We’re up bright and early and have a nice walk uptown via Central Park to redeem my previous park fail. But this time around I failed to account for the rain. Oy. We take a cab to breakfast and then to the Museum of Natural History. Bug has been pestering us to see the dinosaur bones since before we hopped on the plane.
There’s a line out both entrances that takes up the entire block in both directions. I’m very happy we have online tickets and get to skip that whole mess. We book it straight up to the fossils and both kiddos are pretty awed. It’s adorable watching Derek show his kids things he’s passionate about. I get to see what he was like at 10. I’m flummoxed that he still remembers all the names of the dinosaurs but often forgets the year we were married, etc.
We have tickets to the Hayden Planetarium and, again, Derek may be more hyped than the rest of us combined. For at least the fifth time this trip we’re treated as livestock as we’re herded into the space. We’re about the last people in because we move like distracted sloths. And the only four seats are inside a row with a couple sitting on the end. He graciously gets up to let us through but she decides that getting up is more hassle than having a family climb over her. Everyone else makes it though but she’s contorting herself into different shaped balls as I try and squeeze my heavily pregnant ass by her. Physics is not on our side and I have to explain to her that I can either sit my massive bulk on her lap for the show, or she’s going to have to get up. A big eye roll later and she’ s up and letting me through. I did not fight her. I thought about it though.
The show was awesome. I don’t know what it is abot viewing something like that but I love anything from a planetarium. Mouse is on my lap the entire time just oohing and ahhing. He cannot shut up about the big bang for the rest of the day. Bug is equally transfixed and that has been our biggest success so far.
The museum is getting bonkers crowded so, naturally, we decided to stay longer. I mean, they haven’t seen the big blue whale and that is iconic and must be viewed. I have such vivid memories of being young and walking into that room. The whale dominates the space and demands your awe. The kids are not impressed and just want their goldfish. I should have learned my lesson about expectations by now…
We spend a lot of time in the biodiversity section and an equal amount of time tracking down the travel toilet we brought. Kudos to Derek for doing that with both tiny humans while I zoned out on a bench. We try to look at another room but by this time it’s wall to wall people and I’m getting itchy and everyone needs OUT. As we’re packing up Bug decides this is the optimal time for a tantrum. Like a full-blown, kicking and screaming on the floor, people are stopping to gawk tantrum. I’m so done myself that I’m about ready to leave him there for the museum to deal with. Derek is the parent with the cooler head and he waits him out enough so we can wrestle him into the stroller. I’m so glad the stroller we have has such extraordinary buckles because that kid was throwing himself at them with all his tiny might. He begins to calm down when we get outside and the wind and rain knock the tantrum out of him. That is until three seconds later when we try and get him into a cab. He is having a day! And I can’t blame him. The museum was great, but too many people for that kiddo and we stayed too long. It’s time to make him wait in a crowded restaurant for a late lunch.
A thirty minute wait means that we buy the kids cookies as appetizers and let them lick the windows in between bites. We get seated and I order half the menu, feeling really hungry and never knowing what the kiddos will eat today. Turns out the answer is a fat nothing because they’re stuffed on black and white cookies. We try and tell them that this is really lunch/dinner and they won’t get an opportunity to eat once we leave. They are sure that the half bite of egg salad and the sniff of hummus will satiate them for the rest of the day.
It’s still pouring but Derek decides that he’s sick of the cabs so we’ll walk the 15min back to the hotel. With every step in my waterlogged boots I curse him. Every time the wind blows on my soaked legs I curse him. As the water is whipping in my face I turn to him and ask, “Is this really better?” He replies in the affirmative and I think I might trip him. Just a little. Marriage is a compromise.
When we all peel the wet layers off of us and get settled the kids immediately start in on, “So hungry mama!!!!” Fuck. We shell out the emergency supply of cheese and crackers and I put on some tv for them and give up. Bath and bed. We’re all ready to have this day wrap up.
Travels with Larson and Co 