Discovery Gateway

Uncle McKay came home for fall break this weekend and requested a play date with the girls. Who am I to refuse an afternoon adventure especially when extra hands are willing to accompany me and my ladies. Our destination, Discovery Gateway!

This place is amazing, adorable, fun, interactive, I could go on and on! The girls were in heaven, each new area was just thrilling and it took convincing to get them to move on to the next area.
The first area is called the 'Beehive', it's the top picture, it has all sorts of flexible tubes, a 'sucker upper' (you know like at the bank), cranks that move the plastic balls to different areas. It was awesome!
We could have spent our entire afternoon in this one area and they would have been perfectly content. I had to laugh, while we were watching the girls enjoy themselves, McKay leaned over to me and said 'You know if someone was smart they would break in here and take all the copper pipe off this thing...there's hundreds of dollars in copper on this thing." Very observant...random thought...but very observant.

We paused at the music table to spend a few minutes whacking things and making music.

Discovering this Jeep was an instant success with Miss Mya.

Mya and Uncle "K" pumping gas for 'Sarge'.

They had this darling grocery store filled with all sorts of plastic produce, baked and canned goods, as well as a deli. You filled your shopping cars/baskets and then checked out at the registers. It was so cute! Sadie was a bit concerned because the registers talked but soon got over that; as you can see she is loading up her basket with bread...definitely my child.

Mya finally scored a shopping cart after waiting so patiently and she was very excited.

We made up our own check out stand.

Sadie and 'K'

Love you uncle 'K'!!

Next we found the water discovery table. Mya was so blown away that she could make the water come out of the pump.

And if any of you know Sadie the water duck, it was very difficult to get her to leave this attraction. McKay stayed with her for quite some time while I chased Mya around the other areas.

Crazy Lady... at least she was smiling and not having a tantrum or something like that.

This little Bird's Nest is the ultimate in aviary comfort, complete with hardwood floor, and leather couches.

Seriously! How stinkin' cute is this!?!

Sadie loved this swan, she would walk up to it and pat it or hold her hands under it's mouth like she was feeding it, and she kept telling me 'tweet' 'tweet' and making the bird sign.

We had a great time! The main level is all geared toward discovery play and younger kids but the upper level is focused more on older kids with a bunch more science geared exhibits, but there were placed for all ages to enjoy.

They even have a helicopter!

The girls were a little timid at first but eventually we convinced them it was OK to go check it out.

Sadie was OK with the whole idea until uncle 'K' hit the start button and a great big helicopter noise started and then she wanted o-u-t!

Sadie...pre engine ignition.
This was an old life flight helicopter and sitting inside I can't imagine how tight it must be in there with a patient on a back board and all the other equipment. Crazy! Hats off to all those transport teams out there!

Such a fun day! I'm so glad uncle McKay was able to come with us. We loved having him along for all our exploring today. I'm pretty sure we've discovered a winter retreat when the girls need a place to run.