"The big building with toys..."

...is a fabulous place here in Portland, otherwise known as OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)...but to Maddie it's just known as "the big building with toys". And when you get right down to it, that's just what it is! In the days prior to our lives being filled with surgeries at different hospitals on both children, Grandma Frank and I made a point to have a "special date" with Maddie and forget our troubles at least for an afternoon. :-)

We'd never taken Maddie to OMSI before. She's been to the zoo and the Children's Museum multiple times, but for some reason I always thought of OMSI as a "big kids" place...until I read about their Science Playground area for 2-6 year olds. Now in Maddie's eyes this place even trumps the zoo, if you can believe that! Here are some pics from our afternoon playing together...

This suction tube ball shoot was Maddie's favorite thing & she thought it was hilarious that the balls went flinging out of the top as she scampered all over to catch them!

Maddie loves toy kitchens and stores and food, so she was in heaven!

Getting cozy with Grandma Frank. Keith's mom Darlene (who lives in Ohio) has been staying with us for the past month and has been an absolute Godsend during these crazy times! We couldn't have managed without her! :-)