The Adler has a really great children's area. It's big with quite a lot of interactive toys. You can go underground and examine space crystals, collect moon rocks with space vehicles that actually you can ride and drive! build water and air supply piping and explore a two story space station that includes a space walk. I was a little frightened of the space walk because it was so dark, but once you get used to it, it's really one of the best parts of the exhibit. Adler also points out that we already live on a planet in outer space and the children's area also includes an earth backyard that has this cool sand box with this wild space age sand. So much fun!
Since my mom and I started this blog to help other moms and kids, we feel it's important to call my toenails to your attention. Yep, they are painted and yep, they are red, burgundy to be precise (it's my mom's favorite color). Should you be tempted to frown upon my choice of accessory merely based on my gender, I would like to point out that in primitive cultures, body modification is very common. We see the males of the indigenous people of the rain forest, Africa and deep Australia (to name a few) sporting tattoos, body paint and often they will even alter the shape of their teeth. Young children are like their own primitive culture. Why do you think we love temporary tattoos? It's body modification! And it's awesome! As is painting one's fingers and toes. I love my mother and she loves the color burgundy.
I have to say, I find it strange that some people find it unacceptable that I like to paint my nails. I've heard people whisper "she's [I assume that they mean my mother] going to make him [I assume they mean me] gay!"
I may be five but I do know that that by "gay" these people do not mean "happy" they mean that I will want to marry a man. I plan to marry my mom actually, with my kindergarten girlfriend Melia as my runner up; but I'm a little confused as to why marrying a man seems to be such a bad thing. Many of the most influential men in my life happen to be married to, or want to be married to, men.
My mom read about this little boy this year at Halloween and we've decided they are our heroes. Everyone should feel free to be who they are.
And it seems to me that there are plenty of grown men in not so primitive cultures who don't call themselves gay who are sporting body modification. If you don't like my nails, keep it to yourself. My mom doesn't care if I'm gay or if I'm not and neither do I. I'm too busy living it up at the Planetarium!
Did you know that the Atwood Sphere was made in 1913? It's an extra $3.00 dollars to look inside but it's pretty cool and the fact that it's so old just makes it that much more so!And while your down on the lower level with the sphere, look around for the display on Black holes. You turn this crack that releases "matter" into the black hole to visually represent what it might be like. Very cool, we were playing with this thing for nearly a half hour!
It was a great adventure! And to think I wanted to stay home watching cartoons. Thank goodness for mothers. Alder gets a Four Star rating to be sure!
