Our Generation Vol. 1 No. 45: Playing Hookie

Ben is getting to be quite a big boy. He is fully mobile on his feet now, though crawling is sometimes still the preferred mode of transport -- faster, more efficient, less distance between his forehead and the ground, etc. He's got 2 teeth and is working on two more. Those puffy gums make sleeping a little difficult for him sometimes.

We're getting our first peek of spring and Ben is taking advantage by learning his way around the mini-scooter. Little bike = big fun.

Ben is still mellow 80% of the time. The other 20%? Well, let's just say he's found his voice. He'll let you know what he wants, he'll tell you loud, and he'll tell you repeatedly. He also goes full tilt when laughing, screaming in delight, and throwing down the latest moves on the dance floor (yup, we have another one with a great appreciation for the dance party). Ben plays hard and he rests hard, too.


So Dad (that's what Mia has called him for some time now) has been so busy at work and has leave piling up. He decided for his own sanity that he would begin stepping out on Fridays once a month or so. Originally, he imagined peace and quiet, a good book, maybe a nice hot bath, but after some serious deliberation decided to use these days as a way to spend quality time with the kids. With week days so busy, and weekends so busy catching up, there is hardly any time between meals and naps to actually spend any real time together. These days of "hookie" are meant as a partial remedy to that.

Mia got the first lucky draw to hang out with Dad on his mental health day. We headed downtown via Metro. First to the National Gallery, then to the Natural History Museum, then a fun lunch at Cosi, and finally a well deserved nap back home.

At the National Gallery, we saw the temporary exhibit about the history of film photography (a yawner for Mia, but fascinating for Dad), a bunch of Picassos (Mia could pick out the guitars in the paintings, but not the guy playing them), and the French impressionists (pretty). Mia's favorite part was playing on the viewing benches in the middle of each room. Once we headed to the modern art wing things got a little more interesting, starting with a trip through the awesome people mover, space warp, light show in between wings (THE highlight of the museum). We saw Lichtenstein's Mickey and Donald picture, and Mia's second favorite thing: Calder's giant mobile. We also saw some Warhol, Pollack, and some random blocks of color and some seemingly blank canvases.

Next it was off to the Natural History museum. By the time we arrived we were both getting a little tired and hungry. Mia knew I had snacks and wanted to eat one while we looked around. I said I didn't think it was allowed, and suggested we look at some dinosaurs and then get some real lunch. As I passed out of the big rotunda and into the dinosaur exhibit, I noticed Mia was no longer with me. I back tracked a few yards and found her just standing, staring from point blank range at two little girls and their Mom. As I was getting set to tell her it's not nice to stare, she pointed. My eyes followed the direction of her tiny finger, through a few inches of air, to the two girls' mouths full of delicious snack food. The jig was up. We sat down to rest and and scarf down a breakfast bar.

The dinosaur bones were alright, but the stuffed lions, zebras, and giraffes in the mammal exhibit were better. And the sound effects in that wing were amazing. The savanna storm was frightening. By far the highlight of the day was watching a film on evolution sitting next to a bronze monkey. She eventually worked up the courage to touch it.

Did I say something about Spring? The day we went downtown it was cold and rainy. It was the best day I've had in a long time. I think Mia had a good time, too.