Big Diggers at COSI

Last Wednesday we made another marathon trip to Columbus. I donated plasma at 6:15 am and then taught class from 8-10am. Then the QB picked me up at my building and we drove to Columbus. We dropped the QB off for 12:00 pm session at the Temple and the boys and I went to Trader Joe's to stock up on all the good stuff we either can't get in Athens, or don't want to pay double for in Athens--rice milk, raw nuts, granola, whole wheat hot dog and hamburger buns, and organic yogurt, among other things. Then we swung by Whole Foods Market, stopped in at a gas station for a lemonade and dashed back to the temple by 2pm to pick up the QB, who was waiting outside under a tree for us when we pulled up. Next stop, the Columbus Science Museum, COSI.

We'd already changed the Monkey twice, but by the time we arrived at COSI in downtown Columbus, he needed to be changed again. In fact, just as we pulled into the parking lot, he pulled his hand out of his diaper to show us the mess he'd made. Together, the QB and I picked the monkey up out of his seat, stood him on some old newspapers in the parking lot beside the car, and cleaned him up as best we could. His clothes were soiled and all we had were pajamas for back up, so the Monkey spent the rest of the day in his pajamas. There was also only one diaper left, which Nolan needed at the Museum about an hour later.


more about diapers later...


One of the reasons we went to COSI this time, was to see their annual Big Digger exhibit. Every summer dozens of heavy construction machines come to the museum and kids can climb on, climb in, and even attempt to operate them (with proper adult supervision, of course).

Mr. Baseball, getting instructions from the operator.

Mr. Baseball, looking very serious as he operates the arm and bucket...

The Monkey, looking anything but serious as he and Mom operate the bucket...

I don't know if you can see it here, but this is a "Franklin" machine...

The Monkey, in construction yellow heaven...


After the museum we stopped at Fizoli's for dinner and then the QB dropped me off at the temple for a six pm session. She was going to head home and I was going to get a ride from some people in our branch who would be attending the temple at the same time. Everything went according to plan on my end and I arrived at home about ten pm, expecting to find the boys asleep and the QB reading on the couch, or watching a little television. Instead, I walked in the door and was greeted by a chorus of "Daddy," from the boys and a tired but cheerful looking mom.

the QB tells me that on their way home she and the boys stopped at JC Penney to look at Dresses and while she had both boys with her in the dressing room trying on an outfit, the Monkey filled his diaper for a third time that day. She had to get all of her clothes back on and head across the store to the restrooms to change him. But when she got there she realized she didn't have any diapers. She set all of her things down and took both boys out to the car to look for a diaper, but she couldn't find one. Finally, in desperation she asked a dad in a minivan full of children if she could have a diaper and she was able to get the monkey changed. They didn't get home until 9:30pm. "I half expected you to beat us home," she told me. The upside--The QB got two fine dresses for super cheap and she's feeling very pleased with her self and her cool summer dresses. And the moral, don't feed your twenty-month old a quarter of a watermelon the night before you go out of town, (and, always bring more diapers than you think you'll need.)