Camp Nana and Pop: Day 1

Doesn't matter the house; Caffeine starts the day. I got to sleep in an extra five minutes, because Shane jumped on someone else's bed. I was awake and heard everyone head in to the kitchen, though. It was time to start the day!

Nana, Pop, Shane, and I drove over to Kathleen and Stu's. We picked up Ka and the kids and then headed downtown.

Nana and Pop wanted to show off the Greenville Children's Museum.

Shane and Cole wanted to show off whatever they could.

But, I digress: We were on an adventure.

The Greenville Children's Museum is the largest, fanciest kid's museum I've seen as a parent.

Michelin donated a bunch of tires (which explained all the random French words, too).

We started outside to beat the heat. Shane decided to beat the rules and climb to the very top of the tire structure (don't look, Carrie).

The kids ran around all over. When the temperatures rose, the kids slowed down. Nana came prepared with snacks.

She didn't mind the "No Snacks" posters!

Evelyn chugged a juice right next to this one!

We made sure not to leave a mess. No harm, no foul, right? Nana said the cafeteria normally served food, but it wasn't open while we were there.

The museum was largely empty when we arrived. We decided to work our way from the top down when we came back inside.

The first exhibit was after my heart: Games!

Games!

Games!

I would have played someone in giant checkers if there weren't so many other fun things to do. One exhibit was as good as another to the boys.

Shane found Nana's favorite.

I improvised an unplanned exhibit for a museum staffer.

It's hard to see in the video, but he was laughing. Evelyn chased after him when moved on.

Nana caught me playing with some shapes around the construction exhibit.

Pop helped Shane build a skyscraper.

With the turn of a nob, Shane unleashed an earthquake upon it! How long could it last!? Kid's museums are really cool nowadays.

Eveyn turned out to be more destructive than your average earthquake.

Shane and Cole went and did everything together.

Even in the bathroom (I couldn't stop laughing after they wanted to use the same urinal).

Everything is more fun with a friend. Especially when that friend is a cousin.

Evelyn can't keep up with the boys yet, but she enjoyed having family around, too.

The stomach exhibit included a farting slide.

It's very fitting I caught Nana going down it.

We saved the water works for last.

There was no way they were going to avoid getting wet.

Pop taught the boys about water pressure.

There were a series of locks the boys floated boats through. I tried to explain how they worked, but there was too much else to see and do. No one stayed still long enough for me to finish a sentence.

(Notice that only one boy is in focus at a time.)

Cole refused to crawl into a tunnel to see water fall overhead.

He was more than happy to try and dump it on me, though.

The apron protected most of Shane from getting wet. Most.

He refused to put his arms back up for a better picture after I started laughing. "You're too young for pits that sweaty!"

We all went back outside to let the heat dry the kids up some.

Shane and Cole shouted "Faster! Faster!" on the original instrument of playground survival of the fittest.

Sometimes it helps to give the kids 'missions' to keep them occupied. Pop got Shane to hide under the onion dome.

Nana needed a nap when we got home. Pop took the kids out to the garage while Kathleen and I talked and flipped through scrap books.

The van became a hotel.

A hotel struggling to survive a hurricane! Guess who thought up that twist.

When 2:00 PM rolled around, I got ready to make my way back north. I would have liked to have stayed for longer, but I was happy for the time I could get. Shane and Cole got to get dinner and play at McDonald's after I left.

I'm looking forward even more to family beach week now. Have fun with Nana and Pop, Shane! Have fun with Shane, Nana and Pop!