhorne, PA home to Sesame Place. Sesame Place is an entire theme park dedicated to all those lovable, furry monsters from "The Street." One of the most hilarious home videos the Mercer family has in its collection revolves around a trip to Sesame Place with my sister, Becca, and our friends, Meredith and Amanda. Every so often I'd see an ad for Sesame Place in a parenting magazine and tell Steven "we have to take Edmund there." I know he thought I was simply making casual conversation, but when I found out we were going to be six minutes from the place where one of my fondest childhood memories took place, I was adamant we were going. When my sister and mom found out we were heading to Sesame Place it quickly became a Mercer family affair. I suppose my dad has his fill of Sesame Place 25 years ago as he decided to pass on this trip, but Aunt Becca and KayKay were ready for more Sesame adventure.
To celebrate its 30th birthday this year, Sesame Place is offering a two day pass, so we decided we might as well use the days. This turned out to be perfect for our family, since we had wedding events in the evenings and a child who would suddenly sprout horns without a nap. The first day we planned to be at the park as soon it opened. The weather was a bit gloomy that morning, but nothing we couldn't handle. The rain actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise as there were few lines for anything. When we walked into the park Sesame Street music was playing in the backgr
ound. Edmund stopped chattering for a moment and said "I Love Trash." Sure enough, Oscar's theme song was playing in the background, and we adults had been completely oblivious. We headed to the life-size replica of the Sesame Street set first. Edmund had a blast exploring Mr. Hooper's Store and walking up the steps at 123 Sesame Street. When the line to sit on the fire engine at the firehouse suddenly exploded we decided to move on.
After letting Edmund have his fill exploring the famous street, we moved onto the rides at Elmo's World. Elmo's World is guarded by the Sunny Day Carousel, which of course Edmund had to ride. Even Kay Kay and Aunt Becca couldn't coax Edmund to ride a horse on this carousel. We sat on the bench again. Edmund thought the bench was awesome, especially since he got to pet Slimey the Worm who was perched on the armrest. After the carousel ride we took Edmund to ride on Elmo's Flying Fish, a ride much like the Dumbo Ride at Disney World. Edmund was as happy as a clam (it's an underwater ride after all) while he sat with Daddy on his chosen fish. That is, until the ride attendant informed Steven that Edmund had to sit next to Steven, not on his lap. It was then that the screaming ensued, but the ride was already moving. To make matters worse Steven couldn't figure out how to get their fish to fly. Mommy was sailing away in the air, while Edmund and Daddy circled around on the ground. Edmund cried until Steven finally figured out the intricacies of elevating the fish into the air. To be fair Steven and Edmund's fish might have been defective. At least that's the story Steven's sticking to. Once Edmund was aloft he had a great time. He was excited to tell Kay Kay and Aunt Becca how he rode the fish in spite of the tear rolling down his cheek. The experience must not have scarred Edmund too much because when we returned the following day, the first thing Edmund asked to do was "ride Elmo's Fish." He said "sit next to mommy." This self-talk gave Edmund the courage he needed to conquer the flying fish. For this ride Edmund was all smiles.
During a very expensive macaroni and cheese lunch Edmund pointed out Cookie Monster walking by the restaurant, which again the oblivious adults missed. Steven was lucky to catch a tail end glimpse of the furry blue monster. After lunch we got in line early for "Elmo Rocks," a 30 minute live Muppet performance with a few aspiring actors thrown into the mix. Edmund appeared to enjoy the opening number as the Sesame Street monsters made their way to the stage, but as soon as Elmo appeared the grin on his face was as big as
I've ever seen and he began clapping. During one musical number Cookie Monster gave Edmund a high five. Edmund vowed never to wash that hand again. "Elmo Rocks" was the perfect family musical experience. It had enough interaction to keep Edmund involved, and was lively enough that the adults began rocking out. It also had the perfect mix of cheeky Muppet humor. The following day we went to see "Elmo's World Live," but the Mercer/Pattishall families are tough critics. "Elmo Rocks":2 Thumbs Up; "Elmo's World Live":1 Thumb Up, but still enjoyable.
Sesame Place is half water park, so after the dry attractions we decided to hit the pools. The water was a little cold due to the rain, but Edmund didn't seem to mind. He tried of few of the preschool-aged spray attractions, but decided his favorite location was the Twiddle Bug Tidal Pool. Kay Kay and Aunt Becca let Edmund wade while mommy and daddy decided to turn to icicles on a few of the water slides. When we returned to the pool we took Edmund to the Twiddle Tracks. If the "Elmo Rocks" show was Edmund favorite part of Sesame Place, the Twiddle Tracks were a close second. The Twiddle Tracks are small train cars that children ride around a track by pushing on a handle with their hands. Labeled an "all-by-myself" ride, the Twiddle Tracks are a tucked away treasure, which meant Edmund was able to ride to his heart's content. The handle was a little tough for Edmund, but he thought it hilarious to make me run his train car around the track and through the giant flower pot. I didn't mind as I got my requisite exercise for the day.
Before we left for the day we discovered "Rubber Duckie Pond", a little water alcove with toddler sized water slides. I wasn't sure how Edmund would do with this, since he tends not to like any water surprises. Although this particular attraction is for children under five, adults aren't allowed to walk on the boat that houses the slides, which meant Edmund would need to go down the slide sans mommy. After helping him climb aboard the boat I was afraid Edmund would sit at the top of the slide and cry out that he was stuck. Not an unreasonable assumption as he has been known to cry when he believes he is stranded on a slide. We could tell he was nervous during the first slide, but after all the applause he received he was raring to go again. He had so much fun he didn't want to leave when the lifeguard signaled our five minutes were up.
Edmund really did enjoy himself at Sesame Place. He has no fear when it comes to large, walking characters, so getting to see his favorites from Sesame Street was a dream come true. He was so enamored with Elmo and Big Bird that we had to chase him out of a few other families' photo ops. True, these children were not as thrilled to meet the characters as Edmund (meltdowns might be the word for their reactions), but we felt we needed to remind Edmund that people don't randomly join other families even if it does involve more time with a favorite red friend. Edmund mig
ht have enjoyed Sesame Place a little bit more if he were slightly older, but I'm glad we got to take him while Sesame Street still has the "cool factor" in his mind.
A tip for any of you who may be planning a trip to Sesame Place with a two year old. Unless your child is totally fearless and relishes in a chance to be drenched with ice cold water, avoid The Count's Splash Castle. It all seems innocent enough until you begin walking your child toward the climbing structure. You and your sister are oblivious to the large crowd that has gathered slightly in front of you and somehow miss the sound of "3, 2,..." Fortunately on the count of "1" your husband sees what is about to transpire and shouts "stop." A giant bucket of water tips over and water crashes onto the heads of the people millimeters from where you are standing. You are spared from a drenching by the icy waterfall, but your child is hit by some residual spray, and begins screaming. At this point you retreat and make your way back to the Twiddle Bug Tidal Pool. Ah, now that's more like it.
Please Touch Children's Museum
As we walked to the door of the museum we were greeted by a sculpture of the Philly Phanatic (an odd looking green creature who serves as the Philadelphia Phillies mascot). Edmund pleadingly asked "I see it, OK?" We let Edmund give the sculpture a quick hug and made our way inside the museum. We immediately went to the left when Edmu
nd saw a bus in the transportation exhibit of the museum. He sat in the passenger seat and sang "The Wheels on the Bus" while waiting for a turn in the driver's seat. As soon as the opportunity arose Edmund stopped mid-song, ran to the driver's seat, and began shuttling the other children around the museum. He got about as far as only a stationary bus can go. After a minute we had Edmund relinquish control to another child and explored the rest of the exhibit. Edmund had his first opportunity to pump gas into a real car. "I pumping gas," he exclaimed. Just like mommy and daddy do and no worry about spillover (this is pretend fuel we're talking about here). There was much more to see and do, but we returned to the bus several times before heading to a different exhibit.
Edmund passed over a chance at water play. Edmund relishes in water play, but I will admit the water play stations at the museum were just a bit too tall for Edmund to really enjoy. He found a small play area designed specifically for children under three and explored it for a while. This section reminded me a lot of the soft mall playground, but Edmund didn't have to wait his turn very long or compete with older children, which was a nice change of pace. When he was finished we moved to a music exhibit modeled after a rainforest. I think I found this exhibit more appealing than Edmund as it was then that he spotted the 100 year old Dentzel Carou
sel. We had passed a carousel earlier in the day, at which time Edmund stated "I ride carousel at the zoo one day." I thought it might be awhile, but now he had his opportunity. Steven begrudgingly agreed to buy tickets. He may have been correct in not wanting to pay money for the carousel for when I went to put Edmund on a horse he began to scream. I finally realized he wanted to sit on the bench seat, but another child was already sitting there. I pointed this out, but Edmund continued to protest. The mom of the infant on the bench beckoned me over. I'm sure she simply wanted my child to quiet down, but she offered us the seat. I should have known there was a catch. The seat was ours if I would keep her infant from falling off the bench while she held her daughter on one of the horses. Deal! The baby remained upright and Edmund got to ride on the bench.
At this point our visit got a little bit overwhelming. Lest I be judged as a neglectful mother, I must tell you that the museum is pricey, $15 a person, and no Edmund was not free. We decided to push through Edmund's nap time to explore the rest of the museum. There was an incredible Alice in Wonderland exhibit that Steven and I found extraordinary. It felt just as if we were falling through the rabbit's hole. Edmund was a little cranky (slight understatement) at this point, though he did enjoy playing croquet with a flamingo mallet. He also perked up when he found a small slide near the Red Queens court.
After going "through the looking glass" Steven and I decided we would quickly look at the final exhibits without having Edmund do too much playing. He seemed tired, that is until he saw what the next exhibit entailed. All children's museums seem to have the obligatory dramatic play sections with play kitchens and food. I figured, been there done that, this will be quick. I was wrong. The first stop in the dramatic play section was fairly typical with dolls and strollers. Then we came to it--a grocery store--set up exactly like our local grocer, but on a smaller scale. There was a meat department, a bread department, a produce department, you get the picture. Volunteers were constantly restocking the shelves so there were always enough items from which to choose. What impressed me most was that one of each food item was stored behind clear plexiglass so it was obvious which items went where, and also gave
the appearance of a fully stocked store. Miniature shoppers with realistic metal carts were everywhere. Edmund chose several variety of breads and for some strange reason, a large package of tea bags, to add to his cart. After adding the tea bags to his cart, Edmund declared "I check out." Ever mindful of "five-a-day" I encouraged him to shop for some produce. He protested, saying "no mommy, I check out." Edmund patiently waited in one of several check-out lines until his turn came to put his items on the conveyor belt. He carefully unloaded his items while the little girl on the other side of the counter unloaded her items. She grabbed some of Edmund's items and placed them in her cart while Edmund grabbed some of hers. Both children seemed happy with their final "purchases", paid the mommy and daddy cashiers, and went on their way. Steven and I found the whole scenario hilarious. The children were clearly well versed in grocery shopping etiquette, save for one difference--they would eye each others' carts, find some better items, and trade, all without words or incident. Can you imagine if adults pulled food out of each others' carts at the store? What I imagine involves some choice words and the police. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from these miniature shoppers.
Edmund could have "shopped" all day, but we needed to get going. We let him explore the mini hospital, shoe store, and restaurant before allowing him one more trip on the stationary bus. What I fou
nd so incredible about the set-up of the dramatic play exhibit was that each "community landmark" had it's own room and was a perfect miniature replica of a place children see in everyday life. Children slightly older than Edmund were developing elaborate play schemes, which I see to a certain extent in preschools, but these went beyond anything I have seen to this point. I was also amazed how well children who didn't even know each other collaborated to make their play scenarios "click." We probably won't find ourselves at the Please Touch Museum again anytime soon, but I am certainly glad our family had the opportunity to experience what I'll call a "Philadelphia Phenomenon."
Location:
Please Touch Museum
Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, PA 19131
The Liberty Bell-Before Repairs
histle during the vows at the PA wedding (sorry Evan and Kaitlin) and his request to "take a walk" during the vows at the NJ wedding (sorry Lisa and Gage), Edmund did amazingly well. As it appears he chooses the vows as his choice time to check-out, I'm hoping he doesn't leave some poor girl in the lurch during his own vows some day.
The first wedding we were to attend was very near Philadelphia, PA so we decided to check out a few local sights during our trip. First stop, the Liberty Bell. Every so often Edmund would chime in from the backseat to remind us "I go Philadelphia. I ring a bell." You may think a two year old would find little appeal in an old bell. Not so. When the children in my preschool class are bouncing off the walls, Jennifer and I take them to ring the church bell that is located on the school's property. Because it is such a rare occurrence to venture outside the fenced area, the bell holds a mysterious allure over these children in the way the Liberty Bell holds an allure over the people of the United States. I suppose there isn't much difference between a two year old and the Liberty Bell flock after all.
Surprisingly, Edmund was kind enough to let Steven and I read the information leading up to the Liberty Bell. As we moved along we prepared him for the fact that the bell was broken and wouldn't sound any more. He reminded himself as we walked "bell broken." When we got to the bell he posed for the obligatory picture and we moved on. We talked about the bell a little more as we walked outside to take in a view of Independence Hall. Edmund's interest in the bell waned as he had more pressing matters, such as lunch, to attend to
The next day Kay Kay and Aunt Becca joined us at Sesame Place (a future post to come). I asked Edmund to tell them about what he saw in Philadelphia. He said "I saw bell." Aunt Becca inquired "did the bell have a big crack?" While bobbing his head up and down Edmund very matter-of-factly stated "No, I fixed it." Edmund is a quick worker for I blinked and missed that repair job.
Aunt Alison, Grandma, and Grandpa went to see the Liberty Bell the following day. According to them the crack had reappeared. Some excited visitor must have rung the bell a little too hard, as I'm sure Edmund's repair job was one of superior quality. I wouldn't hold your breath to hear the bell ring again anytime soon, as I have it on good authority Handyman Edmund is booked solid the next 16 years.
All Smiles Before the Butterfly House
After a quick stop at KayKay and Granddad's house we headed to Washington D.C. We settled in our hotel and decided to head into the city via Metro. We knew the noise of the train might be a little much for Edmund, but he had been greatly prepared for the ride by Aunt Becca. She had given Edmund several subway trains for his train table, a book about the subway, and a subway shirt. The noise of the Metro couldn't compete with Edmund's excitement about th
e ride. On our first trip into the city you could tell Edmund was slightly concerned. He held onto Mama and Dada's shoulders for dear life when the train pulled into the station. However, after he braved his first Metro ride, he couldn't get enough. Edmund's current favorite imaginative play scheme involves the subway and the phrase "doors closing." Obviously the subway experience made quite a lasting impression.
Our first stop in D.C. was the Air and Space Museum. Edmund was most impressed with the rocket ships, especially since there are rocket ships on his pajamas of choice. We toured the Orville and Wilbur Wright exhibit. Edmund's favorite thing to do in this exhibit was to climb the stairs up to the model cut-outs of houses. When there are steps to be explored everything else takes a backseat. We looked at a few more exhibits at the museum before it closed. As you might imagine there is only so much a 2 year old can handle before he gets antsy, so we called it a night.
The next day we got up bright and early to head to the National Zoo. Edmund had been to the NC Zoo a few weeks prior so he was prepared for this trip. We made sure to stop by the panda exhibit. The baby pandas are now back in China, but it was still fun to see the big pandas. If I do say so myself Edmund is brilliant, 
for if you now ask him what pandas eat he says "bamboo." So kids do learn from these excursions we take them on. Edmund also loved viewing elephants and gorillas. He especially liked the baby gorilla, which I'm sure reminded Edmund a little bit of himself. Baby gorillas sure are funny. We also made a breakthrough in Edmund's fear of cows. He developed a fear of cows after an incident involving a loudly mooing cow at a local farm. However, at the National Zoo's petting area Edmund asked if he could pet the cow. I was praying hard the cow wouldn't moo. My prayers were answered and Edmund was able to pet a cow without any loud sounds startling him. After facing his fears, Edmund was worn out. His head slumped over in the stroller before we left the zoo grounds. It's tiring seeing all those animals.
After Edmund's nap we decided to see a few D.C. landmarks. We first walked to the Washington Monument. Edmund can now tell you the monument is an obelisk. We then walked along the length of the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial. To get to the top of the Lincoln Memorial we took the elevator. We weren't sure Edmund could be trusted to handle all those steps. After taking in the sights from the top, Edmund "1,2,3 boomed" his way down all the steps. I must tell you this was a much longer process than taking the elevator, but worth every second to Edmund. Before heading out on our next leg of the journey we toured the American History Museum and the National Gallery. These were more for mommy and daddy than for Edmund, but he seemed to enjoy them nonetheless. All in all D.C. proved to be everything we wanted in a vacation with a toddler.
The next afternoon we braved the rain to arrive in Hershey. Edmund was thrilled to see Grammie and her box of toys. Grammie treated us to a wonderful dinner at the Chocolate Avenue Grill. If any of you travel to Hershey with children this is the place to eat. The waitress provided Edmund with WikiStiks and triangular crayons. It was enough to amuse and entertain our child, as well as the adults, while we waited for our food. The next day we got up early so as to beat the heat and headed to the Hershey Gardens. Hershey Gardens houses a wonderful children's garden. Edmund enjoyed taking in the aroma of the various flowers. At one point he got a little too anxious for a sniff a
nd leaned over so far he toppled into the flower bed. Daddy was a little upset at mommy for letting this incident occur, but I have to say it was a hilarious sight. The gardens were stunning. It was like taking a trip back in time as one can also see the historic Hotel Hershey from a distance. Edmund enjoyed touring the butterfly house, but this past week when KayKay came for a visit I heard him tell her he was a little scared of the butterflies. I suppose if a child has strange insects landing on his head it might make him a little apprehensive. We spent quite awhile in the children's garden. There Edmund rode a pig and a cow, (just statues, so no need to report animal cruelty), played in a hollow modeled after The Wind in the Willows, and played a tune on a crocodile xylophone. The children's garden was beautiful, but Edmund seemed to enjoy the paths through the main gardens just as much. I wasn't sure what to expect from the Hershey Gardens, but it more than exceeded my expectations.
After a quick nap at Grammie's, we headed to Chocolate World to ride the famous chocolate making ride. A trip to Hershey isn't complete without the singing cows. Then we headed to Aunt Sharon's house for a visit. Edmund was lucky to be able to visit with Aunt Sharon, Uncle Sam, cousin Laura, and dog Baxter. After some initial apprehension Edmund bonded very nicely with Baxter. It was nice to be able to celebrate Aunt Sharon's birthday with her. She even let Edmund blow out the candles on her cake. This was most fortunate, as Edmund's silly mommy forgot to get candles for his birthday cake. At least he got to practice, so he'll be ready for next year. That is if mommy can remember to get some candles. Again our day had been jam packed. We ate dinner and put Edmund to bed. Then mommy and daddy sneaked out of the house for a few hours at Hershey Park. Our plan was to ride as many roller coasters as possible, but I was only able to handle four. When you go to the park at night lines are short, so there is no recovery time. My stomach could only handle so much. However, Steven and I still had a great time. While it would have been fun to share the park with Edmund it was nice to have some alone time too. The next day we visited Zoo America and the Hershey Story Museum. I feel that we were able to take in all that Hershey has to offer even while traveling with our little man.
Vacations with a toddler can be rough, but I actually feel we were able to relax, learn, and enjoy. We may not have ventured into the most exotic territory, but we did have a good time. For now it will be the vacation to remember, as tomorrow both Steven and I head back to work. Wish us luck!
Edmund Sees Eye to Eye with a Big Grouper
Saturday we got up bright and early for the main attraction--the Atlanta Aquarium. Steven's cousin Karen, who lives in Atlanta, joined us as she had never been. The first animals Edmund encountered were a bunch of penguins in the main rotunda. Edmund had a blast watching them slip and slide over the ice. After he tired of the penguins, we made our way to the Riv
er Scout section. Before we entered we came to a pool which houses rays and a small species of shark. Visitors are encouraged to touch the animals using the two finger stroke. I was itching to touch the animals. I was only able to get close enough to touch a ray as the sharks swam much deeper in the pool. Steven passed, but Karen dove in. Edmund was more than happy to get his arm wet, but he shuddered at the thought of touching these unknown creatures. A few feet away we came to another touch pool. This time we were able to touch horseshoe crabs, starfish, and some kind of anemone. Edmund was a little more willing to get out his two fingers this time and proudly touched a starfish. Near this pool was a remarkable children's playground. Edmund was still a little young, as it was quite a large structure full of tunnels. Edmund loves tunnels, but his inability to crawl definitely gets in the way of his going through the smaller ones. However, he did enjoy his time as captain of a ship in the play area. Where there are noisy buttons to be pushed, you can bet Edmund will be nearby.
We then walked through the rest of the aquarium sections. Edmund's favorite part was looking at fish through a crawl space just his size. I had to crawl to get through, but Edmund was able to clear the area while standing. Edmund also got to see real alligators. They figure into his favorite line in the second verse of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." The line is "if you see an alligator, don't forget to scream ahhh!" I'm not sure Edmund had ever seen an alligator in a picture, so now he knows what we are screaming, I mean, singing about.
When we walked out of one of the aquarium sections we spied a lifesize Deepo walking around. Deepo is the aquarium's mascot. I liken him to a very cheap knock-off of Disney's Nemo. We stood in a very short line to shake hands with Deepo. Edmund wasn't quite sure. I'm sure he was even more unsure when Deepo patted my head and gave my neck a rather prolonged squeeze. Deepo was still trying to shake hands with Edmund when his handler told Deepo it was time to go elsewhere. Edmund breathed a sigh of relief.
We had a great time at the aquarium. It is the biggest aquarium in the world, though I'm sure I've
been to bigger. While researching for this post...Can you believe I did research? I'm sure some of you can...I found that it is the biggest because it has the largest amount of water of any aquarium in the world. Aren't you glad we've cleared that up? So even though the aquarium is the "biggest" it didn't take too long to see everything. We arrived early enough that Edmund was able to get up close and personal with most of the fish, and we were able to see everything before noon. It's a good thing too, as the aquarium was packed by the time we got to the last exhibit. I'm afraid this meant Edmund didn't get to get a good look at the Nemo (clown) fish. But hey, he got to meet Deepo!
That afternoon we went to stay with Steven's other Atlanta cousin, Amy, and her husband Aaron. They were gracious enough to let us spend the night in their lovely home. Their dog Ty, was also a trooper, especially since he had to be put away for most of our stay. Edmund loves dogs, but he is a little intimidated by big dogs. Sorry about that Ty. That evening we all went out for dinner. Karen joined us again. We had a wonderful time catching up. It was great to hear what everyone is up to, as we often miss certain cousins at the beach and Christmas. While at dinner Edmund perfected what we now call the "nenu" (dinner) dance. Any time music plays in a restaurant Edmund does the silliest dance. Unfortunately we don't have evidence of the "nenu" dance yet, but hopefully soon. We'll have to remember to grab the camera before we head out to eat next time.
So although the trip to Atlanta was a waste of money due to the absurd test, it was definitely a good time. And if any of you happen to find Deepo, tell him "hi" from the Pattishalls.
Edmund and Mommy with Airplane
(I apologize for the quality. Our camera was dead on arrival. This is the best we could do.)
made the right decision. By Friday afternoon I was fiercely missing Edmund and couldn't wait to get to Harrisonburg to peek in on my sleeping angel. Unfortunately we drove right into one of Virginia's biggest snowstorms on record Friday night. Thankfully, due to Steven's safe driving and lack of ice early on, we made it home without incident. I don't know if we could have stood being away from Edmund one more day.
We were snowbound the next few days in Harrisonburg. Edmund wasn't sure about the cold, white stuff at first, but after awhile he couldn't get enough of it. He constantly ran to the door shouting "outside." After several ventures out into the snow, Mommy had to take a rest from the cold, but Daddy made sure Edmund got his fill. By Tuesday the roads were fine, so Steven, Edmund, and I decided to take a day trip to Washington DC. Steven had remembered going to an Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport when it first opened, so we decided to head there. We figured since it wasn't in downtown DC we wouldn't have to deal with holiday tourists. Before heading to the museum we made a stop at Tyson's Corner, which houses an enormous mall. We made our way straight to the food court as Edmund was frantically signing and saying "eat." While we were eating he started squealing "choo choo, choo choo." At first we paid him no mind as he often starts talking about his favorite subjects randomly. Then we spotted it. There really was a "choo choo!" A holiday train just Edmund's size was making laps around the food court. Could Edmund's parents pass up an opportunity for their son to ride on his current favorite mode of transportation? Of course not. We decided that I would ride with Edmund, since a ticket cost us $2 a pop. Steven decided to pass on the 2 lap ride around the food court, but he made sure to wave to us in various locations. Edmund waved to people as we quickly, make that slowly, passed them by. When the ride was over we made the lengthy trek across the mall back to our car. Every now and then Edmund would say "choo choo." We'd look up to the food court floor and sure enough, there was the train. I must say the kid has good eye sight.
With Edmund safely buckled in his carseat we headed toward the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the companion site to the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. The museum wasn't crowded at all. Best of all the layout is wide open, so Edmund could stretch his legs and wander a little without us worrying. Saying the museum is huge is an understatement. It has to be big for it houses hundreds of airplanes, 
helicopters, and spacecraft. The first aircraft we came to was a helicopter. Edmund shocked us when he pointed to it and said "elcopper" without prompting. His knowledge and language skills never cease to amaze us. After viewing the helicopter Edmund became fascinated with chairs along the viewing area. Hey a fellow's got to rest sometime. This gave Steven and I a few minutes to read about the aircraft in peace. When an announcement came over the loud speaker that the observation deck was going to close an hour early, we rounded up Edmund and headed to the elevator. The views from the top of the deck were amazing. You could see many miles in each direction. Edmund wasn't as taken by the views as we were. He found a friend just his size to chase around the deck. After corralling Edmund we were able to interest him in the airplanes going to Dulles for landing. They were close enough to really interest Edmund. From then on he was certain to ensure the other museum patrons were aware of the "apanes." Every time a person passed, Edmund would get his or her attention, point out the window, and say "apane," just in case the patrons were unaware they were surrounded by one of the largest displays of airplanes in the world.
Edmund did amazingly well during the rest of our 2 hour tour of the museum. So what if he was more enamored with climbing a large flight of stairs or chasing other toddlers around. He still received one of the best introductory courses on aviation he could get at such a young age. At the rate he's going with his retention of knowledge I wouldn't be surprised if he starts spouting out makes of airplanes in the next few days. He also proved that he handles sightseeing very well. Next up...Edmund takes Manhattan!
Our New Pals
Future Paleontologist
Whee!
Safari Trek
Sliding Down a Leaf
Astronauts in Training
I Love Disney World!
