Children's Museum with Nana Sue

Grandma Sue was able to come into town for Mia's 2nd birthday weekend & one of the things we were able to do while she was here was visit the Children's Museum. This is not your average children's museum, in fact, Indianapolis boasts the world's largest, so it was a pretty fun day for Mia. (Ok, we all had a good time.)

One of the first things you see as you enter are a bunch of famous paintings recreated entirely out of jelly beans, something you may have only seen before if you had visited the Jelly Belly factory in California (which I have... twice). Mia knew the Mona Lisa and Starry Night immediately, thanks to the art books Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike gave her when she was born. Mia appeared to be the most cultured 2 year old the museum had ever seen, and I looked like an awesome mom. Thanks, Mike & Mary!

It was a good thing Nick wasn't with us, because there was a rather impressive exhibit all about Barbie, complete with the history, a fashion design section, and lots and lots of Barbies. Mia loved it. She kept running back and wanting her picture taken with this life-size wooden version of the original. And she decided to hold Barbie's hand for the photo all on her own.

Barbie Headquarters

I did not grow up really into Barbies, but I did have one that I received as a birthday present. Great Shape Barbie (1983) and I had a nice reunion that day.

And once again, there was a polar bear that Mia could not get enough of. I can't figure out the fascination, but she really loves polar bears for some reason... Even when they look scary and threatening like this one.

The museum had a cool section called Playscapes that was for children under five years old only. Mia loved playing in the sand.

But her favorite was the water.

After a little lunch, we saved a carousel ride for the grand finale. Mia was so excited... until she actually got up on one of the animals... then she wasn't so sure. It wasn't the grand finale we had hoped for at the time, but every day since then she has asked to see the pictures of her riding the animals with Grandma Sue (we tried just about every creature on that thing in an attempt to make her more comfortable). Here is Mia on one of her favorites, a tiger.

You know it's a great museum when the adults have as much fun as the kids.