Let me set the scene. Mikey and Gavin are gone with Dennis to a scout engagement with a hockey game to follow, Sean is sleeping and Ethan is happily entertained in the house. It's a pretty unique moment in time.
Although I usually go to every stinkin' things the boys do spectate most activities, I decided that I would stay home, clean out my garden, do some work in the yard, etc. So, with this knowledge I start to plan the next several hours. I should have known better.
The phone rings and it's Dennis with a very simple request, 'can you please bring Mikey's hockey pants here, he forgot them.' Even as I type it, it sounds so simple. Almost nothing around here is simple. I ask what time it is and what time he needs the pants. I have 45 minutes to get hockey pants 5 minutes away.
Here's why it's not easy.
Sean is asleep and waking him results in at least 20 minutes of truly pathetic crying and I pray that he will magically wake up before I have to resort to waking him.
I realize that if I drive Sean and Ethan to the park where the scouting event is, they will figure out it is an Ice Cream Social and will want stay and have ice cream - understandably. But I now have a dirt-streaked face and arms, pants that are cruddy, and my hands and nails look like I am a heavy machine operator. My hair is greasy and I stink. I know that I will have to get out of the car and know that I am going to have to clean myself up.
I inform Ethan that we need to bring Mikey his hockey pants and he informs me that he does not want to go by throwing a couple of empty DS Game boxes at me. Remember, one of Ethan's super-powers is his unrelenting negativity. I told him to quit the crap informed him that it was totally unacceptable to do that and to go get ready. He said no.
Thank God, Sean woke up, but was no happier to hear that we were leaving the house as I had vehemently promised that he could play Wii as soon as he woke up. He screamed at me that I had lied to him let me know how disappointed he was. Please, Sean, get a shirt and some shoes. He said no.
Time is ticking and we are now down to 20 minutes. I raise my voice and plead with them to just get in the car. Then I realize that I have not yet located the pants and I could have just as easily left without them. Then, I turn to bribery. I told the two of them that if they would just get in the car, there would be ice cream. It had only a modest effect on them. But as I was putting the finishing touches on covering up just how dirty I was and locating the pants, I realized that they were waiting for me in the car. As I grab my keys and walk out the door I see that Sean is running around the back of our rental car (remember, we don't have our van) because his car seat as been relocated to Dennis' truck for my use. SH%&, D*&M, CR*P. Uh-oh.
I call Dennis to tell him I don't have a car seat for Sean and he says, 'well, then, never mind, I'll try to get there.' I tell Ethan and Sean that we don't need to go after all and they both throw their own particular brand of temper tantrum in response to having their ice cream bribe rescinded. Clock is still ticking.
I quickly form a plan to beg a car seat off of my neighbor and it works! I put the car seat in and away we go. I back out, make a left and proceed down our street. Then I call Dennis and ask him where the ice cream social is being held! Armed with all the info I need, and even the pants, I make it to our destination. Ethan had no socks (and that is just a bad look for him) Sean had no shoes and I was not pulling of my pseudo-clean routine too well.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
— Winston Churchill
At home, we set up some bird feeders and a bird watching station (no one has a bird at the feeders yet). We are also completing some activities on 
We will be participating in 
Sometimes kids just need a little exposure to something to get the wheels turning. Sometimes they don't care less what they've seen. Sometimes it comes up days and weeks later in them asking for another class or books on a topic. I don't see myself as my kids' teacher, I'm their mother - and I choose to spend my time introducing them to all that's out there. 
This is an authentic replication of a bark house used by the Lenape Indians who inhabited the area. There was alot of artifacts to see and hold. There was plenty of information about the society, pictures and quiz yourself stations.
This was inside the nocturnal animals exhibit. It is a dark enclosure that runs about a 5 minute presentation on animals and insects that are out at night - really well done. 
This tree was real - and was 518 years old! The green markers traced historical events through the rings of the tree growth. The center was estimated at 1420. Neat way to see history laid out.
Set.... 
Go! 
I love that the boyz get this experience - makes great memories - and *LOTS* of laundry!! 
It wasn't until we downloaded the photos at home that we realized by the time the baby tried to pet the frog it had already hopped into his stroller! Do you see it? 
Yes, that's G & M investigating scat (yup, poop). They found small rodent remains. Decided it was fox. 
Secret codes were sent to far off places (Long Island) for decoding! Hoping to get some back in return.