The McWane Science Center

Last Friday, Buck took the day off. I know, right??? That's enough for a blog post right there! We got up and had breakfast, did a little work around the house and when Kim and the boys got here, we loaded into the EX and headed to Birmingham for an "adventure".

Claire started her day with waffles.

The McWane Center is an interesting place for children of all ages. We were intrigued by the structure behind the children in this photo. There were probably thirty plus golf ball sized balls working their way around the glass enclosure. They made things ding and pop and boing as they dropped through the many curves. It was quite fascinating to watch ~ not only the mechanism itself but the kids watching it .

Topher ~ bed of nails ~ 'nough said?
Jakob also

This was cool ~ you stand in front of a screen and your "reflection?" shows on the screen opposite you. I think I see three fourths of my grandchildren.

Never say MY girls can't pull their own weight. As evidenced in the picture above of Kim and below of Jennifer. I did NOT attempt this. Claire got an assist from Granddad.

There were water fountains that held up balls and these cool vacuum hoses that blew instead of sucked. You could put the ball over the air and direct it through the hoops.

The boys attempted to walk like a

blind person using a white cane.

Not as easy as it sounds.

This was a test of ? endurance ?

it was a no hands exhibit with different implements

that required you to pick up a ball and put it in a hole.

You know those toys that have little pins in them and you can push your hand or face into the back and it shows up on the front? Well, they have HUGE ones that you can do a whole lot with.

I think this is Jakob? Maybe Topher?

Jennifer

Kim

Me (with mouth open)

Jakob's profile

Jennifer with sunglasses

and my hand

Buck and I had a good time

and we were pooped afterward.

Claire played a match game against a computer.

Claire, Sarah, Jakob, and Topher

atop a large mouth bass?

This exhibit has sharks and stingrays in a "touch" tank. I didn't touch either. Buck was less than impressed with the young woman "working" the area. She was more into her phone than she was the people letting their children climb on the enclosure. She did tell him she has had to "fish" a couple of people out of the tank after they fell in! Maybe it's time to put away the phone????

The boys tried the balance on a wire thing. You sit on what looks like a bicycle a wire. First you pedal backward then forward. When you reach the middle they let you try and tip the whole thing over (thus, the net). Jakob tried but couldn't.

Topher on a wire.

(Jakob was in line and I think the flash to the right is Kim)

Jakob on a wire.
(you can see Topher and Kim on the side)

We caught up with Lisa at an IHop after she got off work. I try to get a "sister" shot every year.

Everyone had breakfast ~ YUM!