After a late breakfast and gathering of things for the day we went off to the see the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Here are a few pictures of some of the planes (taken from the 2nd floor).
We decided to try out Benjamin's panda harness/leash since he had become just mobile enough to be dangerous, and it was a very big place where he could wander off quickly.. We visited the children's area. He was too small for much of it, but he liked the table with the wires and beads.
I thought this area where kids could climb and play was really neat. We're not quite to that stage yet.
Benjamin did spend some time in his stroller.
Yum! Shoes that I've walked all over a museum in! Delish.
There were areas where children could get in cockpits to see what it was like.
We got some kind of smile from him.
That was after this...
...and this.
Christianna felt about the same when it came to posing for a picture.
Papaw able to squeak out a little smile from her.
Here's her Daddy, Jud.
Richmond decided it would be easier to ride around than carry Christianna.
Mamaw was back at the condo. Nana's in the picture too.
Here's a little exploring by Benjamin.
A rare picture of Josh & me together.
They had an area called Home Front USA that replicated a typical WW II town at the time. The model house had a stove made by...
Magic Chef!
At some point Benjamin lost his shoe. He decided to carry it around with himself for a while before letting me put it back on . We were in the "grocery store" in this picture.
It's all in the details. I couldn't find the elevator to downstairs at first because it looked like this...
After a while we ventured out to another hangar to see some of the more modern things that they've added.
We posed by the mannequin.
You can see what I did most of the time we were there. Benjamin was eager to explore everything, and he didn't take into account that it was difficult for Mama to go under the aircraft.
Of he goes!
We spent the most time here. He loved making a beat on the lower parts of it.
You can see some perspective of him there. Lower right.
He stopped at a big emblem in the floor. I took the opportunity. He sat there for the longest time, and I couldn't figure out what he was doing until I realized he spit up in the floor and was wiping it everywhere. And, oh my goodness, EWWW, it was soured dairy from lunch, and I like to have lost it as well.
A panorama
We stopped back by an exhibit called "Sunken Treasures" that had a film about all the planes that were lost underwater, and how they had gone back to reclaim some of them and refinish them for the museum.
Note how dark it is...I took the opportunity to nurse him discreetly and after a lot of walking and excitement he went straight to sleep.
We saw a few more things.
And we stopped by the gift shop to get a few mementos...including this little plane for Benjamin to enjoy once he's a tad bit older.
He was so tuckered out that he continued to sleep all the way back to the condo (including a grocery store stop). I was amused at the position he put his arms in when he rolled over. It's not uncommon for him to sleep with his feet tucked under him.
After a good nap he was ready to go again. He enjoyed some tricycle time wtih Nana. (They brought it with them for both grandkids to enjoy. It has a handle for adults to push it, and it has a harness for very little ones.
It was a fun and educational day. Best of all, admission to the museum was free! We only paid money to eat at the cafe there and on our souvenirs. The cafe was a little overpriced, but the food was decent. If I had it to do again I would have stashed a cooler in the car with food for us all. Great day for us all. ;)
