Last week was the longest week in history. I didn’t think it would ever end with activities going on every single day and night. Monday: unpacking from our weekend trip, Annie’s piano lesson and girls’ ice-skating lessons. Tuesday: church young women sewing activity that I was in charge of (errands all day getting ready for the event). Wednesday: finally got some grocery shopping done and then meeting about ward Christmas party that night. Thursday: lunch and Christmas shopping with Julie and Chloe and then Relief Society Christmas party at night. Friday: ward Christmas party set-up and actual party at night (errands all day planning for the event). I don’t understand how people can handle that on a regular basis because I know that many do. My mind and body just can’t manage that much on a weekly agenda.

The weekend before was busy for us as well because we drove to Indiana to visit some friends. You may remember my childhood friend Rebecca visiting last year about this time. Well, I guess you could say there’s a tradition in the making with our visit to their home this time. Mike and Brad, Rebecca’s husband, really hit it off and have vowed to get together to hunt again. Brad wanted to host on his turf this go around. Rebecca and I were pleased just to have an excuse to hang out with each other again. On the first day we went to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. I grew up going to this museum at least a couple of dozen times when I lived in Indiana, and it’s one of my favorite places ever. Mike always teases me when I say this, but I’m convinced that it’s the biggest children’s museum in the whole wide world (Mike thinks I think everything to do with Indiana was either first or the best). Ha, I was right: the Indianapolis Children’s Museum is rated #1 in this artice, “The 10 Best Children’s Museums“. I just had to check. The place boasts 4 stories of magical fun, so how I could not think that? I’ll show more in a minute.

The next day Rebecca and her mom took me to a craft fair that took place at the high school Rebecca and I attended. I was all excited to see my old stomping ground, but it turns out that they built a new high school a couple of years ago. The old high school is used for the middle school now. Oh well, it was still fun to get nostalgic and even see some old high school classmates. I do wonder how many of my former high school/junior high teachers are still around. Can you believe that that was a couple of decades ago? It’s just not possible. The huntsmen didn’t get back until way after dark that night but still wanted to eat out for dinner with us, so the babies were not very pleased by the time we sat down for dinner. It wasn’t so bad though as I got to see more of my hometown’s growth with tons of new restaurants and a new, fancy shopping mall.

Sunday morning we got packed up and headed home not long after breakfast. We did manage to squeeze in a quick photo shoot of Rebecca’s family. Even though it had snowed the day before, the temps plummeted which made for a bitter time outside. Kamille was not pleased.

Now for some pictures from the children’s museum. I won’t overload you with tons of pics, but I will mention some of the exhibits. There was an exploration section where the kids could explore nature and building and such. A personal hygiene and healthy area was fun for the kids to learn about how to eat properly and the best way to take care of their bodies. There was a real fridge that lit up when opened and had some turntables with healthy and junk food and dinged when the proper foods were chosen. There was a whole section devoted to displays of 70’s and 80’s era toys and games. I had the most fun in that space reminiscing. Rebecca was convinced that most of that stuff would make tons of money on eBay. The kids rode on the merry-go-round (I can’t believe it’s still there after all these years). There was a section devoted only to toddlers and babies. Violet had so much fun and didn’t want to leave.

One of the girls’ favorite places was their “trip” to Egypt. The museum always devotes an entire area to decking out the place to look like a foreign country. When you first enter it’s as if you’re on a commercial airplane with real seats and a video by a flight attendant. Then you “exit” the plane and enter Egypt. There was a marketplace with a few shops including a grocery and clothing shop, a restaurant, some homes (inside and out), and then there were famous monuments such as the Pyramids. I remembered being so impressed by this area as a kid, and it didn’t disappoint this time either. I just wish I could remember some of the countries they did in the past.

The last area and by far the girls’ favorite was Barbie Land. They had hundreds of Barbie dolls on display, a reception area, a fashion catwalk with real clothes to try on and model, a make-up and hair salon, a display with vintage Barbie commercials being aired. It was hard getting the girls out of there. If we lived there, I think the girls would be happy just going there to hang out in Barbie world all day long on several visits. The museum also has a planetarium and movie theatre. Like I said, it’s big.

Here are some pictures from our day at the museum. I took about a million and one, but I will force you to view 6 or 8.

Best friends. One comment about this picture. Right before I tried to take of Violet’s jacket, and she completely lost it and was crying in the picture prior to this one. As soon as I put the jacket back she was all smiles again. Weirdo.

Everyone needs a good nose brushing now and then.

Tunnel fun.

Up in the treehouse.

A real Indy 500 race car.

Annie is the official Barbie world receptionist.

This glass sculpture towers the entire 4 stories. Then you can go below it and sit on a round “couch” that slowly moves in the circle to view the bottom of the sculpture.

We had a really fun time and hope we can plan something together again in the future. Thanks, guys!