During the first part of the month, Nathan had a doctor's apt and MRI at IU Med, so we decided to make a family memory out of the trip. The Westin Hotel comps cancer patients' rooms IF they have available rooms, so we knew we'd be staying in downtown Indy on Sunday night. That gave us the perfect opportunity to take Frey to the Children's Museum for the first time.

Unfortunately, one kiddo had some behavior issues for the better part of the museum visit, but Frey had a BLAST! She loved the mirrors that disfigure your body and face, but when we went into the hall of mirrors, she freaked out just a bit and wanted to hold Mom's hand for the rest of the walk. Which is AWESOME. When she seeks me out for protection and comfort, I know she's attaching!

Mary, Frey and Nathan enjoyed the Barbie section, especially making fashions on the life size dressmakers stand and the miniature ones as well! We had high hopes for the new National Geographic exhibit that promised adventure while exploring an ancient Egyptian tomb, a shipwreck and the site of Chinese clay soldiers but. . . . It was totally dumbed down. And disappointing. The entire exhibit catered to kids/adults with a 90 second attention span (really) and no previous interest/knowledge about archaeology. It was all play and no learning. Now I'm not opposed to having fun exhibits in a children's museum, but it DOES need to have information for intelligent, thoughtful, eager learners as well as fun, introductory type stuff. So sadly, this was a total fail.

After about five hours playing, we noticed Frey starting to overload. So we headed out and stopped to take pictures at some of the monuments and buildings in downtown Indy. Of course, all THREE of my girls love to have their photos taken, so we snapped and walked, snapped and walked for over an hour!

We drove out to Joe's Crabshack in Greenwood, one of the first places Nathan and I had dinner together. (This would be the Joe's where I faceplanted in the parking lot because I twisted my heel walking down the stairs. I knew Nathan was a keeper when he didn't laugh!)

By the time we got back to the hotel, I couldn't wait to hit the whirlpool! Frey DID NOT LIKE IT ONE BIT! And no sooner had we gotten in the hot tub. . . . . In walked another couple with two boys. And Nathan and I aren't particularly social. So, since Frey hated the water and since she was starting to get teary-eyed tired, I took her back upstairs to put her to bed before the rest of the crew came in. But after getting her down, I waited and waited, wondering what was taking the rest of my family so long.

They finally straggled in an hour and a half later, worn out, eyes burning from the chlorine, but eager to tell me what they'd been up to. It seems the boys, also homeschooled, wanted to play a game of sharks and minnows. And my girls (who tend to take after their anti-social parents) joined in and had a blast! I'm glad they had such a good time!