First Day of Spring 2012

The first day of spring happens to be a great day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

The legendary, Fred Rogers (of Mister Roger's Neighborhood) was born and spent most of his life in Pittsburgh, PA.  So in honor of his birthday, March 20, there is free admission at the Pittsburgh Children's museum!

A few members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra were also scheduled to perform that day . . . (Isaiah & Madison pictured far right)

Displays, attractions or whatever you'd like to call them are changed periodically at the museum.  This was the first time we had seen this display . . . Life-sized Kaleidoscope!

The main feature while we were there was WHEELS.  Here you could connect magnetic pieces and make "vehicles" to play with on what appeared to be some kind of a skateboarding half tube.

This treadmill made all the wheels/gears move.  Took a while to get that thing going with a string bean running on it. =)

This place was hilarious!  An oval track was set up and there were about a dozen different "vehicles" to take around the track.  The vehicle Makenna is standing on required an up and down pushing motion on the handle to make the wheels move forward.  She would have done great if she didn't have to steer around allot of other travelers stuck in the middle of the road.  Seemed like as soon as she'd get some momentum, she'd run into a road block.

Zaya being Zaya these days

I can't for the life of me figure this thing out!  Letters drop from the top of the screen and bounce off of anything that comes in the way (ie, your head, arm, etc.).  Only thing I did figure out is there is a camera in the  middle of the screen that project an image of you on the screen.

Air bubbles rise to the top as the see-saw goes up and down.

The kids love the water area.  I even brought a complete change of clothes for them in case for when they got soaking wet.  However, due to a tragic accident (water bottle lid being lose in the bag of clothes), they could not get wet.  Still think they had fun whether they want to admit it or not.

As you turn the crank, a whirlpool is created.

This was also another special feature while we were there.  This man travels with his solar sewing machine which is either powered by the light or by bicycle.  He is very creative and has great artistic ability and imagination.  If you give him a five word or less phrase, he will sew you a picture on the spot.  He had pianos with flames coming off them, bicycles with drums or fish for wheels.  The boys in front of us both wanted a snail and a dragon. He tried to convince them to be individuals and ask for something different (to no avail), so he made one with a huge snail and a little dragon.  The smaller boy received that creation and was disappointed.  I thought it was creative.  Fortunately, the little boy waited until he was walking away to drop it on the ground!

Isaiah was too busy creating a project in the workshop to stand in line for a sewing drawing, so I ordered for him.  His newest, favorite thing to draw is an octopus on a tractor. (I'll have to find a drawing and post Isaiah's picture.)

Madi requested a dancing elephant.  (Didn't take a picture of Makenna's galloping horse.)

Isaiah working on project while I wait in line.

What Madi made out of cardboard and other things they had lying around.

Group photo with friends that went with us to the museum.

The first day of spring also brings FREE regular size Italian ices from Rita's (pictured with red and white striped awnings).  We were within walking distance of Rita's.  We arrived just in time before the line was wrapped around to the back of the building!  We sat in a park on the corner and watched a school group get their ices.

I think the temperature was over 70 degrees that day -- highly unusually for NW Pennsylvania.  We thoroughly enjoyed it though and the beauty that stretch of warm weather brought to our area.

Think we have a new First Day of Spring tradition!