Views

The view out our living room window at dusk is great,

But not nearly as good as the view looking in.

The viewpoints of these boys fascinate, frustrate and often entertain me. 

We had a wonderful time venturing down to the American Natural History Museum in New York City with Mama's friend Melanie, Thomas' friend Bronwen and Ryan's friend Hugh.   The dinosaur bones, stuffed animals and movies were mildly entertaining for a three and a half year old and a seven month old.  But both our boys trudged through the museum for a couple of hours.

All four buckled up and rearing to go!

Reality: Touching a real dino bone;  Thomas' view: This makes a very fine seasaw!

"Ok, what's next?"

Dino egg

Humongous turtle fossil suspended from ceiling

A first date for Thomas and Bronwen?  They watched this movie three times while the babies ate.

Reality: Megaloceros-the biggest deer to ever live;  Mama's view: And I thought the deer in our yard were meddlesome!

Grrrr! like a bear.

Thomas's take on what the sign reads: "This says they're died."

Reality: Huge mollusk; Thomas'  view: This would make lots of clam chowder!

Tuckered out on the way home.

Mama: Did you have fun at the museum, Thomas?
Thomas: No.
Mama: Why not?
Thomas: It was too....(a good pause)....crowded.
Mama: Too crowded?
Thomas: I wanna go to another museum.
Mama: You do?
Thomas: Yeah.  A museum with toys.  Lots of toys.
Mama: Ok, bud.  We'll see if we can find a museum with lots of toys.

*Translation: I liked the adventure, but the fossils are a little too obscure, the animals don't even move and are "died," and I really just want to run around and play with lots and lots of toys.

I wonder what poor Ryan's view is on all the madness and fun that follows everywhere we go.

Thomas' view: I love you Ryan so much, I want him to wear one of my prized possessions, my adult-sized hockey helmet.
Mama's view: Oh dear Lord.  Please, Thomas, be careful with his head!
Ryan's view: Helmet?  What helmet?

Dad's view: Wouldn't it be funny to get Ryan naked and then call Mama down here to freak her out?
Mama's view: At least he's naked and I don't need to take his clothes off for bathtime, but did you consider he will likely get cold and pee on this rug?
Ryan's view: Yeah!  Naked as a jay bird!

Thomas' view: Ryan is on the bed, not being toted around by Mama.  I think that's free license to wrestle and tackle.
Mama's view: Be careful with him!
Ryan's view: Uh, I love you more than anything, Thomas, so why are you crushing my legs?  I was having a nice little photo shoot with Mama here.

Mama: I win by giving you these trivial little things to play with so I can cook dinner or put away groceries.
Ryan: I win when you give me these trivial little things to play with so that I can shake them, put them in my mouth and yank on them.

So many views, so little time to post about them!